Olympian Asafa Powell Volunteers for Anti-Doping Testing Program; Complains About It Later

The only line you really need to read in this entire fiasco was that Asafa Powell of Jamaica made this stunning accusation during a news conference promoting his shoe sponsor.

Now that we have established the motive, the star runner stood on his soapbox and claimed that although he was one of 10 track and field athletes to volunteer for an anti-doping testing program, Powell feels that the International Association of Athletics Federation have overstepped their boundaries. Since arriving in Beijing on August 1, Powell has been tested four times and now is claiming, “They are taking so much blood, I am going to be very weak before the final of the 100 meters,” he said in the AP report. Continue Reading »

After Losing Out on Olympics, Swimmer Seeks Ban Reduction

One month ago, Jessica Hardy had gold medal aspirations and most likely began to prepare for the trip to Beijing. But following a positive test for clenbuterol, the young swimmer has seen her career take a turn for the worse. After claiming her innocence, she now has publicly stated through her attorney that the test was correct and has accepted the fact that she will not represent the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics, choosing to turn her attention towards getting back in the water as soon as possible.

A two-year ban will be extremely difficult for Hardy, 21, to overcome. She has claimed that she has never even heard of clen and has no idea how it appeared in her system. That will be a tough task convincing anyone of that, since it’s intended and prescribed use is as a breathing agent for asthma sufferers and is more commonly used for weight loss. Unless Hardy has a prescription as an asthmatic, her chances are not good to get the ban reduced. Continue Reading »

Olympic Swimmer’s Positive Test for Clen Jeopardizes Her Beijing Chances

Claiming her innocence while her lawyer states the positive test for Clenbuterol contained only “low amounts” of the drug, swimmer Jessica Hardy ’s dreams of winning Olympic gold in Beijing this summer are in doubt. After testing positive in both her “A” and “B” tests following meets during Olympic trials on July 4, the 21 year-old began spinning damage control.

For her to fail a ’sandwich’ unrinalysis after testing negative on July 1 and 6, Hardy is going to try to use them as leverage against the middle test. How far that will go remains to be seen, especially with the back-up ‘B’ test coming out the same. Her fate will be determined by proceedings that will begin in the near future. Continue Reading »

Bulgaria Withdraws Team from Olympics; Greece Down 11 Members for Positive Steroid Tests

Perhaps looking to limit bad press by initiating it, two countries have chosen to leave some of the obvious users at home before The Games begin. Bulgaria withdrew it’s entire weightlifting squad following 11 positive steroids tests from both the male and female teams, including 2007 world champion Ivan Stoitsov (left). Greece had the same amount of lifters kicked off the team, but will still send representatives to Beijing.

By appearing to come clean up front, these two nations - who have probably looked the other way at the obvious for decades - now look like the ultimate good guys. By avoiding a possible scandal in this steroid conscious world, both the Greek and Bulgarian teams may not win any hardware in China, but - in the eyes of some - will be more honorable because of that.

Photo credit: Bulgaria Blog