Lifetime Ban on Olympic Champion Arshad Nadeem’s Coach Salman Iqbal Butt; Federation Cites “Violation of Constitution”

Islamabad (The Uttam Hindu): The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has imposed a lifetime ban on Salman Iqbal Butt, the coach of Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem, who brought glory to Pakistan by winning the javelin throw event at the Paris Olympics 2024. According to the federation, the ban was enforced for violating the constitution of the Punjab Athletics Association. However, the decision has sparked major controversy in Pakistan’s sports community.

As per AFP’s statement, Salman Iqbal, who also served as President of the Punjab Athletics Association, conducted association elections in August in violation of federation rules. A committee was formed in September to investigate the matter, and based on its recommendation, AFP imposed the lifetime ban on October 10. Under this decision, Salman Iqbal can no longer participate in, coach, or hold any position in athletics-related activities.

While the official reason cited is related to election violations, many believe the ban is linked to Arshad Nadeem’s disappointing performance at the recently concluded World Athletics Championship. The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had earlier sought clarification from the coach regarding Nadeem’s poor performance and demanded a detailed account of expenses incurred during his training and international trips.

Notably, a few weeks ago, Salman Iqbal had made headlines after claiming that PSB had withdrawn its support for Arshad Nadeem’s training. He revealed that he had to seek financial help from a friend to fund Nadeem’s training camp in South Africa. His statement caused embarrassment for Pakistan’s sports administration, and insiders suggest the federation and PSB were displeased with his remarks.

The timing of the ban has raised eyebrows, coming just after Arshad Nadeem’s historic Olympic gold. The decision has triggered outrage among fans and experts, who question whether internal politics are overshadowing Pakistan’s athletic achievements.