The Pakistan Athletics Federation (PAF) has handed a life ban to Salman Iqbal Butt, the long-serving coach of Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Arshad Nadeem. The decisive action was taken on Sunday following an investigation that found Butt, who also serves as the President of the Punjab Athletics Association (PAA), guilty of violating the PAF’s constitution.
The life ban is comprehensive, immediately preventing Butt from participating in any athletics activities, including coaching or holding office at any level, both nationally and internationally. The decision, made by the PAF’s Executive Committee, was enacted to “uphold transparency, constitutional compliance, and organizational integrity within the federation.”
Constitutional Violations and The Timing of the Ban
The specific violations committed by Butt relate to the holding of ‘purported elections’ for the Punjab Athletics Association (PAA) on August 31, 2025. The PAF declared these elections “illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void ab initio,” noting that:
- The elections were announced at midnight on August 29, just two days before they were held.
- The PAF Constitution clearly mandates a minimum 21-day notice for convening an electoral meeting and a seven-day notice for candidates to submit nomination papers.
The violations were first brought to light in August, prompting the formation of an inquiry committee in mid-September. The committee recommended the lifetime ban on October 10.
The Coach’s Explosive Reply to the Pakistan Sports Board
The ban’s recommendation came a day after Salman Iqbal Butt sent a scathing reply to a show-cause notice issued by the state-run Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). The PSB had demanded an explanation for both Nadeem’s uncharacteristic 10th-place finish at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this year and the details of the expenses incurred for the Paris Olympics gold medallist’s training and travel.
In his reply, Butt sent shockwaves through the sporting establishment by revealing that the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) had, for the last year or so, disassociated itself from anything to do with Nadeem.
Butt further disclosed that he was forced to seek private financial assistance from a friend to ensure Pakistan’s top athlete could train in South Africa. This private funding was also crucial in helping the 28-year-old athlete complete his rehabilitation after sustaining a calf muscle injury. The coach’s public exposure of the federation’s alleged abandonment of its star athlete appears to have directly preceded the swift action against him.
Athlete Alleges ‘Fake’ Promises
Arshad Nadeem, who won gold at the Paris Olympics with a massive throw of 92.97m to defeat rival Neeraj Chopra, has also recently spoken out against the state of support for Pakistani athletes. Nadeem, who also has a Commonwealth Games gold (2022) and a World Championships silver (2022) to his name, claimed that promises made following his Paris triumph were not honored.
Nadeem specifically alleged that the land plots announced as rewards following his victory turned out to be “fake,” stating, “Out of all the prize announcements made for me, all the plot announcements were fake, which I did not receive. Apart from that, I have received all the cash prizes that were announced.”
The life ban on his coach now adds a dramatic new layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding the management, support, and governance of athletics in Pakistan.