Arshad Nadeem’s coach, Salman Iqbal, banned for life by Pakistan Athletics Federation

Salman Iqbal, the long-serving coach of Pakistan’s top athlete Arshad Nadeem, was on Sunday banned for life by the country’s Athletics Federation for violating the constitution of the Punjab Athletics Association, where he holds the president’s position.

Under the life ban, Iqbal can neither take part in any athletics activities nor coach or hold office at any level.

The violations, the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) has accused Iqbal of committing by holding elections of the Punjab body, occurred back in August.

An inquiry committee was formed mid-September, and it recommended the ban on Iqbal on October 10, a day after his reply to the PSB came out.

The decision appears to be linked to the recent crisp reply Iqbal had sent to the state-run Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) when they asked him to explain Nadeem’s poor show in the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo.

PSB also demanded to know details about the expenses incurred on the javelin thrower’s training and travel.

Iqbal, who has been Nadeem’s mentor and coach for the last few years, shocked everyone by disclosing that PAAF had, for the last year or so, dissociated itself from anything to do with the Olympic gold medallist.

Iqbal apparently also ruffled feathers when he said in his reply that he had to seek financial assistance from a friend to ensure that Pakistan’s top athlete was able to train in South Africa, apart from helping him complete his rehab after sustaining a calf muscle injury.

Published on Oct 12, 2025