Nick Butler

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Please follow me also on bluesky here - trying to gradually shift across https://t.co/qsttkeFEOJ

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Clause ensuring that future US funding for WADA is dependent on an "independent audit" of all their activities being carried out is now signed into law by Trump. ARD story from yesterday... https://t.co/zctgDZQygA

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Whatever the details of this case, and legal difficulties generally, it is problematic for athletics when athletes, like Bracy-Williams and Ruth Chepngetich, get DQ'd for doping but keep high profile wins, records + medals from very shortly beforehand... https://t.co/cVKcaYi73t.

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

"Gatlin responded by sacking Dennis Mitchell, but others have continued to flock towards him despite the fact that he has now been linked to 15 different anti-doping violations, whether by association to an athlete, a coach, or via his own rule-breaking." https://t.co/98gbDlgoUD

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Comment from @playthegame_org head Jens-Sejer Andersen. “There is an obvious contradiction between having a whole dept to support and encourage whistleblowers, on one hand, and on the other starting to chase whistleblowers that WADA regards as challenging to their interests,”

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Latest ARD Doping Editorial Team story: WADA hunts whistleblowers in China case. On the cryptically named ongoing "Operation Puncture" being prioritised by their investigations team https://t.co/4y4daocUaV

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

",,,various anti-doping organisations have been asked by WADA...to disclose details that could lead to the identification of possible whistleblowers...despite the security risks that such an action entails for potential whistleblowers in Chinese affairs." https://t.co/4y4daocUaV

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Nice summary of the Ruth Chepngetich decision/investigation. Interesting to see which other athletes she was talking to about "programs". Good work to continue investigating by AIU but the view that only "dopey dopers" are usually caught still stands... https://t.co/nAWCT0Qchi

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Whereabouts violations a very good way to abuse anti-doping system, but only a few agencies like AIU still seem to clamp down on it aggressively.

[Athletics Integrity Unit @aiu_athletics]

📈 In the past 12 months alone, more than 10 cases have emerged — across both men’s and women’s disciplines, from multiple countries and continents.

They follow a clear pattern:
Late updates.
Wrong locations.
No-shows at the time of testing.

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Very revealing from @letsrundotcom how eventual Chicago Marathon winner Jacob Kiplimo was seemingly warned - by figures including a Nike exec - not to engage with question about the huge numbers of doping cases from athletes under his agent Federico Rosa https://t.co/1tdkEj6zzY

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

@jgault13 Hi Jon. Are you able to follow me so that I can send a DM. Thanks!

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

In several countries, including Germany as well as Austria, there are now restrictions against naming of those charged with doping offences. Good article exploring the problems this can cause https://t.co/0LSvukafHL

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Very interesting discussion in first 10mins of this podcast about how dangerous and badly organised the congested start was near the front of @berlinmarathon. Sounds like a risk of people being crushed if organisers don't make more space next year. https://t.co/wBrckM3Kxl

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Portuguese cycling team Suspended 20 Days After Double Blood Passport Violations https://t.co/cljAW65USm

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Odd this article doesn't even mention when talking about his "retirement" that Amir Khan has this year finished a two year doping ban. Drugs problems in boxing won't go away by pretending they never happened https://t.co/J6y6jurTX4

[Chris Chavez @ChrisChavez]

🇬🇧 UK Athletics has published the findings of its investigation into coach Andrew Young – who coached Laura Muir until March 2023.

Two independent panels reviewed Young’s conduct. Both concluded he committed serious misconduct that fell far below UKA coaching standards.

In the first one, the panel considered 33 charges and upheld 9 charges including 7 serious ones.

A lot ot unpack in the rulings, but there were instances raised where: he was driving recklessly with an athlete after a disagreement, then abandoned them roadside; claims of criticizing athletes who raised injury concerns; forcing athletes to compete or train despite physiotherapists advising otherwise; closely monitored/restricted one athlete’s nutrition despite them already working with a qualified professional.

He was initially sanctioned in October 2024 with a 5-year licence revocation, backdated to April 2023, with mandatory rehabilitative training required before reinstatement.

Upon appeal, that sanction was reduced to 3 years and still backdated to April 2023. He will have to complete welfare/medical/anti-bullying training before being reinstated. This means he's barred from coaching under UK Athletics until April 2026 at the earliest.

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Laura Muir issued the following statement in UK Athletics's release:

"I have chosen to waive my anonymity and confirm my involvement in this case. I fully support the decisions reached by both independent panels and I am grateful that the process has been followed through so thoroughly. I want to thank those who came forward and those who contributed to the process — it has not been easy, but it was necessary.

Athletics has always been my passion, and I am pleased to say that I have rediscovered the love of my sport and the enjoyment of training and working within a supportive and positive coaching environment. I am now focused on the future, looking forward to the next few years of my career, and putting this difficult chapter firmly behind me.”

----
Here is the full initial case decision: https://t.co/LfkybUrRgx

Here is the full appeal decision: https://t.co/ftCzg2l4Aj

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

"Inactive umbrella organisation: Sharp criticism of the DOSB": Latest ARD story from @joergww, @HajoSeppelt et al: It seems amazing that the German national olympic committee claims it cannot and should not interfere in the state of gridlock within a constituent sports federation

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

This is fairly amazing in the verdict against Kenyan runner Cornelius Kibet Kiplagat

[🅲🅻🅴🅰🅽🆂 @cleans_letsrun]

I think the AIU gave this Kenyan an extra year's ban for insulting their intelligence

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Caught using the most successful drug test in sport (IRMS)...which is still only used very rarely in many sports.

[Kara Goucher @karagoucher]

National record 66:05 half marathon, marathon PB 2:21:27. 39 year old ran a bunch of PB’s in 2024. Anabolic steroids.

[Nick Butler @NickJMButler]

Interesting on how doping verdicts can affect decisions of other athletes...

[Chris Chavez @ChrisChavez]

Olympic bronze medalist Georgia Hunter Bell says that she probably would’ve doubled in the 800m and 1500m at the World Championships had she known that Diribe Welteji was going to be provisionally suspended for refusing to take an out-of-competition drug test.

Full interview: https://t.co/C5VJpjb01u

#WorldAthleticsChamps

[Zach Bitter @zbitter]

Biggest issue I see with this model getting popular is it sets up a framework where doping is more incentivized or low risk within the tested sports. If you get caught, your career doesn’t end, it may even take off.