Arshad Nadeem faces fresh controversy over South Africa training trip
Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem has landed in a new dispute with the country's sports authorities after reportedly travelling to South Africa for training without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).
According to a PSB official, the trip was not communicated to the board and no NOC was issued. Under Pakistan's regulations, athletes travelling abroad for competitions or training are required to obtain clearance from their federation and the PSB. The official warned that the issue could affect Nadeem's future international travel if he cannot provide a satisfactory explanation.
Nadeem travelled to South Africa to work with his former coach Terseus Liebenberg, rather than continue training in Lahore. The move came after criticism of his performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Why the South Africa camp matters
Nadeem is preparing for two major events in September:
World Ultimate Athletics Championship: Hungary, September 11–13
Asian Games: Japan, September 19–October 4
His decision to reunite with Liebenberg is therefore aimed at getting him back to his best ahead of a crucial period.
Liebenberg remains confident in the Olympic champion, pointing to Nadeem's years of persistence before becoming Pakistan's first individual Olympic gold medallist.
The controversy also highlights a broader issue surrounding Pakistan's handling of its biggest sporting star. Since Nadeem's historic 2024 Olympic gold, the Athletics Federation of Pakistan has reportedly had relatively little involvement in his management, with the PSB and coach Salman Butt playing larger roles.
The key question now is whether this is simply an administrative lapse or evidence of deeper coordination problems between Nadeem and Pakistan's sporting authorities.
