AIU’s integrity in question after letting Naser run at WC with three whereabouts violation

Following Sunday’s statement from Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) regarding provisional suspension of World and Asian 400m champion Salwa Eid Naser, elite athletes voiced their concern about letter her compete in the World Championship with already having three whereabouts violation .

To top that Naser’s claim of missing three test is normal caught eye of many which add fuel to the fire as many stated that the claim is outrageous as elite athlete could be very concern about even missing one doping test yet alone three which they know is destined to be punished.

Naser’s incredible leg helped Bahrain to secure bronze medal in the world championship where Great Britain finished fourth .Great Britain anchor leg runner Martyn Rooney speaking to British newspaper telegraph said that she shouldn’t have been competing at the World championship at all.

“It should have been pretty straightforward that she wouldn’t be allowed to run. I understand that she’s a big name and a big name for the Middle East and they want as much local coverage as they can get. But it casts doubt on the point of the whole AIU if they are going to let people run even if they’ve missed three tests. I understand there’s protocol and everything has to be done properly, but if there’s suspicion then take her out of the game. Why was she allowed to compete?” questioned Roony.

Third leg runner Emily Diamond was more concerned about Salwa’s comment.

“It really makes you lose faith in those who are meant to be protecting the sport that someone could potentially be breaking the rules, but yet they are allowed to compete. The worrying thing as well is her belief that it’s normal. For an elite athlete to come out and say that is almost as worrying as her being able to compete having missed three tests” Said Diamond.

Meanwhile Pole Vault Olympic Champion from Greece Katerina Stefanidi who also in the athletes’ commission of the world athletics raised her concern about Naser’s comments.

“I don’t know any details about this case, but her believing that missing three drug tests is normal needs to be taken into account when deciding the length of her suspension” tweeted  Stefanidi.

“Perception of “normal” is based on what’s going on around you. And in doping/anti-doping the drug culture around you is so important. This is not normal so her thinking it is, is very concerning.“added Stefanidi replying for another tweet.

Jennifer Stoute, 1992 Olympic bronze medalist from Britain posted picture of silver medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo from Bahamas just after the world champion 400m finals  and tweeted

“These pictures speak a thousand words. The look of astonishment from @Hey_ItsShaunae when Salwa Eid Naser took Gold in Doha. A moment we all took a gasp. Shaunae is one of the most dedicated athletes I know. How can our establishment allow her or anyone to be robbed deliberately?”

Many fans too reacted outrageously for the statement where they tweeted stating AIU loosing it’s middle name with the statement .

Dr .Seevali Jayawickrema – the Director General of the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency clarified that according to the anti-doping law any combination of three whereabouts failures (filing failure and/or missed test) within a period of 12 months constitutes an anti-doping rule violation and should lead to provisional suspension and then an inquiry committee should decide further action .

According to World Athletics’ rules sanction for violation is two years’ ineligibility subject to a reduction to a minimum of one year depending on the athlete’s degree of fault.

Born as Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu in Nigeria, Naser changed her name in 2014 when she switched allegiance and started competing for Bahrain winning several youth and junior championship including world youth championship and youth Olympics before dominate senior stages. Last year she ran 48.14 seconds to win gold medal of the world championship 400m beating Olympic champion Milller where her time standards as third fastest of all time behind  East German’s Marita Koch (47.60) in 1985, and the Czech Republic’s  Jarmila Kratochvilova (47.99 sec) in 1983. Although both of them haven’t been tested positive, their performance always cast doubt due to the State sponsored drugs scandal in Eastern Germany and Eastern Europe in the 70s and 80s.

As Ceylon athletics earlier reported , she won two gold and one silver medal in the 2018 Asian Games while won four gold and one bronze medal in the Asian Championship running five events which had altogether 8 rounds within three days.  Her amazing last in the 4x400m women relay finals deprived Sri Lanka from a bronze medal as they finished fourth while Naser who took the baton at 4 position went on to win the gold for her adopted country in the last leg.

This is the fourth high profile doping violation case among Bahrain’s elite female athlete during recent past where Kenyan born Olympic 3000m steeple chase Gold medalist Ruth Jabet, Kenyan born Asian Games Gold medalist and World Championship Bronze medalist (Marathoner) Eunich Kirwa and Nigerian born Oluwakemi Adekoya who broke Damayanthi Darsha’s Asian Games 400m record , all getting four year ban for drug cheating.

“I’ve never been a cheat and I will never be. I only missed three drug tests, which is normal. It happens and it can happen to anybody” said Naser on Saturday in an instagram live video.

In reply AIU state the following: “The investigation into Ms Naser’s three whereabouts failures in 2019 was ongoing at the time of the Doha World Championships and she was not provisionally suspended at that time. Following conclusion of the investigation and a fourth whereabouts failure in January 2020, a notice of charge was issued and Ms Naser subject to an immediate provisional suspension. The disciplinary process is ongoing and AIU will not comment further on the matter at this stage”