KATIR BANNED FOR ‘WHEREABOUTS FAILURES’ – Athletics Integrity Unit

16 FEBRUARY 2024, MONACO: Mohamed Katir of Spain has admitted an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) and been banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for two years, following three Whereabouts Failures in a 12-month period.

On Tuesday this week (13 February 2024), the 25-year-old middle-distance runner returned a signed Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form, conceding a violation of Rule 2.4 (Whereabouts Failures by an Athlete in a Registered Testing Pool) of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR). Katir admitted to three Whereabouts Failures in 12 months, beginning on 28 February 2023, specifically: a Filing Failure on 28 February 2023; a Missed Test/Filing Failure on 3 April 2023; and a Missed Test/Filing Failure on 10 October 2023.

His two-year period of ineligibility will start from the date of his Provisional Suspension and will therefore run from 7 February 2024 until 6 February 2026. All Katir’s results and related awards since 10 October 2023 have been disqualified.

In the wake of Katir’s ban, AIU Head Brett Clothier reiterated the importance of Whereabouts in no-notice, Out-of-Competition (OOC) testing for elite athletes in the AIU ‘s Registered Testing Pool (RTP), especially in an Olympic year when the highest rewards are on the line.

“This is a crucial requirement to which all RTP athletes must adhere. Without accurate Whereabouts information, anti-doping organisations cannot properly execute no-notice, Out-of-Competition testing that is the key to catching anyone who is doping and trying to gain an unfair advantage,” explained Clothier.

“In the lead-up to Paris 2024, to ensure a level playing field, the AIU will execute a comprehensive and intelligence-led Out-of-Competition testing programme on elite athletes worldwide. Whereabouts compliance will be an essential element of this. Elite athletes on the AIU’s RTP are well aware of the importance of Whereabouts requirements and receive ample education about it. There is no excuse for committing three Whereabouts Failures in a 12-month period.”

Details here: https://bit.ly/Katir-Decision

About the Athletics Integrity Unit

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is the independent body created by World Athletics that manages all integrity issues – both doping and non-doping – for the sport of athletics. The remit of the AIU includes anti-doping, the pursuit of individuals engaged in age or competition results manipulation, investigating fraudulent behaviour with regards to transfers of allegiance, and detecting other misconduct including bribery and breaches of betting rules.

It is the AIU’s role to drive cheats out of our sport, and to do everything within its power to support honest athletes around the world who dedicate their lives to reaching their sporting goals through dedication and hard work.

Source: Athletics Integrity Unit