Olympic Runner Andrew Butchart Being Investigated Over Fake COVID-19 Test Comments

British distance runner Andy Butchart is under investigation by UK Athletics (UKA) and the British Olympic Association after he said he faked a COVID-19 test in order to return to the country.

Appearing on the Sunday Plodcast, Butchart said he used Instagram to edit a photo of an old PCR test to regain entry to the United Kingdom.

"You have to get a COVID test to get into the UK, so you went to a place to get a PCR test before 48 hours—and I'm with check-in and I don't have my PCR test back," he said.

"So you have to quickly, like, get an old PCR test, go on to Instagram, f--king scribble out the time and the date, change the time and the date, and like change it so you can get into the country."

Butchart, a 5,000-meter distance runner who qualified for the British Olympic team, later walked back his statement in an interview with the Times and said he never faked a test.

It's unclear what level of discipline Butchart could face if he's found to have faked a test. The UKA and the BOA released a statement saying they take the matter "very seriously" and will not have further comment until the investigation is completed.

"Throughout the pandemic, elite sport has been privileged to receive exemptions from various guidelines to enable athletes to continue to train and compete," the statement read.

"We take very seriously any suggestion that an athlete has not followed these guidelines correctly and broken any COVID-related protocols."

Butchart qualified for the Olympics after finishing second at the 2021 British Athletics Championships.