Merritt faces two year ban
The American Olympic and World 400 metre champion LaShawn Merritt faces a two year ban from athletics after failing three drug tests between October 2009 and January 2010.
Failing a test once is surely serious enough to consider if it is worth taking a banned substance, but proving positive three times for the same banned substance, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), is sheer stupidity.
Merritt has admitted that he did not read the ‘fine print’ on the non prescription medications that led to the positive results in three seperate drug tests.
His lawyer Howard Jacobs said in a statement that Merritt has accepted a provisional suspension as a result of the positive drug tests. He added that the positive tests were caused by Merritt’s “use of an over-the-counter male enhancement product”.
Merritt admitted to making a foolish, immature and egotistical mistake when the findings were reported. In a further statement the athlete said:
“To know I have tested positive as a result of a product I used for personal reasons is extremely difficult. I hope my sponsors, family, friends and the sport itself will forgive me. Any penalty I may receive for my action will not overshadow the embarrassment and humiliation I feel.”
The athlete had not been made aware of the test results until March 2010.
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