RSS Feeds
It's not easy being clean in track and field
Allyson Felix and Bryan Clay submit to extra drug testing while preparing for Beijing.
CHICAGO -- A round of applause, please, for sprinter Allyson Felix of Los Angeles and decathlete Bryan Clay of Glendora.
Better still, give these Athens Olympic silver medalists a standing ovation for living their convictions.
In the last and most uplifting moment of the U.S. Olympic media summit, Felix and Clay said they have been undergoing an extraordinary number of voluntary drug tests each week as part of Project Believe, a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency program that has not yet been officially launched or explained.
They submit to urine and blood tests in addition to mandatory in-competition and random, no-advance-notice tests.
It can't be pleasant.
It isn't convenient.
"I just felt like whatever I can do to prove I'm clean, no matter what time I have to wake up or where I have to drive, I'm willing," said Felix, who hopes to compete in the 100, 200 and two relays at the Beijing Olympics.
The approach of the Games motivated them to help restore credibility to a sport that has been ripped apart by the BALCO drug scandal and faces more turmoil next month, when former coach Trevor Graham is scheduled to go on trial for lying to federal investigators in the BALCO inquiry.
Doping's immense carnage includes bans for Athens 100-meter gold medalist Justin Gatlin, two-time world champion sprinter Kelli White and Tim Montgomery, who lost his 100-meter world record.
Last week, the New York Times reported a witness at Graham's trial may present evidence linking Sydney 100-meter champion Maurice Greene to doping. Greene never flunked a drug test and denied using banned substances.
USADA representatives did not respond to questions about Project Believe. Darryl Seibel, chief communications officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee, praised the initiative Wednesday.
"It is important to continually explore new programs and approaches in the fight against doping in sport," he said. "This is an early step that could make a very good program even better."
Clay, Felix and the other unidentified participants are saying all that's necessary by submitting their blood and their integrity for constant scrutiny.
"I want people to know I'm clean and I want people to know I'm doing everything in my power to make sure I stay clean," said Clay, a 2002 graduate of Azusa Pacific.
Clay took the additional step of having his nutritional supplements tested. The laboratory will provide documents attesting to the absence of performance-enhancing substances.
"It's more of a pain for me and it might end up costing me money," he said, "but as long as I can say I'm clean and can take that doubt away from people, that's my No. 1 goal."
For Felix, who won her Olympic medal and two world titles in the 200 while earning a degree in elementary education at USC, the reasons to stand up extend to the deeply personal.
She grew up idolizing another regal and powerful sprinter from Southern California, a woman who enjoyed stunning success until her use of banned drugs -- and her lies about it -- brought her down.
That woman is known in the federal prison system as inmate 84868-054.
Felix and the world know her as Marion Jones.
Better still, give these Athens Olympic silver medalists a standing ovation for living their convictions.
They submit to urine and blood tests in addition to mandatory in-competition and random, no-advance-notice tests.
It can't be pleasant.
It isn't convenient.
"I just felt like whatever I can do to prove I'm clean, no matter what time I have to wake up or where I have to drive, I'm willing," said Felix, who hopes to compete in the 100, 200 and two relays at the Beijing Olympics.
The approach of the Games motivated them to help restore credibility to a sport that has been ripped apart by the BALCO drug scandal and faces more turmoil next month, when former coach Trevor Graham is scheduled to go on trial for lying to federal investigators in the BALCO inquiry.
Doping's immense carnage includes bans for Athens 100-meter gold medalist Justin Gatlin, two-time world champion sprinter Kelli White and Tim Montgomery, who lost his 100-meter world record.
Last week, the New York Times reported a witness at Graham's trial may present evidence linking Sydney 100-meter champion Maurice Greene to doping. Greene never flunked a drug test and denied using banned substances.
USADA representatives did not respond to questions about Project Believe. Darryl Seibel, chief communications officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee, praised the initiative Wednesday.
"It is important to continually explore new programs and approaches in the fight against doping in sport," he said. "This is an early step that could make a very good program even better."
Clay, Felix and the other unidentified participants are saying all that's necessary by submitting their blood and their integrity for constant scrutiny.
"I want people to know I'm clean and I want people to know I'm doing everything in my power to make sure I stay clean," said Clay, a 2002 graduate of Azusa Pacific.
Clay took the additional step of having his nutritional supplements tested. The laboratory will provide documents attesting to the absence of performance-enhancing substances.
"It's more of a pain for me and it might end up costing me money," he said, "but as long as I can say I'm clean and can take that doubt away from people, that's my No. 1 goal."
For Felix, who won her Olympic medal and two world titles in the 200 while earning a degree in elementary education at USC, the reasons to stand up extend to the deeply personal.
She grew up idolizing another regal and powerful sprinter from Southern California, a woman who enjoyed stunning success until her use of banned drugs -- and her lies about it -- brought her down.
That woman is known in the federal prison system as inmate 84868-054.
Felix and the world know her as Marion Jones.
- Single Page
- |
- 1
- |
- 2
- |
- Next »
What accessory can make you look like anything from a pirate to a Greek goddess? A headband.
Motorcycle columnist Susan Carpenter shows how to take the bike from "The Dark Knight" for a ride -- if you were allowed to touch it. Video
