Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell, Fail Drugs Test

Tyson Gay

Athletics was left in shock after it was revealed that Tyson Gay, the world's fastest 100m runner this year, Asafa Powell and 4 other Jamaican athletes had tested positive for banned substances.

The American Gay, who has withdrawn from the world championships in Moscow next month, blamed a "type of accident" for his positive sample, which came in an out-of-competition test on 16 May.

"I don't have any lies," he said. "I basically put my trust in someone and I was let down. The [authorities] already know it is some type of accident. I know exactly what went on but I can't discuss it right now."Gay refused to say what the banned substance, or who the person, was. "I can't really say it," he said. "Sometimes a human being naturally, generally trusts somebody. That's what people do."

It was later confirmed that 5 Jamaicans – including two Olympic gold medallists in Powell and Sherone Simpson – had failed drugs tests at last month's national championships. The other 3 were a junior athlete and 2 throwers.

Usain Bolt's agent, Ricky Simms, categorically insisted that the Olympic 100m champion was not under any suspicion. "I was just with him in Jamaica and we've had no information and we've not been contacted by anyone," he said. "It is not anyone that I'm connected with."

Powell's agent, Paul Doyle, confirmed that his client had failed a test, and Simpson issued a statement apologising for "any hurt or embarrassment this positive test may of caused" but insisting she did not knowingly take the stimulant oxilofrine.

Powell helped the Jamaicans to the 400m relay gold medal at the 2008 Olympics and was the last man to hold the individual 100m record before his countryman Usain Bolt broke it earlier that year. Simpson won Olympic gold in the women's 400m relay in 2004 and silver in 2012, along with an individual silver in the 100m in 2008.

Gay is the 2nd-fastest man of all time, having set the American 100m record of 9.69 seconds in 2009. He has struggled since then with groin and hip injuries, the later of which required surgery, but after an injury-free winter he had run 9.75sec this season and won the 100m and 200m trials at the US championships. Now, though, he becomes the latest in a long line of sprinters to test positive.

"My career and my name have always been better than medals or records or anything like that," he said.

Source: GuardianUK