Hamza Driouch (Arabic: حمزة الدريوش Ḥamza ad-Driyūsh; born 16 November 1994) is a Qatari track and field athlete. He was born in Guelmim, Morocco.[1] In February 2015 it was announced that Driouch had been banned from athletics for two years for abnormalities in his biological passport profile.

Hamza Driouch
Personal information
NationalityQatari
Born (1994-11-16) 16 November 1994 (age 30)
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
Sport
SportRunning
Event1500 metres800 metres mile
ClubQatar club
Coached byJama Aden
Nic Bideau
Achievements and titles
Personal best1500 m: 3:33.69 (Doha 2012)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Qatar
Pan Arab Games
Silver medal – second place 2011 Doha 1500 m
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Barcelona 1500 m
Asian Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Colombo 1500 m
Silver medal – second place 2010 Hanoi 800 m
Silver medal – second place 2012 Colombo 800 m
Summer Youth Olympics
Silver medal – second place 2010 Singapore 1000 m

Biography

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The Qatari mid-distance runner won a silver medal in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games 2010 in Singapore and took gold in the 1,500m at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics in Barcelona.[2]

Driouch is a Moroccan citizen, he moved to Qatar in 2010 with his brother, who was then looking for a job in the Gulf State. His father being deceased, his elder brother Ibrahim was looking after him. Hamza Driouch subsequently obtained Qatari nationality, Although the fact that the Qatari nationality must be obtained after 20 years of residence in Qatar but it was not the case with Driouch. Additionally, Hamza was granted the Qatari nationality before reaching age of 18.[3]

Driouch made his Olympic debut for Qatar at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He qualified for London with an 'A' standard time of 3:34.50 in the Men's 1500m.[4]

In February 2015 it was announced that Driouch had been banned from athletics for 2 years for abnormalities in his biological passport profile.[5] His results from 2 August 2012 and onwards were annulled,[6] which included his results from the semi-final at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[7] Before and during the London Summer Olympics, Hamza Driouch was coached by Jama Aden.[8][9]

A possible explanation for the more than 28 month long delay of Driouch doping ban is provided by the WADA Independent commission report #2 (page 68) where it says.

"...as a result of the internal frictions, although no passport cases were brought forward by the IAAF, the data was still being collected as a result of the testing program. Dollé`s employment was terminated in September 2014. This seemed to unlock the situation at the IAAF. In December 2014, the IAAF engaged the APMU [Athlete Passport Management Unit] associated with the WADA accredited laboratory in Montreal to manage its blood ABP [Athlete Biological Passport] program.

The laboratory official in charge of the function reviews all passports on an anonymous basis, with all atypical passports sent, without delay, to an independent expert for review..."

The date matches well the dates for Driouch doping ban. 'Dollé' is Gabriel, at the time IAAF anti-doping head, who during 2015 was put under investigation accused of corruption.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "London 2012 Athlete Profile". www.london2012.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Ready for London". Gulf Times. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Mondial juniors 2012: Hamza Driouch illumine le 1500 m de son talent". VO2.fr Running and Athletics News. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Qatari athletes at London". Doha Stadium Plus. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  5. ^ Qatari middle-distance runner given two-year doping ban www.bnd.com 24 February 2015
  6. ^ Bloom, Ben (27 Feb 2015). "Mo Farah pictured running with Qatari drug cheat Hamza Driouch". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 Aug 2015.
  7. ^ Hamza Drouch biography, iaaf.org
  8. ^ "OS-uppladdning på Skryllegården". svt.se. Swedish Public Television. 2012-06-04. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Worlds best junior in Lund". sydsvenskan.se. South Swedish Daily Paper. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Former IAAF anti-doping head Gabriel Dollé under criminal investigation". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2015-11-05. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
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