USA Track and Field Doesn’t Support Banned Athletes Making a Comeback

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USA Track & Field (USATF), the national organization governing track and field, running and race walking, generally does not support athletes who attempt a comeback to the sport after serving a ban for using performance-enhancing drugs according to USATF spokesperson Jill Greer. “We would essentially ignore them and pretend they didn’t exist,” Greer told the New York Times in an interview regarding the return of American sprinter Justin Gatlin.

Ironically, Greer acknowledged that Gatlin was an exception and had the full support of USATF even though Gatlin used the “Barry Bonds defense” that he never knowingly used anabolic steroids. Gatlin blamed his positive steroid test on a vengeful masseuse who unscrupulously used a testosterone cream during a massage.

But Gatlin cooperated with the United States Anti-Doping Agency and has spoken to children about taking responsibility for their actions. While he has not admitted to purposely taking a banned substance, Geer said, he has “taken responsibility for the fact that it was in his system.”

USATF’s policy about supporting formerly banned athletes who return to the sport is somewhat nuanced. While the USATF generally does not support the return of banned athletes, it apparently supports athletes who have “taken responsibility” for their actions even though they do not admit intentionally using steroids. The assertion that Gatlin did not knowingly use steroids is probably as credible as Barry Bonds claims.

It is difficult to imagine Barry Bonds being a spokesman who teaches children about taking responsibility for their actions while claiming to be an unwitting victim of a personal trainer. Yet, USATF thinks Gatlin did a good job teaching personal responsibility to children while denying responsibility for knowingly using steroids.

It really seems that the key to being welcomed back to track and field, as far as USATF is concerned, is full cooperation with the United States Anti-Doping Agency.