Posted on 07/31/2006 11:54:59 AM PDT by gopwinsin04
Pound positive on Gatlin B sample Email Print Normal font Large font August 1, 2006
Advertisement AdvertisementKINGSTON, Jamaica: Justin Gatlin was facing the prospect of a life ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency revealed his drugs test B sample had returned a positive, with WADA chairman Dick Pound calling for a harsh penalty if the results are confirmed.
Pound told BBC Radio that Gatlin's B test had backed up the A sample's positive for testosterone. "The B sample is positive, they've gone through that whole exercise," he said.
The International Association of Athletics Federation said Gatlin would be suspended for life if his positive A and B tests were confirmed officially.
However, Gatlin's coach, Trevor Graham, insisted on Sunday that the Olympic and world champion and co-world record-holder in the 100 metres was a victim of a set-up. "We are 100 per cent sure who it is," Graham said.
"The individual that did it, it's an individual that we fired and we went back and hired … he came to the Kansas relay and was [upset] with Justin." In The Washington Post, Graham claimed it was a masseuse with a grudge who rubbed a testosterone cream into Gatlin's legs, with Gatlin believing it was a harmless lotion.
On Saturday, Gatlin acknowledged he had been informed by the US Anti-Doping Agency he had tested positive for testosterone or other steroids after a relay race in Kansas in April.
The Gatlin revelation came just days after Tour de France champion Floyd Landis's victory was thrown into question for allegations of similar violations.
Landis was expecting to discover on Monday if his B sample had confirmed a positive drugs test for testosterone. If so, the American will be stripped of his victory and is likely to pick up a lengthy ban from the sport.
Gatlin said he did not know why his test came back positive. Gatlin's connection with Graham is viewed as problematic. Gatlin has positioned himself as a champion of drug-free competition while Graham is a key figure in the BALCO investigation and has coached several athletes who have tested positive for steroids.
If Gatlin is proven guilty, his world record would be stripped. He tied Jamaican Asafa Powell's mark of 9.77 seconds in the 100m in May, after the positive test.
Gatlin would also be banned for life, the standard discipline for a second positive test. Pound said: "He needs to be banned for up to life. There may be some extenuating circumstances to come out but I think if he just continues to come out with some bland denial that 'I never did anything, I can't imagine how this result occurred', that will not help him when it comes to sentencing."
On Monday, the IAAF urged governments to work closely with international federations to help rid sport of performance-enhancing drugs.
In a statement to Reuters, IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said: "We need to find ways to work even more closely with governments to destroy the criminal elements that are behind doping in sport.
"Sports sanctions alone do not seem to be sufficient deterrent, especially not for the support staff behind the athletes who are profiting from doping but cannot be affected sufficiently by sports sanctions. These people are criminals and only the full force of the law will stop them."
Reuters, AP
I'm guessin' NASCAR.
I usually just say, "Oops! I guess I missed that, Thanks!"
100 meter what? 100 meters is a very common race length in the athletic event of swimming.
LOL. The only think measured in metric in NASCAR is the time for qualifying.
Yeah...but they're certainly faster that this guy who claims to be the "World's Fastest Man." ;)
True, in some undefined sport, no less.
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