French marathon runners will have to wait. The French Athletics Federation (FFA) has obtained from the Consultative Commission for Olympic Selection (CCSO), body of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) in charge of examining and validating the selection proposals issued by the federations, the postponement of the selection for the men’s marathon for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“After the FFA was informed that a procedure was opened against a selectable male athlete, it was decided, in agreement with the CCSO, to postpone the male selection to a later date,” we read in the press release released this Wednesday.
Paris Olympic Games: Postponement of the selection for the men’s marathon
— FFAthlétisme (@FFAthletisme) May 14, 2024
Since January 30, two athletes from the French team were part of the list of “priority” athletes, established by World Athletics and had therefore taken a big step towards qualifying for the Olympics. They were Mehdi Frère, clocked in 2h05′43″ in Valencia (Spain) and Nicolas Navarro (2h05′53″).
But the first named, aged 27, is, as revealed this weekend the investigative media Spe15, suspected of not having respected his obligations in terms of anti-doping regulations. According to our information, he is suspected of not showing up for checks three times, i.e. three “no-shows”. Which he denies.
The women’s selection announced this Wednesday, May 15, as planned
“No notification for three breaches was given to me during a race in Germany, I am not under suspension, and my participation in the Games is not called into question,” assured Mehdi Frère to our colleagues from the newspaper The Independent. We are currently responding with my lawyer to a question from the Athletics Integrity Unit concerning my whereabouts obligations, but to date, the breach has not been notified and no proceedings have been opened against me. There is also no question of no-show, and I have not missed a single doping test. »
“It was decided to postpone the announcement of the men’s selection in order to allow the FFA to make the best possible decision with a view to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” continues the French Athletics Federation in its press release.
No change, however, for the announcement of the women’s selection. Athletes who have achieved the minimums will be confirmed this Wednesday, May 15. Like Frère and Navarro among the men, Mekdes Woldu (2h24′44″) and Mélody Julien (2h25″01) have been “priority” to be part of the French selection since January 30.
Logically, Méline Rollin should obtain the third ticket for Paris thanks to her 2h24′12″ achieved in Seville (Spain) on February 18. With this time synonymous with a French record, she did better than Manon Trapp who until then held the third qualifying time in 2h25’45” and no other tricolor was able to beat her before April 30, the date stopper to achieve the minimums.
