KARACHI: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has overturned the lifetime ban imposed on prominent athletics coach Salman Iqbal Butt, restoring his professional status. Butt, known for coaching Olympic Gold Medalist Arshad Nadeem, had challenged the ban, arguing it was unlawful and without proper jurisdiction.
Read More: Lifetime ban slapped on Arshad Nadeem’s coach Salman Butt
The ruling, issued by Senator Pervaiz Rashid as the PSB adjudicator, declared the ban by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) “without lawful authority, unconstitutional, ultra vires, and void ab initio.” The order instructed the AFP to withdraw all communications sent to international bodies like World Athletics and Asian Athletics that had tarnished Butt’s reputation.
پاکستان اسپورٹس بورڈ نے ارشد ندیم کے کوچ سلمان بٹ پر عائد پابندی کو ختم کردیا۔ پی ایس بی کے ثالث سینیٹر پرویز رشید نے کوچ سلمان بٹ پر پابندی کو غیر آئینی قرار دیا،@SportsBoardPak @YasirPirzada @GovtofPakistan @ArshadOlympian1 pic.twitter.com/BQuZ4Yazwq
— Muhammad Yousaf (ANJUM) (@imyousafanjum) November 24, 2025
The adjudicator cited multiple procedural failures in the AFP’s actions, noting that no formal charge sheet was issued, no inquiry report was provided, and Butt was denied the right to a meaningful hearing. The order also referenced violations of Articles 4, 10-A, and 25 of the Constitution, describing the lifetime penalty as excessive and unsupported by AFP rules.
BREAKING NEWS: Pakistan Sports Board’s adjudicator has overturned the lifetime ban on Arshad Nadeem’s coach Salman Iqbal Butt. The decision, delivered by Senator Parvaiz Rashid, declares the Athletics Federation of Pakistan’s action “unconstitutional” and “void,” citing a… pic.twitter.com/h5MCgdiXa0
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) November 24, 2025
The dispute also involved the Punjab Athletics Association elections, which the AFP had declared null. The adjudicator ruled that the AFP lacked jurisdiction over provincial matters, confirming that the elections were observed correctly under the Punjab Sports Board and Punjab Olympic Association supervision.
In a big relief for Arshad Nadeem’s coach Salman Iqbal Butt, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has overturned the lifetime ban on the Olympic Gold Medallist’s coach.
Read more: https://t.co/4Xz2SMHblD #PakistanConnect pic.twitter.com/cCecCbI6zS
— Pakistan Connect (@Pak_Connect) November 24, 2025
Highlighting the impact on Pakistan’s elite athletics programme, the ruling noted that the ban disrupted preparations for Olympic-level athletes and risked national medal prospects. Arshad Nadeem personally endorsed Butt, opposing the ban. The PSB legal advisor, Saif ur Rehman Rao, supported Butt during proceedings, while the AFP was represented by its president Brigadier (R) Wajahat Hussain and advocate Usman Akram.
Read More: Govt orders inquiry into ban on Arshad’s coach
With the order, all of Butt’s professional rights, status, and privileges as a national athletics coach have been fully restored, allowing him to continue mentoring Pakistan’s top athletes.