The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Coe: No deals for duo who missed their doping tests
World Athletics supremo Seb Coe insists no deals should be cut to spare controversial duo Christian Coleman and Salwa Eid Naser from bans for missing multiple doping tests.
The American sprinter and Bahraini 400-metre runner, who both claimed gold at last autumn’s world championships in Doha, have faced a backlash from fellow athletes for claiming they should escape punishment.
Scottish star Eilidh Doyle was one of the most vocal critics, insisting the pair had no excuse for failing to be at home when testers paid a visit.
“Even when I was in hospital for three days, having my baby, my first thought was I better update my whereabouts,” the Olympic medallist said.
“It’s just what has to be done to ensure credibility within our sport.” And Coe has backed her stance, claiming it is time to wipe out the “dog ate my homework” excuse.
He said: “I don’t think it is that complicated, I really don’t.
“The athletes are asked to give their whereabouts for one hour a day and there’s plenty of scope if that one hour suddenly becomes a problem.
“You know, you turn up and the track has got something else on or you get caught in traffic. It’s really not that complicated,” said Coe.
“I was comforted by the observations made by athletes who just made the point that this is the world they live in, they accept it and they’re actually quite grateful that we’ve got systems in place that are actually protecting them. So yeah, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
The fate of that month’s UK Championships is still up in the air while it is uncertain whether the Scottish Championships can be held in September, despite clearance to resume elite sport behind closed doors from next week.
“We need to be cautious,” he said.
“Every country has different R numbers. We can’t play fast and loose with the health of the athletes, getting them back into training or into stadiums than it is safer to do so.
“We have to be careful of communities as well.”