Calls Grow for Moroccan Athletics Chief to Step Down Amid Sport’s Decline

Moroccan athletics is doing badly. And the calls for Ahizoune’s resignation from the Athletics Federation have been revived after his dismissal from the chairmanship of the Maroc Telecom board of directors, a position he had held for 27 years. Meanwhile, Ahizoune is campaigning for a sixth term. He has broken the record for longevity in the position, surpassing the late Jilali Al Aoufir, who led the federation from 1957 to 1971, for 14 years.

Moroccan athletics experienced glory in 2005, before Ahizoune’s appointment as FRMA president. That year, Morocco had won three medals: one gold medal thanks to Jaouad Gharib in the marathon, and two silver medals won respectively by Hasna Benhassi (800m) and Adil Kaouch (1500m) during its participation in the 10th edition of the World Championships in Helsinki. Since 2006, the year Ahizoune took office, Moroccan athletics has gradually begun its descent into hell.

Morocco was unable to validate its ticket for the 2009 Berlin, 2011 Daegu and 2013 Moscow editions. A success of esteem will occur two years later. In 2015, Abdelaati Iguider won a medal in Beijing 2015. His compatriot Soufiane El Bakkali emerged in the 3000m steeplechase, winning a silver medal and a bronze medal at the 2017 London and 2019 Doha editions.

Soufiane El Bakkali then saved the honor of Moroccan athletics at Eugene 2022, winning the first gold medal of the Ahizoune era by winning the 3000m steeplechase. The last Moroccan world champion before him was Jaouad Gharib, who had won gold in the marathon at the 2005 Helsinki World Championships. In 2023, Moroccan athletics is reborn: two medals obtained at the Budapest World Championships, thanks to Soufiane El Bakkali in the 3000m steeplechase and Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi in the women’s marathon.

2024: Moroccan athletics sinks again. The participation of Moroccan athletes in the Paris Olympic Games ended in failure. All the participants failed to win a medal. Only world and Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali was able to save the honor of Moroccan athletics after many setbacks.

In addition to prolonged poor performances, doping scandals have rocked the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA). In March 2020, the International Athletics Federation warned Morocco due to doping cases involving some of its athletes. The kingdom was placed on the list of the most monitored nations in terms of doping. The Athletics Integrity Unit had urged the FRMA to redouble its efforts to combat this growing threat. Sanctioned, athletes like Amine Laalou (1500m), Hanan Ouhaddou (3000m steeplechase), Abderrahim Goumri (marathon) and Yahya Berrabah (long jump) no longer participated in the London Olympics.

Faced with this unsavory picture, Abdeslam Ahizoune risks being dismissed from his duties.