FILE – In this June 30, 2019, file photo, United States’ Christian Coleman wins the men’s 100-meter race at the Prefontaine Classic IAAF Diamond League athletics meet in Stanford, Calif. Olympic gold-medal sprint contender Christian Coleman could be subject to an anti-doping sanction for missing drug tests, The Associated Press has learned. Two people familiar with Coleman’s case told AP the sprinter faces a case involving three “whereabouts failures” over a 12-month period, which can be treated as a positive test. The people did not want their names used because cases are considered confidential. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Sprinter Christian Coleman faces a Sept. 4 hearing at which he’ll try to avoid a doping suspension after allegations he failed to provide authorities with his whereabouts so he can be tested for performance enhancers.
Both Coleman and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released statements Saturday regarding the case.
USADA said Coleman could be subject to a violation for three failures to provide his whereabouts over a 12-month period. Coleman, the U.S. national champion at 100 meters, said “what has been widely reported concerning filing violations is simply not true,” and he expects to be cleared.
World championships start Sept. 28 in Qatar, and Coleman would bring the year’s fastest time (9.81 seconds) into the meet.
Athletes are required to give authorities their whereabouts information so they can be tested without notice outside of competition.
USADA said Coleman’s case has been put on a fast track, and the arbitration panel will rule by the end of the day on Sept. 5.
The agency said two of the three missed tests were directed by USADA testers, and the third was directed by the Athletics Integrity Unit, which handles anti-doping cases for track’s international federation (IAAF).
The 23-year-old Coleman finished second to Justin Gatlin — and a spot ahead of Usain Bolt — at the 2017 world championships. He posted the fastest 100 time in 2017, 2018 and this year.
“Sometime after the hearing, I will be free to answer questions about the matter,” Coleman said in his statement, “but for now I must reserve and respect the process.”