With every word and action of Olympic sprinters and their aides parsed for drug double meanings, there was unspoken skepticism in the wake of Trevor Graham’s public admission that he is the BALCO whistle-blower.
Analysis of a substance in the syringe Graham gave the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency led to discovery of the previously undetectable steroid tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG.
Graham coaches a stable of elite sprinters that includes new Olympic 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin and used to include Marion Jones.
Jones is under investigation by the USADA but never has tested positive for drug use.
Athletes and coaches here are weary of the subject. But insinuations are everywhere.
Canadian hurdler Angela White was asked what she knew of the late Florence Griffith Joyner, who in 1988 improved her sprint times dramatically, won three golds at the Seoul Olympics and forever heard whispers that she used steroids, though she never failed a test.
“My dad spoke of her,” White told the National Post of Canada. “He just said, `One year she looked like you. And the next he looked like me.'”
Meanwhile, the parsing goes on. When Gatlin was asked after his victory if he could assure that he is a “clean” champion, he said:
“All sports have people who do [drugs]. I want to show them, I can run with a smile on my face and not worry about anything. I feel I’m a genuine clean champion.
“We want to bring positivity back to the sport.”
Ten of Graham’s athletes either have tested positive or been accused by the USADA of using steroids.
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