Katir’s admission of whereabouts failures were buried in the Spanish sporting press by
the announcement that Kylian Mbappé will be coming to Real Madrid when his contract at PSG runs out in June. Mbappé is one of the world’s best players, and this is news that has been awaited for months, so it is a big deal.
Mo's story did make it into the pages of Marca, Spain’s largest-selling sports newspaper,
where “Mo” was quoted as saying that “the failures (whereabouts) were because I
didn’t understand.” He also asked forgiveness from “those who have supported me
all my life…my family, sponsors…trainers…”
He insisted that his suspension had nothing to do with taking drugs, but rather with “incorrect update of data on my whereabouts.” He explained that he tried to inform WADA of his location, but failed to inform the AIU, and that he thought an email was sufficient to update. “These failures of location were due to my lack of understating of how the ADAMS
system works. But, he further explains, “This problem has come up because I am a very clueless (despistado) person.”
And Katir insisted that “all my achievements to date have been without any sort of doping.”
Within the 66 comments on the article, the tone is much like that on Let’s Run: if he hid instead of getting tested, that is a good indication that he is doping.
Among the pithier comments on his self-characterization as a despistado:
“Misunderstanding? You sound like our Prime Minister!” “This guy’s as phony as
a 5000 Euro note” (these don’t exist). “He lies more than he runs.” “An
error??!! You’re not going to the Olympics because of an error??”
The article leaves aside major questions bearing on Mo’s future: Will Asics continue to pay
him during these two years of no competition? After this debacle, do they even want to continue to sponsor him? I would suppose that there is something in his contract about “bringing the brand into disrepute…” so that it can be unilaterally terminated.
One poster revealed that Ketir receives a bursary from “the Spanish government” (probably
the Spanish Royal Athletics Federation?) and that undoubtedly he will keep that.
Thoughts?