ATO - I am only HUMAN
oct.09.2001
by Andre E. Baptiste
Trinidad and Tobago's ace sprinter Ato Boldon after testing positive for the banned substance, ephedrine, says he made a mistake and he's only human.
In a release yesterday , the IAAF said Boldon tested positive to the banned substance, ephedrine, at a meeting in April during the Mt Sac Relays in the United States.
Istvan Gyulai, general secretary of athletics' world governing body, confirmed Boldon's positive test at a media conference in Melbourne.
Boldon, 27, will not be suspended as the offence only carries the penalty of a public warning.
"What happened was that I had just returned from the South African meet where I contracted a cold and so I purchased a cough syrup, Nyquil, over the counter," Boldon told this reporter yesterday.
"I did not think at the time that I was going to be competing so I never thought there would be any problem at the time with taking the cough medicine," he added.
Boldon admits he was notified by the National Amateur Athletic Association first about the outcome of the random test. As usual and in keeping with the rules of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), "they first made contact with my association, the National Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA) about the results from sample A. When they told me I was shocked, but I understood how it happened and told them so."
A letter was sent to the NAAA from the IAAF, outlining what was found in Ato's system and also showing what he declared before racing that afternoon on April (27th). "Yes before every race, you have to declare any medication, you may be on and actually it clearly states on that letter and the attached form, that I declared the drug called Flumatine, which is a prescription drug, which shows I was sick at the time,."
While there is no automatic ban for taking such a drug, it is not a steroid, and Ato admits, "I have learnt my lesson when it comes to even cough medicine, I have seen other people being caught like this and wondered how it happened."
"Also this in a way, shows all those in the world, who believe that I was being protected by certain people in the drug testing cases that I am being tested like everyone else. In fact that week I got tested almost three times, and it was only on the last occasion, they found the cough medicine because at that stage I was competing and this is one of many drugs not allowed when competing," Boldon said.
"So it may seem strange, but I am relieved, that now that those who also speak about me and drugs now know that I am not safe from any infractions of the law when it comes to drugs and that anything that I do, is given as much notice and action as anyone else. There is no preferential treatment," he noted.
Boldon understands however, "that there will be people who will read one thing or another into this and I cannot help that, except to say to those who believe in me, that my motto is: win or lose clean and fair and no drugs." "Let's face the facts. What I am doing now is taking accountability for my actions.
" I am not ducking the issue. I took an over the counter medication, it was too close to an event, and it was positive. It is like when people have allergies and they take tablets that contain the same ephedrine," Boldon added. "At the end of the day, when the test results are released from Sample B, I want the public, especially those in my country of Trinidad and Tobago, to know that I will never do anything to shorten my life and therefore drugs have no part in my career," Boldon stressed.
Boldon was also confident of the support of his coach John Smith and Manager Emmanuel Hudson. "I kept this very close to me, until the second sample was revealed, and I only told John Smith and Emmanuel Hudson about it, because I did not want to upset the other members of the team's minds especially as they have the US trials coming up shortly."
Boldon wants to send a message as he prepares for 2002: "I want everyone to know that Ato Boldon will never do anything to bring shame on Trinidad and Tobago, my family and ultimately myself.
"In the final analysis the truth will set you free and that is what I have done."
"I have received a lot of support from the few people that knew. They all understand it was a mistake and it cost me. But I have to learn from it and go on and try to win Trinidad and Tobago some medals later this year," he warned his competition.
The second sample was concluded on Tuesday, June 19 and results should have been released on Wednesday of that week, but it was not as there was some contention surrounding it. It was finally released yesterday.
As to his sponsorships and endorsements and his career following this news, a strong-willed Boldon vowed to fight on. "My sponsorship deals are all okay, my sponsors understand that Ato does not and will not tolerate the taking of steroids (drugs) and that I am beginning today and everyday since I found out, am ensuring that I continue to follow the strict rules of the IAAF, as I have done in the past, even when it involves a cold medicine."
"I have given my reasons for the positive test to the powers-that-be and they have accepted it, but I have noted the warning and assure everyone that this will not happen to me again, because I am drug free."
"One thing about John Smith is that, he believes in the natural way of running. I just do not want this to affect me, as I am now beginning to regain my best form, the four-time Olympic mdedallist said.
"A fact is a fact, but Ato Boldon is not running away. In fact I am here to stay and win gold medals, so everyone better be aware of that," he ended.
oct.09.2001
by Andre E. Baptiste
Trinidad and Tobago's ace sprinter Ato Boldon after testing positive for the banned substance, ephedrine, says he made a mistake and he's only human.
In a release yesterday , the IAAF said Boldon tested positive to the banned substance, ephedrine, at a meeting in April during the Mt Sac Relays in the United States.
Istvan Gyulai, general secretary of athletics' world governing body, confirmed Boldon's positive test at a media conference in Melbourne.
Boldon, 27, will not be suspended as the offence only carries the penalty of a public warning.
"What happened was that I had just returned from the South African meet where I contracted a cold and so I purchased a cough syrup, Nyquil, over the counter," Boldon told this reporter yesterday.
"I did not think at the time that I was going to be competing so I never thought there would be any problem at the time with taking the cough medicine," he added.
Boldon admits he was notified by the National Amateur Athletic Association first about the outcome of the random test. As usual and in keeping with the rules of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), "they first made contact with my association, the National Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA) about the results from sample A. When they told me I was shocked, but I understood how it happened and told them so."
A letter was sent to the NAAA from the IAAF, outlining what was found in Ato's system and also showing what he declared before racing that afternoon on April (27th). "Yes before every race, you have to declare any medication, you may be on and actually it clearly states on that letter and the attached form, that I declared the drug called Flumatine, which is a prescription drug, which shows I was sick at the time,."
While there is no automatic ban for taking such a drug, it is not a steroid, and Ato admits, "I have learnt my lesson when it comes to even cough medicine, I have seen other people being caught like this and wondered how it happened."
"Also this in a way, shows all those in the world, who believe that I was being protected by certain people in the drug testing cases that I am being tested like everyone else. In fact that week I got tested almost three times, and it was only on the last occasion, they found the cough medicine because at that stage I was competing and this is one of many drugs not allowed when competing," Boldon said.
"So it may seem strange, but I am relieved, that now that those who also speak about me and drugs now know that I am not safe from any infractions of the law when it comes to drugs and that anything that I do, is given as much notice and action as anyone else. There is no preferential treatment," he noted.
Boldon understands however, "that there will be people who will read one thing or another into this and I cannot help that, except to say to those who believe in me, that my motto is: win or lose clean and fair and no drugs." "Let's face the facts. What I am doing now is taking accountability for my actions.
" I am not ducking the issue. I took an over the counter medication, it was too close to an event, and it was positive. It is like when people have allergies and they take tablets that contain the same ephedrine," Boldon added. "At the end of the day, when the test results are released from Sample B, I want the public, especially those in my country of Trinidad and Tobago, to know that I will never do anything to shorten my life and therefore drugs have no part in my career," Boldon stressed.
Boldon was also confident of the support of his coach John Smith and Manager Emmanuel Hudson. "I kept this very close to me, until the second sample was revealed, and I only told John Smith and Emmanuel Hudson about it, because I did not want to upset the other members of the team's minds especially as they have the US trials coming up shortly."
Boldon wants to send a message as he prepares for 2002: "I want everyone to know that Ato Boldon will never do anything to bring shame on Trinidad and Tobago, my family and ultimately myself.
"In the final analysis the truth will set you free and that is what I have done."
"I have received a lot of support from the few people that knew. They all understand it was a mistake and it cost me. But I have to learn from it and go on and try to win Trinidad and Tobago some medals later this year," he warned his competition.
The second sample was concluded on Tuesday, June 19 and results should have been released on Wednesday of that week, but it was not as there was some contention surrounding it. It was finally released yesterday.
As to his sponsorships and endorsements and his career following this news, a strong-willed Boldon vowed to fight on. "My sponsorship deals are all okay, my sponsors understand that Ato does not and will not tolerate the taking of steroids (drugs) and that I am beginning today and everyday since I found out, am ensuring that I continue to follow the strict rules of the IAAF, as I have done in the past, even when it involves a cold medicine."
"I have given my reasons for the positive test to the powers-that-be and they have accepted it, but I have noted the warning and assure everyone that this will not happen to me again, because I am drug free."
"One thing about John Smith is that, he believes in the natural way of running. I just do not want this to affect me, as I am now beginning to regain my best form, the four-time Olympic mdedallist said.
"A fact is a fact, but Ato Boldon is not running away. In fact I am here to stay and win gold medals, so everyone better be aware of that," he ended.