Arshad Nadeem’s Coach Blames AFP’s Lack of Support for Tokyo Struggles

The drama between Arshad Nadeem’s coach, Salman Iqbal Butt, and the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has intensified following the Olympic champion’s struggles at the World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo.

Arshad Nadeem’s 9th-place finish prompted an inquiry from the AFP, which demanded that his coach explain the underwhelming performance. In a detailed response, Salman Butt rejected allegations of non-cooperation and instead accused the federation of distancing itself from Arshad Nadeem’s training and development over the past year, a factor he believes contributed to the athlete’s dip in form.

The coach reminded the federation that he has been working with Nadeem since 2021, during which time the javelin thrower brought unprecedented glory to Pakistan, including a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, four additional golds, and one silver in international competitions between 2022 and 2025.

“No athlete can remain at their peak throughout their career,” Butt wrote, adding that he remains committed to coaching Nadeem “as long as the athlete wishes.”

Salman Butt dismissed suggestions that he had refused to share training details, calling such claims “completely baseless.” Instead, he accused the AFP of failing to stay engaged with Nadeem’s progress. He revealed that much of Nadeem’s overseas training was privately funded by one of his close friends, not by the federation.

His coach also revealed that the athlete’s preparation was disrupted by a leg injury on July 4, which required surgery in England, followed by a three-week rehabilitation stint in London before traveling to Tokyo. Explaining the disappointing performance, Butt said Nadeem was still in recovery and struggled in the hot, humid conditions of Tokyo, where the hard runway surface aggravated pain in his operated leg.

Butt concluded his letter by urging collective accountability within Pakistan’s sporting system:

“When we celebrate victories together, we must also share responsibility for defeats.”

Arshad Nadeem’s underwhelming outing in Tokyo stands in stark contrast to his dominant run over the past few years, where he etched his name in history as Pakistan’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist in track and field. His coach’s remarks point to a deeper issue that inconsistent institutional support may have played just as significant a role as injury in his recent setback.