Eight-time World champion Michael Johnson has argued for longer bans for missed tests.
Speaking days after it emerged Bahraini’s World 400m champion Salwa Eid Naser has missed three tests in the 12 months before winning the world 400m title last year and another in January, the outspoken American sprinter posted on Twitter:
“I believe the sport can legally increase the punishment for missed tests,” the four-time Olympic champion wrote.
Johnson, the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games 200/400 champion who also won the 400m title at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, added: “Increase the punishment to 4 years, and you’ll see fewer missed tests.”
“Two (2 years) gives the presumption of innocence already.
“Maybe it’s not labelled as equal to positive, but the punishment should be,” said the eight-time World champion.”
Johnson held the 200 and 400m world records up until Jamaican Usain Bolt and Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa removed his marks.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Bolt clocked 19.30 to break the 200m record before lowering the mark again the following year to 19.19.
Van Niekerk, in the meantime, erased Johnson’s old 400m world record of 43.18 when he produced a remarkable 43.03 seconds to win the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games title in 2016
Michael Johnson is making an absolutely ridiculous statement. The biggest problem is there are too many tests. There is already disparate treatment among elite track and field athletes who have to take 5-6 times as many tests as those who are not elite professional track athletes. They are already being tested by at least 3 different organizations. Some elite athletes have taken over 40 tests in 1 year and up to 3 blood tests in a week. None of the agencies coordinate their tests. The more attempts made, the more likely an athlete is to miss a test. And what do we get for it? We lose the world’s best athletes as a result of overkill. And now this boneheaded request to have a 4-year ban over not a failed drug test, but missed tests. This is absolutely ridiculous! And what is the reason for this ridiculous request for a 4-year ban over missed tests? A 4 year ban over missed tests is just plain stupid.
A 4 year ban for missed tests would mean the athlete would receive more retribution for a missed test than for failing a drug test.
Clearly, that stroke has done something to Michael’s brain.
I can’t believe NO ONE commented on this article. Are all of the comments hidden?
why not just test all sprnters in Olympic final 10 minutes before start line and not allow anyone to drink a liquid after the test incase something was put in drink that would enhance their performance in final 100 200 400 meter races then all medal winners again be tested right after race to verify no drugs in system ???Seems fair to me then .Cheaters will no longer be able to compete for the rest of their lives in track and field events no forgiveness for them cheaters .
Oh, I get it. If the comments don’t support your narrative they go into the garbage can in the center of the room.
That stroke must have knocked off a few brain cells. This is the most ridiculous statement I’ve ever herd.