Salwa Eid Nasser missed four anti-doping tests rather than three as she claimed this week, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit [AIU].
The world 400metres champion, who won gold in Doha last year with the third-fastest time in history, was provisionally suspended this week.
Speaking in a video on Instagram, the 22-year-old insisted she has “never been a cheat” and claimed: “I only missed three drug tests, which is normal. It happens. It can happen to anybody.”
However, in a statement released on Sunday, the AIU said: “The investigation into Ms Naser’s three whereabouts failures in 2019 was ongoing at the time of the Doha World Championships and she was not provisionally suspended at that time.
“Following conclusion of the investigation and a fourth whereabouts failure in January 2020, a Notice of Charge was issued and Ms Naser subjected to an immediate Provisional Suspension.
“The disciplinary process is ongoing and the AIU will not comment further on the matter at this stage.”
World Athletics rules stipulate that athletes will be guilty of a violation if they have a combination of three missed tests or filing failures across a 12-month period.
Athletes face up to a two-year ban for whereabouts violations.
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