Berlin – The majority of athletes fear injustices in competitions this year due to the lower number of doping tests in the corona crisis.
In a survey by the independent athlete organization “The Athletics Association”, 78 percent of the athletes surveyed said they were concerned about the validity of results this season. 685 athletes from 82 countries took part in the survey. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the doping control system has come to a standstill almost worldwide.
With 82 percent, the majority of the athletes surveyed continue to train despite the spread of the coronavirus. An even higher proportion would be willing to take part in competitions again in autumn 2020. 86 percent of athletes said that the situation would allow it. Triple-jump Olympic champion Christian Taylor from the USA founded the athlete organization last year in order to make the athletes more heard.
According to the survey, the athletes are particularly concerned about their qualifications for the Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo, which were held in 2021. The World Athletics Association had recently announced that the qualification due to the Corona crisis would be suspended until November 30. More than half of the respondents (60 percent) fear injustice if some athletes can start again from December 1, but others still suffer from restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
