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USA Track & Field is gravely concerned that Justin Gatlin has tested
positive for banned substances. Justin has been one of the most visible
spokespersons for winning with integrity in the sport of track and
field, and throughout his career he has made clear his willingness to
take responsibility for his actions. Although difficult, his case
demonstrates that in track and field and Olympic sports, it doesn't
matter who you are. If you test positive for a banned substance, you
will face substantial consequences. We hope Justin has not committed a
doping offense, and we await the completion of the adjudication process.
USATF continues to work closely with the U.S. Olympic Committee, USADA,
the IAAF and others to devise more effective ways of preventing
intentional drug use and inadvertent doping positives. The future of our
sport lies in the hands of our athletes, and we must do everything we
can to enable our brightest young athletes to continue to win the right
way, by training right, eating right, living with integrity and
associating with the right people. We cannot control the decisions
athletes make, or the people close to an athlete who might bring an
athlete to harm with or without his or her knowledge. But we must make
every effort to lay the groundwork for athletes at all levels to make
the right decisions.
Those measures have to date included seminars with athletes of all ages
and abilities, from youth to elite athletes; a quarterly anti-doping
newsletter that reaches out to athletes, agents and coaches; our Be A
Champion youth outreach program; and hiring full-time staff to work
directly with USADA and USATF athletes to ensure that athletes are aware
of and in compliance with all doping regulations. All of these measures
fall under USATF's "Zero Tolerance" Anti-Doping Policy, but they alone
will never be enough to eradicate performance-enhancing substances from
sport.
We will continue to vigorously pursue new and more creative measures to
improve the fight. We owe it to our athletes, our sport, and our sport's
future.
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