World Championships draw to a close: Q and A after 10 days of competition in Doha

The event was taking place in the Middle East for the first time.

Published Oct 6, 2019

The World Championships in Doha ended on Sunday with Dina Asher-Smith having claimed an historic hat-trick of medals.

Here, the PA news agency answers some questions which have arisen after 10 days of competition in Qatar.

Was it a success for Great Britain?

IAAF World Athletics Championships 2019 – Day Seven – Khalifa International Stadium — Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith added 200m gold to her medal haul (Martin Rickett/PA)

What does it mean ahead of the 2020 Olympics for Team GB?

How will the Championships be remembered?

IAAF World Athletics Championships 2019 – Day Six – Khalifa International Stadium — The Khalifa International Stadium was often largely empty (Mike Egerton/PA)

Has athletics lost its momentum?

2017 IAAF World Championships – Day Nine – London Stadium — Usain Bolt retired after the London World Championships two years ago (Yui Mok/PA)

Did Alberto Salazar’s ban affect the Championships?

Lord Coe emphatically denied Salazar’s four-year ban, which was handed out last week by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, cast a shadow over the Championships. Sifan Hassan, coached by Salazar, triumphed in the women’s 10,000m and 1500m. The American has such a big presence within the sport, news of his ban sent shockwaves around the Doha event. It is hard to overlook the controversy it heaped on the sport during one of its showpiece events.