Track and field’s international governing body wants German Olympic discus champion Robert Harting to remain eligible for its male Athlete of the Year award, despite Harting’s wish to be taken off the list because it includes American Justin Gatlin.
Harting asked the IAAF last week to remove him from a list of 10 candidates for the annual award, whose winner will be announced Nov. 21.
“I stand for nomination with a former doping offender, and that is the reason for my waiver,” Harting reportedly said of Gatlin, who is four years removed from a four-year doping ban.
“The IAAF has been in touch with Robert Harting’s manager and asked her to inform Robert that we want him to remain on the list because he is a worthy champion,” IAAF spokesman Nick Davies told German press agency DPA in a statement, according to The Australian Associated Press.
Harting told DPA he only wishes to be a candidate in the future “if athletes who have misbehaved are scrapped” from the list and subject to nomination ban.
Davies said Harting had not responded to the IAAF, according to the report.