Maitane Melero, manages to be a European finalist two years later, due to a sanction to an athlete, but loses € 12.600

"I know I have to be happy but inside of me I feel great helplessness and frustration for all the damage that cheaters cause to other athletes".

So clearly he summed up his feelings Maitane Melero Lacasia on his Instagram profile when he learned that, due to the sanion of the Swedish Meraf Bahta For violating anti-doping regulations by skipping three controls, she was officially eighth at the XXIC 10.000m European Championship that ran in Berlin in 2018.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CErOGCgpEqe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A position that makes her a continental finalist, “something of justice” and that represents a very considerable leap, although it is clouded by the difference in the aid that this level represents and that, two years from now, that of the Grupompleo Pamplona Atlético - current champion Spain of 5.000m outdoors and 3.000m indoors - will no longer receive retroactively.

The sanction of Bahta, a native of Eritrea, also means that the continental bronze is for Alina Reh and the Spanish Nuria Lugueros becomes tenth.

The difference between being a finalist or not is the Level 3 scholarship of € 21.600

"This difference between being a finalist or not, among many other things, has meant losing an important scholarship from the RFEA, a Level 3 scholarship, which implies a total of € 12.600 of difference compared to what I received.

My total scholarship was € 9.000 compared to the € 21.600 that I would have obtained, in addition to many other advantages that are granted for belonging to that level”, Explained the Navarrese, without forgetting the possible sponsorships, aid from other organizations or invitations to international tests, for example, that could also have entailed.

"CWith that help, perhaps in 2019 I could have dedicated myself to professional sports, to live more calmly and, above all, to enjoy much more time in the company of my loved ones, such as my coach (Patxi Morentin, who died last February and to whom she dedicated her race in Berlin a few days after learning that he suffered from cancer), something that no one will give me back ...

You know, 'butterfly effect' ... But it is better not to turn my head any more and to continue with my mind set on what excites me and not on what consumes me".

The Navarrese, who wants to be in the next Olympic Games, will participate today Saturday in the 3.000m of the Iberdrola Cup with her club and her next individual goal is the 5,000m of the Spanish Championship that will be held on the 12th and 13th of this month.

Source: Diario de Navarra