Tyson Gay tests positive for banned substance

By +Frank B.
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Tyson Gay tests positive for banned substance

American sprinter Tyson Gay has tested positive for a banned substance and has pulled out of next month's World Championships.

Gay, the joint-second fastest man over 100m, said he was notified by the US Anti-Doping Agency on Friday that his A sample from an out-of-competition test in May had returned a positive.

His B sample is yet to be tested.

 

"I don't have a sabotage story... I basically put my trust in someone and was let down," said Gay, 30.

 

"I made a mistake. I am pulling out of Monaco (this week's Diamond League meeting) and the World Championships."

 

Gay said he could not divulge the substance or how the positive test occured, adding: "I know exactly what went on, but I can't discuss it right now.

 

"I hope I am able to run again, but I will take whatever punishment I get like a man."

 

USADA responded to Gay's disclosure by releasing a statement that read: "In response to Mr Gay's statements, USADA appreciates his approach to handling this situation and his choice to voluntarily remove himself from competition while the full facts surrounding his test are evaluated.

 

"The B sample will be processed shortly, and as in all cases all athletes are innocent unless or until proven otherwise through the established legal process, and any attempt to sensationalise or speculate is a disservice to due process, fair play, and to those who love clean sport."

 

USA Track & Field, the sport's US governing body, added: "It is not the news anyone wanted to hear, at any time, about any athlete.

 

"As we approach the World Championships, we will remain focused on the competition at hand and winning the right way."

 

Usain Bolt is the only athlete to ever run faster than the 9.69 personal best Gay ran in 2009, putting the 2007 world champion equal with Jamaican Yohan Blake.

 

Gay had been in impressive form so far this year, clocking the three fastest times of 2013.

 

He won the 100m at the Jamaica Invitational athletics meeting in May with a time of 9.86 seconds, before clocking 9.75 seconds - the fastest time of 2013 - to win the US World Championships trials the following month.

Gay's preparations for August's World Championships in Moscow continued with victory in the men's 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, running 9.79 seconds.

 

He has suffered with injuries in recent years. A hip injury forced him to withdraw from the 2011 US world trials 100m semi-finals, before the subsequent surgery ruled him out of running for the rest of the year.

 

He returned to the track in 2012 and qualified for the 100m at the London Olympics by finishing second in the US Olympic trials to Justin Gatlin.

 

Gay, who also runs at 200m, then won the 100m at both the Paris and London legs of the 2012 Diamond League before coming fourth at the Games in London.

Source: BBC Sport

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