400m Gold Medalist LaShawn Merritt Fails Dope Tests

LaShawn Merritt, the American who rose to fame after taking gold in the 400m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, faced a two year competitive ban on Thursday as it was revealed that he tested positive for the banned steroid Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Merritt, who at 23 is fifth in the all time list of 400m runners, admitted the charges and accepted a provisional suspension following a total of three failed drug tests between October 2009 and January 2010 meaning he would not compete until the case is heard and would almost certainly miss the entire 2010 season.




Generally an admittance of guilt in doping cases but citing an innocent mistake tends not to be believed by the general public but the case of Merritt might be one of those times when you actually believe the athlete; the reason being the particular medication that he has admitted to taking. Merritt's failed test is understood to have been a result of taking ExtenZe, an over-the-counter male enchancement product, and not reading the fine print that it contained anything against the rules. DHEA is a steroid that is legally sold in the United States as a dietary supplement, although there have been attempts to reclassify it as a controlled substance, but it has been on the International Olympic Committee's list of banned substances for a number of years. Although the reason for the failed drug test is both highly entertaining and highly unusual it is unlikely that it will prevent the ban been enforced since all professional athletes who fall under the affiliation of USA Track & Field are fully aware that they are solely responsible for anything that enters their bodies. However it would be interesting, although particularly unlikely, if Merritt discloses if the ExtenZe actually worked.


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