The track and field world is shaken up by what transpired on March 18. Now, doping has always been a vice that the sport had to deal with as athletes tried to use unfair means to win. But the incident this time was far too grave, as the Director of Track and Field and XC at Montverde Academy (Prep) was involved. In a shocking turn of events, Gerald Phiri has received provisional suspension from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). But the full implications of this suspension go far beyond this isolated case. 

This was part of a joint investigation with the Anti-Doping Agency, USADA. Because of their investigation, Phiri was allegedly found to be in possession of GW1516, Meldonium, a banned substance that goes against the anti-doping guidelines. The initial investigation was started when three athletes who received coaching under Phiri were found guilty of having an identical substance in their system. According to the reports from FloTrack, all three athletes returned ‘Adverse Analytical Findings’ when tested for GW1516, Meldonium.

One of the most prominent names among Phiri’s star pupils is Issam Asinga. Back in 2023, Asinga ran a whirlwind timing of 9.89s in the 100m category. In addition to this, he also broke the U20 world record with this blistering performance. Unfortunately, after the run, Asinga was tested for doping by the AIU. And sure enough, he returned positive results. The substance found in his body was the dreaded GW1516. 

This resulted in Asinga getting a 4-year suspension. But just when everyone thought that was an isolated case, further cases with the same banned substance came to light. And now, with the findings from Gerald Phiri, the whole case has taken a fresh turn. Now what makes this even worse is that before his coaching days, Phiri was also an Olympian for Zambia.

Hence, with all the allegations abounding, one can guess that the IOC is bound to dig up Phiri’s records to check for any anomalies from then as well. If found, it could have far worse implications for the coach than a simple suspension. Phiri has already been suspended, effective as of March 18. But while all these proceedings are going on, the fans have become agitated by the coach. They immediately lashed out at Phiri. 

Fans hit back At Gerald Phiri for a major disciplinary lapse

As soon as the news gained traction, the fans flocked to the comment section to express their anger. One fan, sharing their personal opinion, commented, “It was at this moment; he knew he f*ed up.” The comment highlighted the gravity of the situation, suggesting that Phiri’s involvement in the doping scandal has backfired severely. They further hinted that possibly it marked the end of his coaching career and damaged his reputation irreversibly.

Another user criticized Phiri for not only jeopardizing his career but also harming the futures of the athletes he coached, including Asinga, who now faces a four-year suspension. Their take read, “What a stupid thing to do. He ruined the kids’ careers as well.” Meanwhile, one commenter argued that Asinga, being young, might have trusted Phiri blindly.

They commented, “Earlier when I said those around Asinga should also be held liable, folks act like him being 18 is some magical number that makes him know EVERYTHING.” The X user even went on to cite an example to emphasize his thought. “E.g., If ur coach hands you sum vitamin, are you gonna take it to the lab 1st? He exploited those kids shameful & disgraceful”, they added. Their words suggested that Phiri abused his position of authority by providing banned substances, leaving Asinga vulnerable.

Meanwhile, someone else was trying to link this incident to other similar incidents across other sports. They mentioned, “And we assume there is no link between this guy and their very famous basketball program..? Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, Asa Newell, Liam McNeeley, etc.” They raise suspicion about whether Phiri’s involvement in doping might extend to other sports programs at Montverde Academy, including their renowned basketball program.

One commenter expressed frustration over the negative impact of the scandal on track and field. They called for Phiri to face the harshest penalty—a lifetime ban from the sport. “This is just fucked up for the sports; he needs a lifetime ban,” read their opinion. Thus, it is evident that with the latest findings, things are looking quite grim for Gerald Phiri. Fans of the sport across the world will be awaiting the decision, as it might very well spell the end of Phiri’s career.