World 100m champion Christian Coleman has been handed a provisional suspension after he missed a third drug test.
His suspension was confirmed by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), with the Unit stating that he didn’t make himself available for the doping tests.
The 24-year-old, however, disputed the third whereabouts failure, insisting the tester should rather be blamed for making no effort to contact him.
In a statement post on social media, Coleman said the tester failed to contact him although he was Christmas shopping “five minutes away” from his home.
He further stated that he has nothing to hide and has never used any performance enhancement drug.
“I have never and will never use performance enhancing supplements or drugs,” the statement from Coleman said.
“I am willing to take a drug test every single day for the rest of my career for all I care to prove my innocence.
“I have nothing to hide but it’s not possible to show that if I’m not even given a chance to.”
The American explained that previous tests he had taken saw him contacted by phone “literally every other time”.
According to him, the AIU tester who couldn’t reach him wrote an incorrect address on his unsuccessful attempt form.
The AIU, however, does not regard Coleman’s explanation, insisting athletes are accountable for missed tests if they are not at their specified location for the one-hour period they have stated.
Should that be the case, the tester must wait for a maximum of one hour, after which he can leave if the athlete is still not available.
