World silver medallist Mo Katir banned for two years for breaking anti-doping rules
Two-time world championship medallist Mo Katir admitted breaking anti-doping rules and was banned for two years, removing the middle-distance runner from Paris 2024.
Track and field’s Athletics Integrity Unit detailed Katir’s three breaches last year of the "whereabouts" rule, which require athletes to specify where and when they will be available for one hour each day for a no-notice visit by sample collectors.
The 25-year-old Katir admitted the rules breaches and was banned until February 2026, the AIU said.
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The AIU’s ruling published on Friday showed how explanations given by Katir for why he was unavailable were later disproven by his travel documents and the evidence of his entries in the global anti-doping database.
Mo Katir celebrating his silver medal in the men's 5000m at the 2023 world championships in Budapest. Getty
Three missed tests or failures to file accurate details of whereabouts within a 12-month period can lead to a ban.
Katir, who was born in Morocco and runs for Spain, placed eighth in the 5000m at the Tokyo 2020.
He took bronze over 1500 meters at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon and silver in the 5000 at the 2023 Worlds in Budapest.
Katir will miss the Olympics that open in Paris on July 26 and the 2025 worlds that return to the National Stadium in Tokyo.
