Two posts ago, I referenced Steve Mullings, at the time the world leader in the 100m dash. He just tested positive for a masking agent so he can kiss his promising career goodbye. It's also his second offense as he has already served a 2 year ban after testing positive for high levels of testosterone in 2004. Mullings training partner? Tyson Gay.
Remember Michael Rodgers? He was the feel good story of 2009 track and field. He used to sell shoes out of the trunk of his car and he won the USA national championships in the 100m dash (no one ever said that he only won because Tyson Gay didn't run in it, but I will). Regardless, he put himself on the world stage and just qualified to represent Team USA at worlds this year (also because Tyson Gay couldn't run). Well, that's over now too after testing positive for methylhexaneamine. Rodgers will claim it was inadvertent (they all do). Too bad he isn't as good as Carl Lewis or else that claim might've worked.
Yup, Carl Lewis tested positive too. He failed three drug tests in 1988, the same year Ben Johnson's gold medal was stripped and handed to Carl Lewis. Watch Bigger Stronger Faster.
At the last world championships back in 2009, five Jamaicans failed drugs tests.
Our sprint squad is now Walter Dix, who is nasty but not Tyson Gay (and also not worth ranting on facebook for weeks about how awesome he is), Justin Gatlin, a former world record holder until he failed a drug test as well, and now Trell Kimmons, a three time community college national champion... yay...
So, to recap. Six Jamaicans have failed drug tests, one of them is linked to Tyson Gay. One of our best sprinters just failed a drug test as well. Another one of our sprinters that will be competing at worlds has served a ban. Drugs are ALL OVER the world stage.
LaShawn Merritt, former olympic gold medalist. Michael Johnson has teammates that were gassing on the 4x400 that he had to give his gold medal back for. Carl Lewis was on stimulants. Ben Johnson (obviously) was on furazabol. Dwain Chambers, google him. These are not just people who gas to be better, these are the guys not good enough at it to get away with it, or not good enough to be protected by their country (minus Carl Lewis who had his covered up and Michael Johnson who never tested positive, probably because he was better at getting away with it).
Guys, the entire track and field world is on something. I'm sorry if this upsets you. The truth is, that at that level people aren't on drugs so that they can make it an unlevel playing field, giving them the advantage, they're on drugs to keep up! If you aren't, you have no shot.
For some reason, people will accept that people like Mullings or Rodgers are juicing but when you say names like Tyson Gay or Usain Bolt or Asafa Powell they get all defensive. Come on!! In a gassed out world, these are the best of the best and you think they are doing it clean?! Yeah right. Usain and Asafa are just eating yams and taking double x while the rest of the Jamaican camp is on test and running slower. Please.
With all this being said. Worlds are going to suck this year, at least in the sprints. Asafa is out with a groin injury. Gay is out. Mullings is out because he has a bad chemist. So it's the Bolt/Dix show. Dix is a fine sprinter but he is not on Bolt's level. Dix should be happy with two silvers and the stick making it around in the 4x100.
Honestly, I'm hoping that Gatlin is sticking himself with some dangerous levels of testosterone and pulls something serious (other than a needle) out of his glutes and makes some noise. Or that Usain pops his hamstring off.
Enjoy worlds everyone.
Here are some videos of guys on gas.
Dwain Chambers
Ben Johnson
LaShawn Merritt
Justin Gatlin
