By Kyle Merber
February 14, 2024
The keyword in this headline is provisional because Mohamed Katir of Spain has not officially been convicted of wrongdoing – he’s only being accused of it. Katir is twice a World Championship medalist, and his quick ascension to stardom has previously drawn suspicion. In 2021, Katir dropped his 1500m time from 3:36.59 to 3:28.76, his 3000m improved from 7:44.13 to 7:27.64, and he has since run 12:45.01 for 5000m.
Rapid progressions often throw up red flags in fans’ heads, but at the age of 23, it’s not uncommon to get way faster, relatively quickly. Look at Yared Nuguse, who dropped 10 seconds in his mile last year. You don’t think he’s cheating, do you? That’s because we watched him grow up.
I have no clue if Katir is cheating – I hope he’s not! He is a fearless racer, posts sick videos of him ripping on the treadmill, indulges in great celebrations, and is a wordsmith. All important qualities we look for in our stars.
There isn’t much of a “we got ‘em!” hit of satisfaction when athletes are suspended for whereabouts failures. I’d like some more definitive proof, like a doctor coming out and saying it’s a miracle that a theoretically caught athlete is even alive because it’s IMPOSSIBLE to have THAT much testosterone in their bloodstream.
Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
Instead, we get a weak little excuse from the AIU like, “well, we couldn’t find him…” and that doesn’t quite scratch the itch of my pitchfork. In a perfect world, if someone is missing three tests in 12 months then we can safely assume they are avoiding them. And then we can feel just about labeling them a cheater.
Unfortunately, this system hasn’t instilled 100% confidence in the process. In theory, it should not be that hard to provide a one-hour window each day where you’d likely be sitting on your couch drinking coffee before a run. But filing failures, athletes forgetting to update their travel plans, and a terrible website/app UX, do create some gray areas.
Regardless, the responsibility still falls on the athlete. One might happen… but once there are two strikes on your record! If you are actively fighting with commenters about whether or not you are doping, then it feels like step one is don’t dope, and step two is to update your whereabouts religiously!
(If you are curious how often Americans are being tested by USADA, that’s publicly available here.)
Kyle Merber
Kyle Merber is a former professional miler turned media multi-hyphenate. While he’s not above dropping a quick “back in my day,” he’s far more focused on the present. Since 2021, he has brought his signature analysis and commentary to track fans across the CITIUS MAG network. When he’s not writing The Lap Count or hopping on podcasts, Kyle manages partnerships and pitches a relentless stream of ideas for Chris to consider. He might not be running a 3:52 mile anymore, but he keeps himself in just good enough shape to ensure the athletes still respect him.
