Posted: July 15, 2004

Athletics: HSI Statement Re: Torri Edwards

By Bob Ramsak, Track Profile

(c) 2004 Track Profile all rights reserved TrackProfile.com >[Note: Below is a statement just received from HSI, the management company that represents Torri Edwards. The statement appears in its entirety. Earlier today, it was reported that Edwards had tested positive for the stimulant nikethamide. --Ed.]

Torri Edwards News Release - Los Angeles, California

Ms. Torri Edwards is saddened to report that a urine sample she gave in competition on April 24, 2004 was found to have a trace amount of the stimulant nikethamide. As nikethamide is on the applicable IAAF prohibited substance list, Torri has been charged with a doping violation that subjects her to a two-year period of ineligibility under the IAAF’s new rules that came into effect on March 1, 2004. Under the prior IAAF rules, the applicable penalty was a public warning and a disqualification of all results from the meet at which she gave her sample.

Torri has not contested the presence of the stimulant in her system. She has been truthful and has cooperated fully with the IAAF, USADA, and USATF throughout this process, and she will continue to do so. She believes however that there are exceptional circumstances in her case that merit an elimination or substantial reduction of the current applicable sanction. She has therefore requested a hearing before the American Arbitration Association.

Torri is not a drug cheat. She has never knowingly and intentionally misused any product or drug to gain an unfair advantage over her competitors. She has never been a part of any campaign to purposely dope through undetectable methods.

While in the French Virgin Island of Martinique for a competition on April 24, 2004, Torri’s physical therapist and chiropractor Dr. Christopher Vincent purchased glucose tablets at a local sundry store in the tourist gift shop near the meet hotel. He then gave Torri two glucose tablets between her races in order to bring her sugar level up to normal because she was not feeling well. Unfortunately, unknown to Dr. Vincent and Torri, this particular brand of glucose, “Coramine Glucose”, contained a small amount of nikethamide that is added to the product by the manufacturer. Coramine Glucose is not manufactured or sold in the United States. The product is distributed and sold in only France, its provinces and Vietnam.

Glucose is not a prohibited substance. Prior to this unfortunate incident, Torri had never known glucose to contain any prohibited substance regardless of where the glucose was purchased in the world. She had no reason to suspect that she had unknowingly ingested a product that contained a prohibited substance.

Torri has dedicated more than half her life to the sport she loves. She knows her accomplishments were achieved through hard work and perseverance. Regardless of how her case is ultimately decided, Torri knows she has not committed an intentional doping offense.

The TRACK PROFILE REPORT is a news and feature service published by the Track Profile News Service. In addition to regularly dispatched news, profile and interview features, subscribers also receive exclusive on-site updates from major national and international competitions, usually within 24 hours. Copyright (c) 2004 by Bob Ramsak and TRACK PROFILE. All rights reserved. Reproduction, republication, reposting and retransmission in ANY form is strictly prohibited without express permission from the editor.