LaShawn Merritt Tests Positive, by Alfons Juck, Note by Larry Eder

This story needs little commentary or introduction. LaShawn Merritt has tested positive, three times for what a performance enhancing drug that drug experts note, “is not very effective.” In what I believe is the first mea culpa of it’s kind, Mr. Merrit claims that he used an over the counter male enhancement product, not knowing what secret ingredient did the enhancing. Moral of the story: Athletes must take the responsibility for what they ingest, pour on themselves, rub on themselves-you get the drift. In the end, Mr. Merritt will face an up to two year suspension for this purchase.

La Shawn Merritt, Nike Pre Classic, June 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.

L. Merritt positive

LOS ANGELES (USA): Olympic winner and world champion at 400 m LaShawn
Merritt tested positive three times on male enhancement product which
contained DHEA and pregnenolone. It was in October and December 2009
and in January 2010. He was informed about the positive tests in March.
He was not competing in the indoor season. It is according of a release
by his lawyer Howard Jacobs and published at www.trackandfieldnews.com.
Merritt accepted provisional suspension, the product which contained
the prohibited substances was a over-the-counter one. His use of this
product was completely unrelated to athletics, and occurred at a time
that he was neither seriously training nor competing. His voluntary
acceptance of a provisional suspension means that he has chosen not to
compete until the case has been decided. In the interim, he will
continue to train hard and take classes towards his degree
requirements.

Dr. Gary Wadler, chairman of the World Anti-Doping
Agency’s prohibited list and methods sub-committee, told the Orlando
Sentinel that DHEA is “not very effective” as a performance enhancer.

USATF CEO Doug Logan said that this positive result taints all of
Merritt’s considerable past accomplishments and those he may have
moving forward. Merritt is facing two years suspension which could mean
he will miss 2011 World Championships but as soon his possible ban will
start so soon he can be back possibly for US Olympic Trials 2012.

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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