Canadian track and field star Shawnacy Barber involved in major scandal
The pole vaulter was caught with cocaine in his system during the Canadian track and field championships in July, just weeks before competing at the Rio Olympics.
One of Canada’s top athletics stars, Shawnacy Barber, was found with cocaine in his system during the national track and field championships in Edmonton in July.
In hearing documents dated Aug. 11, 2016 and only released on Thursday, the pole vaulter admitted to an indiscretion with a “professional” woman in a hotel room while he was visiting for the event. He claims to have not taken cocaine himself, and was unaware that the woman with which he had a sexual encounter was on the drug.
In a frank 17-page document outlining the details of the situation to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, the 22-year-old Barber described placing a post on the “casual encounters” section of Craigslist:
“He specified in his post that he wanted to meet a woman who was drug-free and disease-free. He also indicated that he wanted a “professional” person. “
He further indicated that he was looking for a partner while he was in Edmonton in order to “relieve stress.”
In a strange turn of events, the “professional,” only referred to as “W” in the document, gave a statement on Barber’s behalf, indicating that she had consumed cocaine through her nose before the encounter at a hotel room and during their 30-minutes together, but not in front of Barber, and that he did not consume cocaine. Barber is claiming that he must have inadvertently ingested the drug during their sexual encounter.
Other odd details emerged in the hearing, including the fact that a man, referred to simply as “M”, arranged the encounter with Barber, making initial contact with him on Craigslist, and was in and out of the room during the meeting with “W”. Also, both parties claim that no money was exchanged.
Athletics Canada, the national governing body of track and field, released a statement saying that they were “satisfied” with the Resolution Centre’s findings that Barber not be punished for the drug violation.
They began their statement by saying:
First and foremost, Athletics Canada is pleased to see the system works, CCES and the anti-doping program are important pillars in ensuring clean and fair sport. The positive finding in this case was found to be of no fault of the athlete.
Barber, a dual Canadian-American citizen, was seen as a sure bet for a medal in Rio and a big coup for Athletics Canada, after winning the World Championships in 2015. He grew up in the United States and opted to compete for Canada instead of his home country, which had more depth at his discipline. His father, a coach, was banned from working with his son or Athletics Canada last year after it was revealed that he is a registered sex offender in New Mexico. In 2007, he was convicted for having sex with a student at the high school where he worked as a gym teacher and track coach. He’d previously represented Canada at the 1983 World Championships, also as a pole vaulter.
Shawnacy Barber didn’t make it to the final round at the Rio Olympics.
Athletics Canada also revealed that Barber is either forfeiting his title or has been DQed (as per the results on the Trials page). They said in the statement that, “As per the ruling Shawn will forfeit his Canadian title and Championship record established on July 9 at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.” Barber has not been banned for a doping violation.
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