U.S. sprinter Christian Coleman, whose time of 9.81 seconds in the 100m is the fastest in the world this year, released a statement Saturday denying reports that he has missed three doping tests in 12 months, a “whereabouts” violation that could result in a two-year ban.
“I’m not a guy who takes any supplements at all, so I’m never concerned about taking drug tests, at any time,” Coleman said. “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.”
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency records show the agency has tested Coleman 11 times through Aug. 20. The agency requires elite athletes to give “whereabouts,” a few details on where they expect to be each day, so that they may take out-of-competition tests.
USADA confirmed Saturday that Coleman has been charged with a “potential anti-doping rule violation for failing to properly disclose his whereabouts information.”
The agency said it initiated two of the test attempts, while another was initiated by the Athletics Integrity Unit, founded by the IAAF in 2017. The AIU has pronounced itself independent from the IAAF.
Coleman will have a hearing with the American Arbitration Association/North American Court of Arbitration for Sport on Sept. 4, as alluded to in the Coleman statement and confirmed by USADA.
The 23-year-old sprinter would be the heavy favorite in the world championships, following up his silver medal between Justin Gatlin and Usain Bolt in 2017, two months after he won the NCAA title. He is one of only eight athletes to break the 9.8-second mark in the 100m, and he posted the world’s best time in 2017 and 2018.
READ: Gatlin and Coleman beat Bolt in Jamaican star’s farewell championship
Since a loss to Noah Lyles in Shanghai in May, a race in which both Americans posted a time of 9.86, Coleman has won all three events he has entered — the Bislett Games in June, the Prefontaine Classic later in June, and the USATF Championships in July.
He withdrew from last week’s Diamond League meet in Birmingham.
The world championships start Sept. 27 in Doha.
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