Coleman free to compete at worlds after Usada drops case
Sprinter denied violating ‘whereabouts’ system Langford risks Doha spot after second controversy
The case against American sprinter Christian Coleman has been dropped by the United States Antidoping Agency.
The decision means the 23-yearold, who was the 100 metres silver medallist at the World Championships in London two years ago, will be eligible to compete at the 2019 event in Doha this month.
The case against Coleman – three alleged failures to properly file whereabouts information over a 12-month period – had been due to be heard tomorrow, with the possible punishment of a two-year ban.
The world indoor 60m champion and fastest man in the world this year always denied any wrongdoing and had been confident his name would be cleared. Usada said it withdrew the charge after receiving guidance from the World Anti-doping Agency. Usada recorded filing failures for Coleman on June 6 last year, and Jan 16 and April 26 this year. Based on these three failures, a case was initiated. However, given guidelines state filing failures relate back to the first day of the quarter, Coleman contended that the first failure should be put back to April 1, 2018, meaning the three failures did not fall in a 12-month period.
With the hearing no longer necessary, Coleman is permitted to compete, although Usada’s decision to drop the case is subject to appeal by the International Association of Athletics Federations and/or Wada. Travis Tygart, Usada’s chief executive, said: “Consistent application of the global anti-doping rules is essential in every case.”
Meanwhile, Great Britain runner Kyle Langford’s hopes of competing in Doha are in doubt after a second complaint about his conduct. At the end of June, the 800m runner was forced to apologise after he shoved an official at a track meet in Watford. UK Athletics gave him a written warning, fined him £1,000 and ordered him to complete one day of community service.
Langford, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, is facing a second complaint, allegedly related to a clash with James Mccarthy during the British Championships. Langford qualified for the final in Birmingham with victory in the heat on Aug 24, but only after tangling with Mccarthy, who nearly fell and finished seventh. Mccarthy then appealed and was given a place in the following day’s final.
Langford finished eighth and Mccarthy ninth in the race, with an alleged post-race incident reportedly resulting in Mccarthy making a complaint to UKA, and Langford issuing his own counter-complaint. UKA declined to comment, but Gary Lough, Langford’s manager, said: “Complaints have been made along with a requested investigation into specific incidents and persons”.