IAAF RULES SERIOUS PAST DRUG OFFENDERS OUT!

Photo: IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe, (Getty Images)

The International Athletics Association (IAAF) and its new President, Lord Sebastian Coe, have drawn the axe hard on past serious drug offenders, making them ineligible for nomination for the World Athlete for 2015 A wards.
This announcement has ruled the likes of USA top male sprinter, Justin Gatlin out of the nomination process. Gatlin who was amongst the nominees for 2014, and this did not go down well with some athletes, with voluntary withdrawal from the nominees listing by German Discuss thrower Robert Harting, stating that he doesn’t want to be on a list with Gatlin

The new ruling from governing body will in effect prevent a repeat of any such controversy going forward.

The IAAF insisted last year that it had no choice but to allow Gatlin’s nomination, which was made by an international panel of athletics experts including representatives from all six continental IAAF areas . However chief amongst those who was displeased was, then IAAF Vice President Coe

The International Athletics Foundation’s World Athletics Gala will be held in Monaco on November 28, however the International Association of Athletics Federations informed the panel of selectors of rules that have been “slightly amended”.

“Please note that athletes who have been previously sanctioned with a serious doping offence shall not be eligible,” the IAAF announced.

The double World Championship silver medalist ,Gatlin, is among some high profile athletes who have had serious drug offence, following his two suspension period, in 2006 and 2001, for four-year doping ban and a two-year ban respectively.

The pending action is however not a forgone conclusion as an IAAF spokesman said on Tuesday: “Gatlin, as an eligible athlete who has had a great season is, logically, also eligible for consideration for the Athlete of the Year contest in the absence of any bylaw to prevent that happening.”

Gatlin’s US compatriot LaShawn Merritt, the World and 2008 Olympic 400m champion served doping ban for 21 months, was also among the 10 male nominations for the 2014 and 2013 female World Athlete of the Year, Jamaica’s world and Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who had a minor suspension for six months in 2010 are amongst athletes with pass violation who made the listing there after.