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Not a clear cut case for Steve Mullings
by Tom Borish (6/3/05)
Steve Mullings of Mississippi State this year (MSU sports photo)
He was the Jamaican National Champion at 200 meters. He was about to compete in the Olympic Games for his country. A failed drug test closed the door on the chance to bring back an Olympic medal for his country.
The Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) banned Steve Mullings, 22, for two years for testing positive for an unusual level of testosterone at last year's national championship. The announcement was made last month.
"This violation constitutes an offense which now makes Mr. Mullings ineligible to compete for a period of two years, effective from the date of his suspension, June 26, 2004," the JAAA said in a statement.
The JAAA voided all of Mullings' performances since the championship meet. The test results will also be sent to the IAAF.
According to published reports from the BBC, Mullings tested positive twice for testosterone.
However, it's been learned that the actual testing procedure and results from the JAAA have raised some serious questions.
Mullings, now a junior at Mississippi State University, is expected to compete at the 2005 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, California June 8-11. He is tied with Walter Dix of Florida State for the best time in the 100 meter dash at 10.06 seconds.
The NCAA doesn't recognize drug test results it doesn't conduct. The test was conducted by the JAAA and not the NCAA. Therefore, Mullings is able to compete at the NCAA level.
Trackshark.com has obtained several documents which show that the testing results from the JAAA do not match up with the ID number given to Mullings at the time of the Jamaican National Championships last year.
Mullings was tested on the evening of June 26, 2004. The table below shows several of the original documents as tested by the JAAA.
Document 1 shows the "A" sample that tested positive which is in line with ID number 880332. According to the document, this was analyzed on July 6, 2004.
Document 2 shows Steve Mullings' drug test form which he signed and tested for on June 26, 2004 after the 100 meters. Mullings was given the ID number 880322. This ID number does not appear on the list from Document 1.
Document 3 shows Steve Mullings' second drug test form which he signed and tested for on August 5, 2004. Mullings took this second test after finding out from the JAAA that he tested positive. Mullings second test came back negative.
Documents 1 and and some of 2 were in French and we were unable to translate them. Mullings personal information, such as his address, phone number and social security number, were blacked out by Trackshark.com on the lists to publish.
According to Mississippi State assistant coach Steve Dudley, Mullings has been tested 7 times, including twice by the NCAA, since the Jamaican National Championships last year. All tests came back negative. Dudley took over as the sprint coach three seasons ago.
After his time of 10.06 seconds in the 100 meters back on April 4 of this year, Mullings was tested after the competition by Mississippi State as well.
Under NCAA rules, Mississippi State can not assist Mullings for any kind of financial assistance for his current appeal. The JAAA asked Mullings to fly back home to appear before a hearing, but the hearing never took place.
Mullings had to pay for his own hearing, drug test and travel expenses to appear before the hearing in Jamaica which never took place.
As an alternative process, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) never stepped in to allow another test, which was hoped by Mullings to help clear his name.
The JAAA informed Mullings and the staff at Mississippi State to not worry about the positive test because the less fighting that they do, the quicker that the appeal process would get resolved.
In December of 2004, the head of the JAAA, along with much of the staff, have been fired.
"I know a lot of NCAA coaches around the country who are very skeptical of the situation down there in Jamaica," said Al Schmidt, who is now in his 17th season as the head coach for the Mississippi State's men's and women's track teams.
"I guess we were also naive to not fight this as hard as we should have. We put our faith in the JAAA and it appears that they didn't know what they were doing."
Schmidt looked to USA Track & Field for guidance and direction, but they could not offer much since Mullings is not a citizen of the United States.
Mullings can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, but it may be a tough task considering the cost.
"Steve's only choice is to take what is given to him because he can't hire an expensive lawyer", said Dudley. "I hope Steve's situation will give rise to a body that can give support to individuals in his situation to offer not only council, but a group that can look at documents and explain if there are errors, such as in this case."
Meanwhile, Dr. Marion Bullock-Ducasse has been asked to chair an interim committee set up by the newly formed Jamaica Anti Doping Agency, until the appropriate legislation has been put in place.
Mullings is trying to request a DNA sample from the original test to prove that it's not his. Mullings continues to fight that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
Letsrun.com, an internet running web site, published an on-line petition on June 3, 2005 to ban Mullings from competing at the 2005 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.
According to their published article, "Their (Mississippi State) behavior up to this point is inexcusable but we urge them to do the right thing and pull Steve Mullings from the NCAA meet."
Robert Johnson and Weldon Johnson are the co-founders of Letsrun.com and have started several petitions in the past to urge athletes to not enter competitions.
The Mullings article included the university phone numbers and email addresses of the Mississippi State athletic director, head coach and president. Since their published article, they have received "threatening phone calls, including at my home," according to head coach Al Schmidt.
One of the co-founders of Letsrun.com, Robert Johnson, is in his third year as an assistant coach with the Cornell men's cross country and track and field teams.
According to Schmidt, "Southeastern Conference rules will not let us approach another institution (Cornell) about any subject matter such as this. We must go through the compliance office to settle such matters."
Since Robert Johnson, an employee and assistant coach at Cornell, is asking the staff at Mississippi State to not have Steve Mullings compete, they must abide by SEC rules before any communication can take place even if it's through a web site not affiliated with Cornell.
"Steve is not doing well at all and it's been very tough for him to line up and compete every weekend for us," Dudley stated.
"The only people in the position to be able judge whether Steve is guilty has to be the individuals that have all in the information and has been through the entire process."
** update - Steve Mullings announced that he was voluntarily withdrawing from the 2005 NCAA Track and Field Championships.
by Tom Borish (6/3/05)
Steve Mullings of Mississippi State this year (MSU sports photo)He was the Jamaican National Champion at 200 meters. He was about to compete in the Olympic Games for his country. A failed drug test closed the door on the chance to bring back an Olympic medal for his country.
The Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) banned Steve Mullings, 22, for two years for testing positive for an unusual level of testosterone at last year's national championship. The announcement was made last month.
"This violation constitutes an offense which now makes Mr. Mullings ineligible to compete for a period of two years, effective from the date of his suspension, June 26, 2004," the JAAA said in a statement.
The JAAA voided all of Mullings' performances since the championship meet. The test results will also be sent to the IAAF.
According to published reports from the BBC, Mullings tested positive twice for testosterone.
However, it's been learned that the actual testing procedure and results from the JAAA have raised some serious questions.
Mullings, now a junior at Mississippi State University, is expected to compete at the 2005 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, California June 8-11. He is tied with Walter Dix of Florida State for the best time in the 100 meter dash at 10.06 seconds.
The NCAA doesn't recognize drug test results it doesn't conduct. The test was conducted by the JAAA and not the NCAA. Therefore, Mullings is able to compete at the NCAA level.
Trackshark.com has obtained several documents which show that the testing results from the JAAA do not match up with the ID number given to Mullings at the time of the Jamaican National Championships last year.
Mullings was tested on the evening of June 26, 2004. The table below shows several of the original documents as tested by the JAAA.
Document 1 shows the "A" sample that tested positive which is in line with ID number 880332. According to the document, this was analyzed on July 6, 2004.
Document 2 shows Steve Mullings' drug test form which he signed and tested for on June 26, 2004 after the 100 meters. Mullings was given the ID number 880322. This ID number does not appear on the list from Document 1.
Document 3 shows Steve Mullings' second drug test form which he signed and tested for on August 5, 2004. Mullings took this second test after finding out from the JAAA that he tested positive. Mullings second test came back negative.
Documents 1 and and some of 2 were in French and we were unable to translate them. Mullings personal information, such as his address, phone number and social security number, were blacked out by Trackshark.com on the lists to publish.
According to Mississippi State assistant coach Steve Dudley, Mullings has been tested 7 times, including twice by the NCAA, since the Jamaican National Championships last year. All tests came back negative. Dudley took over as the sprint coach three seasons ago.
After his time of 10.06 seconds in the 100 meters back on April 4 of this year, Mullings was tested after the competition by Mississippi State as well.
Under NCAA rules, Mississippi State can not assist Mullings for any kind of financial assistance for his current appeal. The JAAA asked Mullings to fly back home to appear before a hearing, but the hearing never took place.
Mullings had to pay for his own hearing, drug test and travel expenses to appear before the hearing in Jamaica which never took place.
As an alternative process, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) never stepped in to allow another test, which was hoped by Mullings to help clear his name.
The JAAA informed Mullings and the staff at Mississippi State to not worry about the positive test because the less fighting that they do, the quicker that the appeal process would get resolved.
In December of 2004, the head of the JAAA, along with much of the staff, have been fired.
"I know a lot of NCAA coaches around the country who are very skeptical of the situation down there in Jamaica," said Al Schmidt, who is now in his 17th season as the head coach for the Mississippi State's men's and women's track teams.
"I guess we were also naive to not fight this as hard as we should have. We put our faith in the JAAA and it appears that they didn't know what they were doing."
Schmidt looked to USA Track & Field for guidance and direction, but they could not offer much since Mullings is not a citizen of the United States.
Mullings can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, but it may be a tough task considering the cost.
"Steve's only choice is to take what is given to him because he can't hire an expensive lawyer", said Dudley. "I hope Steve's situation will give rise to a body that can give support to individuals in his situation to offer not only council, but a group that can look at documents and explain if there are errors, such as in this case."
Meanwhile, Dr. Marion Bullock-Ducasse has been asked to chair an interim committee set up by the newly formed Jamaica Anti Doping Agency, until the appropriate legislation has been put in place.
Mullings is trying to request a DNA sample from the original test to prove that it's not his. Mullings continues to fight that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
Letsrun.com, an internet running web site, published an on-line petition on June 3, 2005 to ban Mullings from competing at the 2005 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.
According to their published article, "Their (Mississippi State) behavior up to this point is inexcusable but we urge them to do the right thing and pull Steve Mullings from the NCAA meet."
Robert Johnson and Weldon Johnson are the co-founders of Letsrun.com and have started several petitions in the past to urge athletes to not enter competitions.
The Mullings article included the university phone numbers and email addresses of the Mississippi State athletic director, head coach and president. Since their published article, they have received "threatening phone calls, including at my home," according to head coach Al Schmidt.
One of the co-founders of Letsrun.com, Robert Johnson, is in his third year as an assistant coach with the Cornell men's cross country and track and field teams.
According to Schmidt, "Southeastern Conference rules will not let us approach another institution (Cornell) about any subject matter such as this. We must go through the compliance office to settle such matters."
Since Robert Johnson, an employee and assistant coach at Cornell, is asking the staff at Mississippi State to not have Steve Mullings compete, they must abide by SEC rules before any communication can take place even if it's through a web site not affiliated with Cornell.
"Steve is not doing well at all and it's been very tough for him to line up and compete every weekend for us," Dudley stated.
"The only people in the position to be able judge whether Steve is guilty has to be the individuals that have all in the information and has been through the entire process."
** update - Steve Mullings announced that he was voluntarily withdrawing from the 2005 NCAA Track and Field Championships.
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