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 »

Former East German Olympic Shot-Putter Claims Gear Forced Sex Change Operation

Just when you think you’ve heard it all, something like this pops up. The former Heidi Krieger, who was crowned the 1986 European Women’s Shot-Put Champion, has made a public statement that being ‘tricked’ into taking steroids caused her to go through physical and emotional problems, which resulted in a 1997 sex change operation.

As told to CNN, the now-Andreas Krieger said, “I felt much more attracted to women and just felt like a man. But I knew I was not lesbian.”

Krieger further stated that her coaches told her that the oral Turinabol tablets were vitamins, and she is dismissing her awards as “doping medals.” 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

Jailed Olympic Track Star Asks for Sentence to be Commuted

With two wars being fought overseas and the situation in Iran becoming even more tense, George W. Bush is quite busy during his last few months in the White House. Perhaps the last thing on his mind is to give a break to Marion Jones, the Olympic track star currently serving a six month prison sentence as part of her plea bargain. After compounding her legal problems of lying to the feds about using performance-enhancing drugs with a fraudulent check scheme, Jones’ chances for early release are not too good.

As confirmed by the Justice Department, Jones is merely one of several hundred applicants applying for sentence commutations and presidential pardons. The difference is that a pardon is an “act of forgiveness” which also removes civil liabilities, while a commutation is either a reduction or elimination of a sentence. Continue Reading »

Italy’s Ricco Claims EPO-Positive Test is Natural

Three and counting. That’s what the Tour de France has become, and with Italy’s Ricardo Ricco being disqualified, doubt is hovering over every rider left.

A winner of two previous stages, Ricco is the biggest name to be caught using performance-enhancing drugs this year. He was detained by police, who have been quite busy cracking down on cyclists who have been caught using and/or possessing steroids. Continue Reading »

Spain’s Nevado Ousted After Positive EPO Test

The people behind the Tour de France don’t play around. They are hell-bent on cleaning up the sport of cycling and have done a pretty good job of it this summer. Another competitor has been arrested and thrown out of the race following a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.

Moises Duenas Nevado of Spain tested positive for EPO, setting of a chain of events that resulted in his imprisonment. French police conducted a search warrant in the cyclist’s Tarbes hotel room and seized what was described as “banned medicines,” according to published reports. Continue Reading »

Sacramento Kings Center Cited for League’s Anti-Drug Program

Brad Miller, the veteran center of the Sacramento Kings, received a five-game suspension from the NBA after violating the league’s anti-drug program. The name of the drug was not released, and speculation was that it may have been marijuana or even anabolic steroids.

Looking at Miller’s injury history makes one wonder if he did take a performance-enhancing drug. He missed quality time for two years leading up to last season, where he played in 72 games and averaged 13.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game before being forced to the sideline for the final seven games due to a left leg stress fracture and a bad elbow. Continue Reading »

“The Blade” is Coming Off Three Strong 2008 Victories

After finishing in third place in the 2007 Mr. Olympia, 38 year-old Dexter Jackson knows that the window of opportunity may be closing on him. In September, he will give it another go, this time coming off three consecutive first place finishes in the calendar year.

Earlier, Jackson won the Arnold Classic, IFBB Australian Grand Prix VIII and the IFBB New Zealand Grand Prix. While that is a nice accomplishment, the Mr. O is a whole different world. Continue Reading »

…But Was That Just A Convenient Excuse?

It comes down to what you really believe. After opening up a can of worms, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw did a little damage control. Appearing during the press conference introducing the recently retired Michael Strahan to the FOX NFL crew, Bradshaw did his best to backtrack from his comments last week during a radio interview with Dan Patrick, most likely after bunkering down with FOX executives.

“I’m not bodybuilding here,” he said. “They were not that kind of steroids. They were anti-inflammatories.” Trying to pass off his earlier comments as though he meant cortisone shots is like Bill Clinton saying that he smoked marihuana, but didn’t inhale. All athletes - even ones that come across as unintelligent as Bradshaw - know what a cortisone shot is and not call it a ’steroid,’ especially in today’s paranoid sports world. Continue Reading »