JEDDAH, 13 July 2007 — Saudi long jumper Mohammad Al-Khuwalidi runs the risk of being suspended for two years if he fails to fly to Europe on July 16 for a mandatory drug test to be administered by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).
Al-Khuwalidi is in a dilemma. He wants to go and have the test as required by his mother federation but at the same time he fears repercussions at Aramco should he insist on pushing through with the trip.
However, Al-Khuwalidi has the royal decree to fall back on if it comes on time. Last month, Al-Khuwalidi failed to secure the document that left him stranded in the Eastern Province while his teammates went abroad to train for the World Cup.
Having used up his paid vacation leaves with Aramco Al-Khuwalidi needs the royal decree, renewable every year, that grants him exemption to the company rule and allows him to go on leave with pay.
The Saudi Athletics Federation has delayed the WADA test for Al-Khuwalidi at least three times. WADA has warned the Saudi athletics star faces two-year suspension if he fails to show up for a July 16 test.
“It is no longer just about my work, I might be suspended from playing for two years,” Al-Khuwailidi told Arab News.
Every three months WADA checks on the Kingdom’s top 10 track and field athletes, he said. These athletes have to inform WADA of their choice of venue for the test. If after a certain period of time the athlete failed to show up at the venue, he would get a warning. After three warnings, the athlete is suspended from competition for two years.
In Al-Khuwalidi’s case, the federation has informed the WADA that he would be in Europe this month saying the delays in the past were caused by the non-availability of the royal decree that would facilitate a hassle-free travel by Al-Khuwalidi. The federation officials said the all-important document is now at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and it would take a week before it reaches Aramco. “The last thing I know, the federation told WADA I would be in Europe on July 16,” he said.
“Somehow I also blame the federation for informing the WADA that I would be there weeks ago even before the royal decree had been sent to the ministry. This makes it more difficult for me.”
“It might seem for the WADA as if I am hiding or escaping but it is not in my hands. It all depends on the arrival of the royal decree and I am afraid that all I have done would evaporate because of this delay in finishing my procedures at work,” he said.
“The WADA has been communicating with the federation here in Riyadh, but now I believe most of the officials are on vacation and this frightens me not knowing the consequences from WADA or the punishment I would get,” he added.
“My coach who is already in Europe explained my situation to WADA representatives there. I wish I could tell them I am here so they could visit me here, but even this I can not guarantee, because as soon as I get the permission from my work I’d travel immediately.”
Al-Khuwalidi already missed the Grand Prix in Athens on July 3, the Grand Prix in Switzerland in July 10, and the Grand Prix yesterday in Rome. Not gaining points from these three events might rule him out of the World Cup.
The long jumper brought glory to the Kingdom on many occasions. He won the bronze in the World Cup in Athens in 2006, and the silver medal in the World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany in the same year.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Sharahili was disqualified from the 110 meters hurdles after making two false starts during the opening on Wednesday of the 5th International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Youth Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Sharahili was in tears and said the disqualification hurts as he did not expect it to end this way. “This is a once in lifetime chance, I was hoping to put my name and my country among the world champions but failed,” he said.
According to his coach Tawfeiq Nait, “Sharahili is one of the outstanding athletes in the 110 meter hurdles and what happened to him happens to world champions when the are overwhelmed with excitement. He was in great shape during training and before the competition. I was certain he would win until he made his second false start,” he said.
In the same championship, Mohammed Al-Shabanat placed third in the sixth heat of the 100 meters in 10.90 sec to qualify for the second round. Younis Al-Houssa also advanced by placing third in heat 4 of the 400 meters in 48.14 sec as did Ali Al-Diraan in the 800 meters where he clocked 1.53.95 during the heat 8.
