CJ Hunter's Drug Test Cast Pall over USA Track

C.J. Hunter's Positive Drug Tests Cast Pall over US Track

Speculation that shot putter's results were released by IOC to embarrass American stand

Sydney, September 27, 2000 -- 1999 shot put world champion C.J Hunter had tested positive for steroid use four times this summer. According to the Sydney Daily Telegraph, both the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the U.S. track and field organization (USATF) were previously aware of the positive results, although neither organization had publicly recognized them. Hunter, a favorite to win the gold medal in the shot put, pulled himself out of Olympic competition, two weeks ago - before the games began - due to recent knee surgery. He has also stated that he does not know why he repeatedly flunked the drug tests, except that the banned substance -- nandrolone -- was found in diet supplements he took.

According to sportsbusiness news.com, the chairman of the IOC's medical commission confirmed that this summer Hunter failed three out-of-competition tests in addition to one test administered in-competition. The four separate urine samples, revealed Hunter to have levels of nandrolone 1,000 times the allowable amount. After the revealing of these results, the head of the IAAF's medical commission charged that Hunter had been ingesting a banned substance over a period time, while also adding that Hunter could have been taking food supplements containing banned substances which act as precursors to the production of nandrolone in the body.

Hunter tearfully denied using such drugs at a news conference. His nutritionist denied that the athlete had taken nandrolone, it was alleged that the positive tests were the result of an iron supplement that Hunter had been taking. The nutritionist also contended that two runners who had tested positive for banned substances had taken the same iron supplement as Hunter. Neither runner has yet identified the supplement as the cause for their positive test results.

The anabolic steroid nandrolone aids the repairing of muscles damaged during intense training and competition, which in turns builds an athletes muscle strength and bulk. According to ESPN, nandrolone has been implicated in hundreds of recent doping cases and some scientists believe that the steroid may be contained in improperly labeled nutritional supplements that are used by many athletes. However, IAAF and IOC rules stipulate that an athlete is responsible for the substance is in his body, regardless of how they got there.

To many, the revelations of Hunter's purported drug use came at a curious time, just as his wife, Marion Jones, was beginning her unsuccessful, but highly publicized attempt at five gold medals. Furthermore, Hunter was not even competing at the Sydney Games, although, the 330-pounder was credentialed as an athlete while acting as a coach for Jones. Initially, the USOC was to respond by replacing Hunter's athlete credential with a support staff pass, which would have allowed him to coach Jones at the competition venue; but at the request of the IOC, Hunter was left without any credential.

Indeed, several commentators have suggested that political factors, outside the scope of IOC anti-doping policy, may have motivated the "attack" on Hunter. Noting that Hunter's positive test results could have been acknowledged earlier in the summer, it has been suggested that the recent events came as in retaliation to what some international officials perceive as the hypocritical, if not arrogant, stance taken by the U.S. in condemning the usage of banned substances by other nations, while covering up such use by American athletes. [click here for related article] Also, some contend that the IOC believes U.S. influence to be concerned more about protecting its corporate sponsors than flushing out doping among its own athletes. Ultimately, it may be that Hunter is the victim of a pre-emptive strike by the IOC against the U.S., precipitated by the harsh criticism espoused from Congress, the White House, corporate sponsors and the media in the wake of the Salt Lake City bidding scandal, overall IOC corruption, and perceived inadequacies in drug testing, according to the New York Times.

Hunter may be considering a legal action against the organizations that administered the drug tests; during the week, Hunter appeared flanked by attorney Jonnie Cochran. Cochran maintained he was at Hunter's side as a "family friend," but he did not rule out representing Hunter.

Andrew Goodman