Athletics: Gatlin admits failing drugs test

[pete]

Gatlin shares the world record with Asafa Powell at 9.77 seconds
World and Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin has admitted failing a drugs test in April.

Gatlin tests positive (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/5227956.stm)

Surely he will now receive a life ban as he previously tested positive in 2001.

I don't think its a valid excuse saying taking medication as leaves open to abuse.

[Aberdonian Stu]

There is a valid way to claim it medically but the way Gatlin did it (in 2001) wasn't it.

The Therapeutic Use Exemption form, which has been abused left right and centre by numerous drugs cheats, allows athletes to declare what they've taken in advance. Gatlin didn't declare in advance but still got off in 2001.

In spite of the historical positive test he may yet avoid a life ban because of this. I would put money on a two year ban, which means he would miss Beijing.

[pete]

The Therapeutic Use Exemption form, which has been abused left right and centre by numerous drugs cheats, allows athletes to declare what they've taken in advance. Gatlin didn't declare in advance but still got off in 2001.


I agree, declaring medication after the fact is no excuse. A professional athlete needs to declare everything in advance. I think "medication" is open to abuse in all sports anyway. Could someone suffering from attention deficit disorder compete at the highest level of world athletics?

[Aberdonian Stu]

In fairness there are solid training and performance related reasons for ADHD medication to be eligible for TUE. Remember the 100m is about far more than raw speed, though it often doesn't look that way.

The problem with the TUE is that though it's designed to open up access to otherwise gifted athletes who have medically treatable problems it is open to abuse across the board, and also introduces grey areas.

The best public example of grey areas is Lance Armstrong. Whatever your beliefs, be it innocent or guilty, his case is unprovable because of the TUE.

The drugs he is required to take because of the cancer he suffered would, if undeclared, produce a positive test on several fronts.

Obviously he needs to take these because of the medical situation he is in but they also mean that IF he had taken performance enhancing drugs that would provide similar result to his cancer meds it wouldn't be a positive test as his TUE would cover it.

It basically means that we can never be certain with a lot of athletes, I just use Armstrong because he is the easiest to refer to and most debated example.

I support the existence of the TUE in principle as people with treatable ailments should be allowed to compete. For example were Gary Mabbutt, the former Spurs footballer, to have played in the modern era he wouldn't be able to play without a TUE due to his diabetes.

Unfortunately I fear that most people using a TUE don't do it for legitimate reasons.

What really worries me is the number of people in sports that have only introduced testing in recent years that are unaware of the TUE. Several inter county players I have spoken to have never heard of it and are thus opening themselves up to a false positive.

Gatlin does not have this excuse as it is one of the first things you learn of when you reach a testable level athletics.

[pete]

I remember when Frankie Sheehan tested positive he claimed he had asthma. It them emerged that something like 50% of rugby players had asthma which seems extremely high based on the rest of the population - it would suggest asthma suffers were better rugby players than the rest of the population.

[Dodge]

IAAF have confirmed he'll face lifeban if B sample confirms

[Aberdonian Stu]

Yes I'm starting to think my original prediction was off but I could still see an initial life ban being reduced to 2 years at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

[pete]

IAAF have confirmed he'll face lifeban if B sample confirms

Proper order too.

I think the 100m is completely discredited at the top level as seems like every champion & record holder has been caught eventually. I suppose its because its an event where power given by steroids or other gives such a huge advantage.