Katir's Olympic medal dreams in tatters after doping suspension

Spain's 5 000 metres world silver medallist Mohammed Katir will miss the Olympics later this year after being suspended for two years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Friday for three doping test whereabouts infringements.

"Mohamed Katir of Spain has admitted an anti-doping rule violation and been banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit for two years, following three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period," said the AIU in a statement.

The AIU is an independent agency which carries out doping tests on behalf of World Athletics.

Katir, 25 and who also won silver in the 5 000m in the 2022 European Championships, was provisionally suspended on 7 February, with the athlete initially denying he had failed to be located three times in the last 12 months.

The Spanish athletics federation (RFEA) "immediately suspended the athlete's licence" after being officially notified of a case being opened against him.

Katir's suspension will run from 7 February, 2024 until 6 February, 2026 with all results and awards since 10 October, 2023 disqualified.