(ATR) The world’s fastest sprinter faces a hearing Sept. 4 that could knock him out of the IAAF World Championships later in that month in Doha.
Christian Coleman, 23, is charged by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency with missing three scheduled drug tests in a year. If upheld, Coleman risks a two-year suspension that will rule him out of the IAAF championships in Qatar as well as the Tokyo Olympics next year.
Coleman won the silver medal at the 2017 World Championships and would be favored for the gold medal in Qatar in the 100m. His 9.81 is the fastest time in the world this season.
After days of speculation about whether he was facing charges, Coleman confirmed in a statement that he is under suspicion. Coleman says he takes no supplements and has no reason to avoid random tests.
"What has been widely reported concerning filing violations is simply not true. I am confident the upcoming hearing on September 4th will clear the matter and I will compete at World Championships in Doha this fall. Sometime after the hearing, I will be free to answer questions about the matter, but for now I must reserve and respect the process," Coleman says in a statement.
After Coleman’s public comments, USADA issued a statement late on Aug. 24.
"Under the World Anti-Doping Code three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period may be considered an anti-doping rule violation.
"Two of the three test attempts on Mr. Coleman were USADA directed and one of the attempts was initiated by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Given this, the case is proceeding under the USADA Protocol but we are working closely with the AIU on this matter. We have expedited the case under the USADA rules and Mr. Coleman has agreed to have the three-person independent American Arbitration Association/North American Court of Arbitration for Sport (AAA/CAS) arbitration panel hear the case on September 4 and issue its decision by the end of the following day, well before the IAAF World Championships," says the USADA statement.
"USADA exists to protect clean athletes and the integrity of competition by fairly enforcing the rules. All athletes under USADA’s jurisdiction are innocent and deserve to be seen as innocent unless and until proven to have committed a rule violation through the [sic] establish legal process as is their right," the statement concludes.
Reported by Ed Hula.
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