MADRID, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Spain's world 5,000 meters silver medalist Mohamed Katir has been provisionally suspended for a violation of the anti-doping code, which has seen him miss three anti-doping controls in a 12-month period.
The Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) confirmed the suspension for Katir, who also won the 5,000 meters silver medal in the 2022 European Championships and the 1,500 meters bronze in the 2022 Worlds. The 25-year-old runner is a clear favorite to win a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
"Once the official notification regarding the opening of the file was received by the Athletics Integrity Unit, the athlete's license was immediately suspended," said the RFEA, adding that the athlete's place in the Olympics is now at risk.
"The Federation wishes to remind people that an athlete provisionally suspended or with an open file for doping or discipline does not meet the eligibility criteria approved by the RFEA Governing Board in circular 194/2017 RFEA," explained the communique.
Katir posted a statement which he insisted on his innocence: "The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has notified me of a provisional suspension due to what it considers a violation of the rules derived from three location failures in the last twelve months."
"I consider that there is no violation arising from three location failures in the last twelve months. In some of the location failures reported by AIU, I was available at the place, date and time provided by me,” the statement continued.
"During the last months and years, I have been subjected to a large number of out-of-competition doping controls, both in urine and blood samples, without the slightest problem having arisen on my part," read the statement.
The athlete insisted it was not a case of "violating doping rules for the use of prohibited substances or method," and said he would "proceed to defend myself in the appropriate instances" while demanding his "presumption of my innocence be respected until the corresponding procedure is processed and concluded." ■
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