The era where Morocco dominated world athletics is clearly over. The total absence of athletes at the World Indoor Championships in Poland unfortunately demonstrates the immobility of the federation, in contrast to the dynamism of national football.
In Morocco, calls for the resignation of Abdeslam Ahizoune, who has accumulated nearly 19 years of experience at the head of the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA), are multiplying. At the origin of these calls, the discipline has been languishing for years, then fell into a state of total lethargy.
King Mohammed VI elevated Soufiane El Bakkali, who saved Morocco’s honor at the Paris Olympic Games by winning gold in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, to the rank of Commander of the Order of the Throne. The ceremony took place on Wednesday, in the presence of Abdeslam Ahizoune, president of the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation.
Soufiane El Bakkali won his second consecutive world title in the 3,000m steeplechase (8:03.53) on Tuesday in Budapest, Hungary. An exploit for the Olympic champion who a few months ago lamented the derisory bonuses awarded by the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA) to the best athletes.
Moroccan athlete Soufiane El Bakkali criticizes the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA) by drawing attention to the lack of efforts to motivate the best athletes in the kingdom.
The 2021 Diamond League season, a major event in world athletics, initially scheduled to begin on May 23 in Rabat with a sports meeting, will instead start from Gateshead in England due to the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement was made on Friday by the International Athletics Federation.
Moroccan athletes are now training via the WhatsApp application, due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Morocco is one of the countries with the highest risk of doping. This is indicated by the latest ranking of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
The athletes Badr El Jaloui and Abdelkrim Boubker are suspended, respectively for a period of four and five years for violation of the anti-doping rules of the Regional Anti-Doping Organization Africa Zone 1. During this period, the two athletes are prohibited from participating in sports activities.
Former Moroccan athlete Yassin Fakir has revealed cases of rape and doping within Moroccan athletics. Testimonies that could bring down several heads and call into question the performances of certain athletes.
The Athletics Integrity Unit, an independent organization responsible for the fight against doping for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), provisionally suspended the Moroccan marathoner Al Mahjoub Dazza for doping on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.
1,400 athletes from 120 countries, including Morocco , are participating in the World Para Athletics Championships, which are being held from November 7 to 15 in Dubai.