Arshad Nadeem’s coach Salman Butt will travel with him for the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games next week despite having been slapped with a lifetime ban by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) which prohibits him from participating in any athletics activities.
The ban, which the federation imposed on Salman on October 12 “for gross violations of the AFP Constitution”, barred Salman from participating in any athletics activity “whether as an athlete, coach, official, or office bearer, at both national and international levels, inside or outside Pakistan.”
AFP cited “illegal and unconstitutional” elections held on August 31 by the Punjab Athletics Association — of which Salman was president till August 6 — as the primary reason for the ban.
The ban came just days after AFP asked Salman to explain Arshad’s 10th-place finish at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
The matter descended into the legal sphere when Salman approached the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Oct 14 to hear the case that he was appealing. PSB appointed Senator Pervaiz Rashid as adjudicator to the case.
According to a notice of hearing on the matter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, Rashid sent a questionnaire to AFP and held the first hearing on November 3, but the federation objected to the matter being sent to an adjudicator instead of arbitration.
PSB, citing its constitution, as well as hearings from both the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court, said it “possesses ample jurisdiction and authority to hear and decide the present matter”, and that the objection raised by AFP regarding jurisdiction was “rejected and set aside.”
The notice of hearing directed all parties to appear for the next hearing on Nov 6 (today), but after the AFP requested more time, the hearing has been scheduled for Nov 13 instead, a source close to the matter told Dawn.
Separately, Arshad had written to the Pakistan Olympics Association (POA) on Oct 17, who in turn confirmed its continued support and safeguarding oversight.
Arshad was a recipient of the POA’s Olympic Scholarships for athletes bound for the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Arshad won gold and broke the Olympic record with a 92.97m throw.
In the POA’s response to Arshad, a copy of which is available with Dawn, it confirmed that Salman “as per your patent right, preference and performance record, shall continue to serve as your Athlete Support Personnel for all training, rehabilitation, and competition activities including those conducted under the Pakistan Olympic Association and within the scope of the IOC Olympic Solidarity Programme.”
The association reaffirmed its full commitment to Arshad’s “professional development, mental welfare, and safeguarding.
“You will continue to train and compete within a safe, dignified environment free from external interference,” the letter read.
It further stated that a follow-up consultation would be convened to review his ongoing and future programmes, and the IOC would be informed of the situation “to protect your rights under the Olympic Charter and, in consultation with you, jointly engage with World Athletics at the appropriate time.”
