In June 2024, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Eritrean Athlete Nazret Weldu. The AIU deemed that the Athlete had 3 Whereabouts Failures recorded within a 12 month period:
- a Missed Test and/or Filing Failure dated 9 November 2023;
- a Missed Test and/or Filing Failure dated 8 December 2024; and
- a Missed Test and/or Filing Failure dated 22 May 2024.
The Athlete's representative submitted only an explanation to the AIU about the 3rd Whereabouts Failure. No administratieve review was requested and the Whereabouts Failures were recorded.
Following notification the Athlete explained that her representative had not updated her Whereabouts on two occasions. She herself was unable to communicate in English, had not received anti-doping education, had limited access to internet and was completely dependent of her coach and her representative.
The representative confirmed in his submission that the 2nd and 3rd Whereabouts Failure were entirely his fault. He acknowledged that he had forgotten to update the Whereabouts information in ADAMS.
Thereupon the Athlete gave a timely admission, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. Furthermore she signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form.
The AIU accepted the Athlete's explanation and concludes that she acted with some degree of Fault or Negligence. The AIU considers that the she has established that she was impaired by the circumstances in updating her Whereabouts information.
Therefore the AIU decides on 11 September 2024 to impose a 20 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 17 June 2024.
