French marathoner Mehdi Frere, once a prominent figure in the marathon discipline, has been sidelined from the Olympic stage due to a two-year suspension for breaching anti-doping rules, his lawyer confirmed.
“He was suspended for a period of two years by the disciplinary tribunal of World Athletics,” said Laurent Fellous, the athlete’s lawyer representing the Republican Guard.
Frere, a 27-year-old Parisian police officer of Moroccan descent, faces allegations of three “whereabouts failures” within a year, a serious offense under anti-doping regulations.
World Athletics imposed the harsh penalty, which prohibits Frere from participating in professional sports activities, including the upcoming Paris 2024 Games.
Fellous revealed their plan to appeal the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), aiming for a decision before the Games commence.
“We will pursue an expedited procedure at CAS to obtain a ruling before July 26, the opening day of the Games,” Fellous stated optimistically.
Frere, known for his promising talent, achieved a personal best time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 43 seconds in 2023 and placed 20th in this year’s World Cross-Country Championship in Belgrade.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Frere has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) since June 4, preventing him from competing in the recent European Athletics Championship in Rome.
Frere achieved a personal best time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 43 seconds in 2023 and placed 20th in this year’s World Cross-Country Championships.
As Frere’s fate hangs in the balance, the French Athletics Federation has already designated Félix Bour as his potential replacement for the Games.
