Athletics: Mo Katir Suspended for Two Years, His Olympic Dream Shattered

The 25-year-old athlete, born in Morocco, had revealed himself to the world in 2021 with a promising eighth place in the 5,000 meters at the Tokyo Olympics. The following year, he confirmed his talent by winning two medals at the World Championships: bronze in the 1,500 meters and silver in the 5,000 meters.

But his career is taking a new turn, as he has just been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for three whereabouts failures. This rule requires athletes to make themselves available for unannounced anti-doping tests at specific times and locations.

The AIU investigation revealed that Katir had provided erroneous explanations to justify his absence during three tests. His travel documents and information from the global anti-doping database contradicted his statements, confirming the violation of the rules.

Katir will therefore miss the Olympics, which begin in Paris on July 26, and the 2025 World Championships, which will be held at the National Stadium in Tokyo.