5-year ban for Gjergj Ruli

Albanian Athletics Federation President Gjergj Ruli was suspended for 5 years and its Secretary General Nikolin Dionisi was suspended for 4 years due to long jumper Izmir Smajlaj being tampered with as a result of the competition.

According to the statement from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), it was determined that the World Athletics Association received incorrect information about the grade of Smajlaj, who earned the right to participate in the Tokyo Olympics with his jump of 8, 16 meters in the competition held in the capital Tirana in May 2021.

It was decided to sanction Ruli, president of the federation, for five years, and Dionisi, general secretary, for four years, among the 3 names that were temporarily sanctioned in December.

The temporary suspension of Smajlaj, who won the European indoor championships in 2017, has been lifted due to a lack of evidence that the 30-year-old was deliberately involved in the manipulation. (AA)