The World Athletics Council has enacted a significant ban on Bahrain, prohibiting the recruitment of athletes until 2027.
This decision follows Winfred Yavi’s victory at the Paris Olympics, which sparked widespread concern regarding the trend of Kenyan athletes changing their national affiliations. READ FULL STORY
The ruling, announced on Thursday, August 22, stems from a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Board, which revealed past violations of World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules by the Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA).
The sanctions are extensive, preventing Bahrain from applying for any transfers of allegiance or recruiting foreign athletes for the next four years.
As part of the resolution, Bahrain is required to establish and finance a talent academy focused on nurturing local athletes, a step many believe will reduce the nation’s previous dependence on foreign talent.
The ban also imposes limitations on Bahrain’s participation in major competitions, restricting the number of athletes eligible to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics and the Tokyo 2025 World Championships to a mere 10.
Furthermore, Bahrain will be excluded from all World Athletics Series events for a period of 12 months beginning in June 2024.
In a press release, the Council highlighted Bahrain’s cooperation during the investigation, noting that the BAA acknowledged the violations and accepted the sanctions imposed.
Bahrain is dedicated to reforming its athletics programme, allocating up to $7.3 million over the next four years to tackle issues related to doping and integrity.
The nation has committed to executing a strategic plan, created in collaboration with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), aimed at overhauling its athletics federation and effectively managing integrity concerns.
Furthermore, Bahrain will set up a fully funded, independent national anti-doping organization that adheres to the standards of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which will remain operational at least until the conclusion of 2026.
