Sanctioned by the Integrity Unit of Athletics (AIU) at the end of January for breaches of his anti -doping obligations, the French specialist of the 400 meter hedges Wilfried Happio saw his suspension reduced to 18 months, his lawyer told AFP on Thursday, confirming information from the newspaper L’Equipe.
“The suspension has been reduced from 24 to 18 months by the World Athletics disciplinary court (The International Athletics Federation). It is therefore suspended for a period of 18 months from January 30, 2025detailed Maître Anthony Mottais. We are now planning to make a call to the job (Tribunal Arbitral du Sport) so that the sanction is canceled.”
On January 30, Wilfried Happio had been suspended provisionally by the AIU due to three “no shows” in less than twelve months, for which he risked up to two years of suspension. The athlete and his lawyer then appealed to the disciplinary court of World Athletics to contest this decision.
“The court partially heard our arguments. It is estimated that during the last check, the controller did not do all the sufficient diligence to get in touch with the athlete. The controller did not hit the door, did not try to call him“Explained Me Mottais.
Vice-European champion of the 400-meter hedges in 2022 and 4th at the World Cups in Eugene (United States) the same year, Happio was also semi-finalist in the 2024 Olympics. The 26-year-old French athlete is also accused of domestic violence several times and was targeted last December by a complaint “For acts committed during a marital relationship“.
: the suspension of Wilfried Happio reduced to 18 months, his lawyer will seize the TAS to cancel the sanction){kind=link}