For Arshad Nadeem, the trip to South Africa was supposed to be about one thing: getting his javelin back on track.
Instead, the Pakistan Olympic champion has found himself caught in another dispute with the country’s sports authorities. Nadeem travelled to South Africa last week for a training camp with former coach Terseus Liebenberg, but the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has raised concerns that he left the country without obtaining the required No Objection Certificate (NOC).
The controversy arrives at a crucial stage of Nadeem’s season. After a disappointing Commonwealth Games campaign, the 2024 Olympic champion is racing against time to rediscover the form that once made him one of the world’s most feared javelin throwers.
The NOC controversy
According to a PSB source, Nadeem did not inform the board before travelling to South Africa and did not secure an NOC.
The board has reportedly recorded the absence of the clearance, while officials have also questioned who would be responsible for the athlete’s arrangements should he face any problem during his overseas stay. Under Pakistan’s existing procedures, athletes travelling abroad for training or competition are expected to obtain the necessary clearance from their federation and the PSB.
The issue could potentially affect Nadeem’s future international travel if the matter is not satisfactorily explained.
However, the immediate sporting priority remains his preparation.
Why Nadeem chose South Africa
Nadeem’s decision to return to South Africa was driven largely by his recent struggles.
Rather than compete at the Lausanne Diamond League, he opted for a training block in Potchefstroom. The location is familiar territory: Nadeem has previously trained there during preparations for major competitions, including the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Paris Olympics.
More importantly, he is once again working with Terseus Liebenberg, the coach who was involved in his development before his historic Olympic triumph.
For Nadeem, the camp represents an attempt to reset technically, physically and mentally.
The numbers tell the story
Nadeem’s recent Commonwealth Games performance explains why a major change in preparation was considered necessary.
At Glasgow 2026, the defending champion managed only 77.41 metres in the javelin final and finished ninth, meaning he did not make the top eight and therefore missed out on the additional attempts available to the leading athletes.
That performance was a dramatic contrast to some of the biggest moments of his career:
Paris Olympics 2024: 92.97m — Olympic gold and Olympic record
Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022: 90.18m — gold and Games record
Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026: 77.41m — ninth place
Paris 2024: Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medal
The gap between 92.97m and 77.41m is particularly striking. It underlines just how much Nadeem needs to recover before the next major competitions.
A comeback, not just a training camp
The South African stint is therefore more than another overseas camp. It is effectively a rebuilding phase for an athlete whose standards have changed dramatically since becoming an Olympic champion.
Liebenberg remains confident that Nadeem can return to his best. The coach has pointed to the athlete’s resilience and mental strength, believing that the setbacks are part of the process of setting new targets after reaching the highest point of his career.
That confidence could be important for Nadeem as he prepares for a demanding September.
What comes next?
Nadeem’s immediate schedule leaves little room for error.
Following his South African training stint, he is expected to compete at the World Ultimate Athletics Championship in Hungary from September 11 to 13, before heading to Japan for the Asian Games from September 19 to October 4.
The decision to skip Lausanne suggests that Nadeem and his team are prioritising preparation over competition. The goal is clear: arrive at the September events with better rhythm, greater consistency and renewed confidence.
The bigger question for Pakistan
The latest dispute also highlights a wider issue surrounding the management of Pakistan’s biggest athletics star.
Since Nadeem’s Olympic victory in 2024, the Pakistan Sports Board and coach Salman Butt have played significant roles in overseeing his programme, while the Athletics Federation of Pakistan has reportedly had less involvement.
That makes the NOC controversy particularly significant. For an athlete preparing for two major international events, administrative clarity is almost as important as physical preparation.
Nadeem now has two battles to fight: one against his recent inconsistency on the field and another against the questions surrounding his overseas training arrangements.
The javelin champion will hope the South African camp provides the answer to the first. Pakistan’s sporting authorities will have to resolve the second.
For now, the biggest question is simple: Can the man who threw 92.97 metres in Paris rediscover that version of himself before September arrives?
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