World 5,000m silver medallist Mohamed Katir has received a four-year ban for tampering after he was found to have falsified travel documents submitted during an investigation into missed doping tests.

The 26-year-old Spaniard was suspended for two years by the Athletics Integrity Unit [AIU] in February for missing three doping tests in 12 months.  But during its investigation the AIU discovered that on the date of one of those missed tests, 28 February 2023, Katir had altered his travel itinerary, boarding pass and booking confirmation in an attempt to mislead investigators who were looking into where he was that day.

The AIU requires athletes to log their whereabouts external to assist unannounced out-of-competition tests.

The four-year ban will run concurrently with Katir’s previous sanction, extending his suspension until February 2028.

“There can be no doubt that the athlete put forward a false version of events and altered documents,” concluded the AIU’s disciplinary tribunal. “He did so in order to persuade WA (World Athletics) that his filing failure on 28 February 2023 should not be treated as a whereabouts failure.”

Katir, who won World Championship bronze in the 1500m in 2022 and silver in the 5,000m in 2023, will miss the Worlds in Tokyo next year and Beijing in 2027.

The AIU asked for Katir’s results from 9 March 2023 onwards to be disqualified but that was rejected by the disciplinary tribunal because the timing of his whereabouts failure did not offer a “competitive advantage which affected his results”.

The head of AIU Brett Clothier said the ruling underscored the seriousness of tampering.

“Gone are the days in athletics when explanations offered in anti-doping cases are just accepted at face value,” said Clothier. “Thanks to strong investment in investigations, since its inception in 2017, the AIU has prosecuted 25 tampering cases.

“The vast majority of our elite athletes respect the strict rules and processes of the sport and they should take heart at the action being taken to ensure a level playing field.”

[BBC Sports]

Australia have dropped Nathan McSweeney and called up 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas to replace him for the final two Tests against India.

New South Wales’ Konstas is in line to become Australia men’s youngest Test batting debutant since Ian Craig in 1953.

McSweeney was preferred to Konstas at the start of the series but he managed only 72 runs across six innings at an average of 14.40.

Australia’s chief selector George Bailey said Konstas’ selection offers the chance to “throw something different” at India’s bowling attack.

“I think Sam’s method and style is different to Nathan’s, should we go down that path,” he said.

Earlier this season Konstas scored two centuries against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, becoming the youngest player to do so since Ricky Ponting in 1993.

Should the right-hander be picked, he would become Australia’s youngest Test debutant since current skipper Pat Cummins, who was 18 years and 193 days when he played against South Africa in 2011.

Seamer Jhye Richardson, who last played a Test in the 2021-22 Ashes, has also been recalled with Josh Hazlewood out injured.

Fellow quick Sean Abbott and all-rounder Beau Webster, both uncapped at Test level, have been retained in the squad, having been called up previously in the series but not selected in the XI.

Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, who, like McSweeney, have struggled at the top of the order, have retained their places in the squad.

The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne starts at 23:30 GMT on 25 December with the series tied at 1-1.

Australia squad for final two Tests v India: Pat Cummins (captain), Travis Head, Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

[BBC]