US sprinter suspended for missing drug tests

American sprinter Christian Coleman was suspended Wednesday by the Athletics Integrity Unit for missing doping tests.

The AIU updated its list of athletes on provisional suspension to include the 100-meter world champion hours after he revealed details of the case.

Coleman has been temporarily banned from competition until a final decision at a hearing conducted under World Athletics Anti-Doping rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct.

Coleman had a previous whereabouts charge dropped last year ahead of the world championships and was a favorite for Olympic gold in the 100 meters ahead of the Tokyo Games.

Coleman wrote on Twitter that drug testers were unable to find him December 9 while he was shopping at a nearby mall for Christmas presents.

That was his third infraction in a 12-month period.

Athletes are required to list their whereabouts for an hour each day when they must be available to be tested.

A violation means an athlete either did not fill out forms telling authorities where they could be found, or that they weren’t where they said they would be when testers arrived.

Coleman won the 100 meters at the world championships in Doha, Qatar, last September after the US Anti-Doping Agency dropped his case for missed tests  because of a technicality.

Coleman is the latest in a string of big-name athletes hit with whereabouts charges in 2020.

(Image Credit Pixaby)