Raul Chapado, president of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation, disclosed that an ongoing disciplinary file has been opened against athlete Mohamed Katir for bypassing three anti-doping controls over the past year. This update arrives as part of a broader commitment shared by the federation to uphold integrity in sport and ensure clean competition across disciplines relevant to North American audiences as well.
The federation reaffirmed its stance in favor of a clean sport and emphasized that athletes must adhere to all established rules. Chapado began his remarks by underscoring the importance of rule obedience and the integrity of the sport. He described the case as very private and still in early stages, noting that an interim sanction has been placed and that confidentiality limits the amount of detail that can be made public at this moment. The emphasis remained on due process and respect for the privacy of those involved. [Source: Royal Spanish Athletics Federation communications]
Chapado added that he had been informed during a meeting the previous day that the issue could escalate. He stated that he had no direct contact with the athlete, only with the athlete’s representative. The federation cannot intervene in ongoing legal or disciplinary procedures, and Chapado did not discuss any specific defense strategy with the athlete. The representative had shared a prepared statement with him, but no new information could be disclosed in that setting. The narrative remained firmly centered on the process rather than personal details. [Source: Official briefing]
Three setbacks and a possible impact on Olympic dreams
The federation president acknowledged that the athlete’s social media messages were met with harsh reactions, but he called for restraint. He said that while public opinion is free, there is no justification for racist or xenophobic attacks targeting the athlete. The integrity of the process must be preserved, and such criticisms do not help anyone involved. Chapado outlined how the procedure works: when a failure is detected, the athlete is notified and given ten days to file claims. If no justification is found for the error, a malfunction report is issued to the athlete, the federation, and the relevant control bodies. If a third party is involved, time is granted, but if issues are not addressed, a disciplinary file is initiated. An interim sanction is in place, and the athlete may appeal. The federation describes this as the initial stage of a multi-step process. [Source: Administrative guidelines]
Regarding Paris Olympic qualification, Chapado explained that selection criteria were approved in 2017, and if an athlete has a case open for disciplinary or doping reasons, they cannot compete in official events until the matter is resolved in their favor. In other words, a final decision must exonerate the athlete from sanctions before they can be considered for Olympic selection. This policy protects the integrity of qualification processes across major international competitions. [Source: Olympic eligibility regulations]
Athlete responsibility
The leader offered a clear diagnosis: the responsibility lies with the athletes themselves. The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation emphasizes a strong personal commitment to following the rules and understanding the regulations. Education plays a key role; the federation provides programs that explain the risks of doping and makes published documents accessible. Interventions in the process could be misinterpreted as participating in the case, so the federation focuses on prevention and education rather than direct involvement in individual defenses. Chapado acknowledged that predicting the duration of the case is difficult, noting that the matter could be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) if needed. [Source: Policy statements]
He closed with a reflection on the broader image of athletics. The federation recognizes a long history with highs and lows, and doping cases have sometimes cast a shadow over legitimate achievements. The concern is not limited to any single country; it resonates across the sports world, including North American audiences who follow international track and field with keen interest. The aim is to highlight what athletes can achieve through dedication while remaining vigilant about policy enforcement and fairness for all competitors. [Source: Institutional reflections]