Merritt apologises for 'foolish mistake'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lashawn Merritt is not the first American sprinter to claim to be the victim of what might be termed a cock-up on the doping front.
The reigning world and Olympic 400m champion has tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA, saying the anabolic steroid was contained in an over-the-counter male enhancement product he had taken.
When Dennis Mitchell, who took the Olympic 100m bronze medal running for the United States in the Barcelona Olympics in1992, fell foul of the drug testing system in 1998 he maintained that four cans of beer and "at least" four acts of copulation with his wife the night before his test explained the illegal level of testosterone level found in his urine sample. "It was her birthday," he said. "The lady deserved a treat."
That might have been the case, but the International Association of Athletics Federations concluded that what Mitchell himself deserved was a two-year ban. Merritt can now expect to suffer the same punishment after testing positive for DHEA, and pregnenolone on three separate occasions.
In a statement, Merrit said: "I hope my sponsors, family, friends and the sport itself will forgive me for making such a foolish, immature and egotistical mistake. Any penalty that I may receive for my action will not overshadow the embarrassment that I feel inside."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
0Comments