The finger wag: Notable track dopers competing at the Rio Olympics

Athletes with a doping connection extend beyond just the Russians as there will be a number of notable runners with a doping past in Rio.

Tim Huebsch August 12, 2016

Athletics at the Olympics are underway and there’s no shortage of athletes who are competing with a prior doping ban. Though Russians have been at the centre of the doping scandal because of its state-sponsored drug programme, there are other countries with athlete who are not squeaky clean.

There are a number of notable athletes with questionable doping records who will be permitted to compete for their country in Rio. Rather than a one-and-done rule, athletes are allowed to return from suspensions. Below are some of the biggest names with a prior doping connection who will be hitting the track at Rio’s Olympic stadium over the next 10 days.

Yohan Blake – Jamaica (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay)

Blake, the only man to have defeated Usain Bolt in a senior global championships, was given a three-month ban in 2009 for using methylxanthine. He will be competing in all three sprint events as will Bolt.

Justin Gatlin x 2 – United States (100m, 200, 4x100m relay)

Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic gold medallist in the men’s 100m, has been suspended twice in his career for using banned substances. He served a one-year ban in 2001 and a four-year ban in 2006. He’s one of the favourites to win gold in the men’s 100m and will go up against the likes of Bolt, Andre De Grasse, Trayvon Bromell and Blake.

Gatlin gets two GIFs for two doping suspensions.

Asafa Powell – Jamaica (4x100m relay)

Powell, the most consistent sprinter of all-time having eclipsed the 10-second barrier in the men’s 100m more than any other athlete, served a six-month ban. He tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine in 2013 though the result came from a legal supplement that was contaminated.

Alicia Brown – Canada (400m)

The Canadian served a two-year doping suspension for the use of hydrochlorothiazide. She was found to not be at fault for the violation but that decision was later overturned.

Christine Ohuruogu – Great Britain (400m)

Lilly King to that Russian pic.twitter.com/En5ktprjyk

— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) August 9, 2016

Ohuruogu did not test positive for performance-enhancing drugs but was given a one-year suspension for failing to inform officials of her whereabouts. She missed three drug tests in 2006. Informing officials of your whereabouts is essential for drug testing because governing bodies make surprise visits for out-of-competition testing.

Femi Ogunode – Qatar (100m, 200m)

Served a two-year ban in 2012 for the use of clenbuetrol.

LaShawn Merritt – United States (400m)

One of the world’s most successful 400m runners failed three drug tests between October 2009 and January 2010 for the use of an “over-the-counter male enhancement product.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – Jamaica (100m)

Fraser-Pryce tested positive for oxycodone in 2010. The Jamaican claims that the drug was used for a toothache. Oxycodone is considered a narcotic and not a performance-enhancing drug by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Gladys Tejeda – Peru (marathon)

The Peruvian won the Pan Am Games marathon in 2015 in Toronto but was later stripped of that result for a failed drug test. She was suspended for six months and was allowed to compete at the 2016 world half-marathon championships.