Asafa Powell and Tyson Gays Failed Drug Test: By Donovan Reynolds Blogger and Independent Writer.

News broke on Sunday last across the major news network globally that Powell and Simpson, Olympic and World Championship medallists were among five Jamaican athletes who returned adverse analytical findings during the recent National Championships held at the National Stadium from June 20-23. Police in Italy have reportedly detained a physical trainer that had been living with Asafa Powell, and providing him with supplements, that may have contributed to his positive drug test for Methylsynephrine. The trainer whose name has not been released was detained and evidence removed from his residence. He began working with the MVP camp in May. Powell has also reportedly handed over supplements he had in his possession that were given to him by the trainer. Some of those same tainted supplements may also have been supplied to Sherone Simpson.

Sources said that two other senior athletes and a junior athlete also returned positive tests in their ‘A’ samples. The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCo) confirmed that it had received the reports of the findings, but was unable say much more on the matter, according to JADCo Chairman, Dr. Herb Elliott. Powell subsequently released a statement in which he declared his innocence. “I want to be clear in saying to my family, friends, and most of all my fans worldwide that I have never knowingly or wilfully taken any supplements or substances that break any rules. I am not now — nor have I ever been — a cheat,” he said. “My team has launched an internal investigation and we are cooperating with the relevant agencies and law enforcement authorities to discover how the substance got in my system. I assure you that we will find out how this substance passed our rigorous internal checks and balances and design systems to make sure it never happens again,” Powell said.

On Monday the story developed further with London’s LBC with Asafa linking him to a trainer whose name was not released at the time of the press release. LBC reported that the unnamed trainer was detained and evidence removed from his residence. He began working with the MVP camp in May. Powell has also reportedly handed over supplements he had in his possession that were given to him by the trainer. Some of those same tainted supplements may also have been supplied to Sherone Simpson, sources said. The news has come at the worst time possible- a month after another Jamaican Olympic gold medallist, Veronica Campbell-Brown, tested positive for a banned diuretic. It has also coincided with a week end when Jamaica had it most successful exploits at the World Youth Athletic championship.

On the same Sunday of Asafas doping revelation -the international news network went into feverish over drive with the announcement of American and former world champion Tyson Gay, who is the fastest man in 2013 and won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at the 2007 World Championships, was waiting for the results of his B sample. Even when juxtaposed against the inglorious and despicable scandals of the past two decades – last Sunday is a black eye day for world athletics and will go down as a dark period for athletics. To have Tyson Gay, the fastest man in the world this year, test positive for a banned substance is catastrophe enough, but the revelation of Asafa Powell dope revelation on the same day will send even athletics most ardent defenders into shock and Gay’s previously squeaky clean image plummeting into a free fall. Already the giant Sporting Company Adidas has pulled the plug on his multimillion sponsorship and endorsement deal. Well every mealy mouth cynic must be now saying that there in an orgy of underground drug taking by profession athletes in a murky and secretive place away from the gaze of a duped global athletic viewership. CBS news in USA responded sharply by quoting a former track athletic official who labelled Sunday as “A sad day,” — and certainly a day that punctured the myth that the oft-troubled sport has cleaned up its act.

Both men have insisted that they are not cheats. But under athletics’ strict liability laws that is no defence, as both Gay and Powell are well aware of . There is no knowing yet what the drama of the next few days will throw up. But in the public’s mind they join a long list of high-profile sprinters who have failed drugs tests, from Ben Johnson to Marion Jones to Justin Gatlin. Already the debacle has thrown up all sorts of critics berating especially both gay and Powell. It makes you think that the time has come for a dumping of the use of supplements by professional athletes and their support staff in favour of an unrealistic diet of lemonade and toast.

BBC Sport athletics pundit Collin Jackson former British world champion at hurdles and BBC athletic commentator weighed sensibly into the current debate. According to him “These are all big names. To take Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay out leaves a big void in our sport. “We have to sift out the negative people and we will never be in a win-win situation. When you expose these people it can have an adverse effect but it is important to do so, for the future of the sport and the next generation.” He has run 9.88 seconds this year for the 100m, but failed to make the Jamaican team for next month’s World Championships. This doesn’t bode well for Asafa’s public declaration “I want to be clear in saying to my family, friends and, most of all, my fans worldwide that I have never knowingly or wilfully taken any supplements or substances that break any rules, “Clearly we don’t expect him to say otherwise but the turnaround time in which he lost at the Jamaican athletic trials an registering such a stunning Diamond league performance makes a mockery the zero to hero game journey time.

But, Tyson gay positive drug test hit home hard in the USA especially how he was previously regarded as the poster boy of US athletic integrity. I still can’t come to terms with the fact that gay would knowingly take any banned stimulant. So it came to me as quiet a relief when he commented in his defence “I don’t have a sabotage story. I don’t have any lies. I don’t have anything to say to make this seem like it was a mistake or it was on USADA’s hands, someone playing games,” said Gay, who fought back sobs in a telephone interview. “I don’t have any of those stories. I basically put my trust in someone and I was let down.” Max Siegel, the CEO of USA Track and Field, said in a statement: “It is not the news anyone wanted to hear, at any time, about any athlete.” He said he looked to USADA to handle the case “appropriately.” Four-time Olympic medallist and sprint analyst Ato Boldon former Trinidadians Olympian and CNB sports anchor also called it a “difficult day because track and field fans are left not knowing what to believe.” Let’s hold our tongue lest we moralise wrongfully.

This latest saga surely must elicit a honest and level headed debate about the role of supplements in sport. Asafa and Tyson are certainly two people who a lot of track fans have loved and admired for a long time. Surely, these unrelated events must trigger a wide ranging review of WADA drug testing policy. This should take into consideration the role of the back room staff in the employ of professional athletes. The days ahead are interesting as the sagas unfold in a ghastly scandal that could make the BALCO scandal of 2002 pale in significance. Journalist who loves the smell of a nasty sporting scandal must be groping in the dark and salivating with pleasurable anxiety.