Kariem Hussein has signed a conclusive return. Nine months following his suspension, the 2014 European champion completed his 400m hurdles in 49”89 during his comeback race in Geneva.
“Joy!”, replied the Thurgovian in the finish area, when asked what feeling animated him at the end of his lap. His pleasure might be read on his face: “The conditions were perfect, my technique pretty well developed. I am at the level of previous years for my first race, and even earlier in the season.“
Hussein (33) had chosen a small category C meeting to get back to work on May 1. Three athletes were at the start. He won with an 80m lead. And he will return: “I will run once more at the Bout-du-Monde for the AtletiCAGenève meeting (June 11). For the rest, I don’t know my competition program yet.“
“Better than the old”
The World Championships (July 15-24 in Eugene) and Europe (August 15-21 in Munich) are obviously in the back of his mind. The “new” Kariem Hussein hopes to be”better than the old one“, he slipped. His record stands at 48”45. He hopes to be able to improve it.
ats/bur
Nine months suspension
The LC Dübendorf athlete missed the Tokyo Olympics last summer following being suspended for 9 months for testing positive for nicethamide, attributed to the consumption of Gly-Coramine candy just following the final of the Olympics. Switzerland in Langenthal. The athlete explained that he felt hypoglycemia and took the candy out of his pocket by reflex. At the time, he didn’t think the substance was allowed in training but not in competition. Hussein had admitted his mistake and waived the analysis of the B sample.
free spirit
Hussein can evolve today with a free spirit. He is busy writing his medical thesis and devotes himself to his sport, under the guidance of the former Zurich sprinter Rolf Fongué. His suspension caused him to lose his sponsor (Nike), but overall the athlete did not suffer any unpleasant reactions following the revelation of his “affair”.
Erriyon Knighton ran the 200 m in 19”49
Erriyon Knighton became the 4th fastest man in history over 200m at the Baton Rouge meeting. The 18-year-old American clocked 19”49, with a favorable wind of 1.4 m/s. Fourth over the distance at the Tokyo Olympics, Erriyon Knighton smashed his own junior world record (19”84, set in June 2021 during the Olympic trials). He is only 0”30 away from Jamaican Usain Bolt’s world record (19”19) which dates back to 2009. Only Bolt, Yohan Blake (19”26) and Michael Johnson (19”32 ) were faster on the half-lap.
