Jan 30 2010
American Sprinter Crystal Cox Admitted Taking Steroids in Athens Olympics
The recent admission of a national track and field athlete that she used steroids in the Athens Olympics is another blow to the reputation of the country in the field of sports. Crystal Cox admitted that she took steroids from 2001 to 2004. The track and field athlete was forced to admit to doping because of the BALCO investigation. Cox was part of the United States 4×400-meter relay team who competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Her team won the gold medal in that event.
The US Anti-Doping Agency handed the 4-year suspension Friday on sprinter Crystal Cox. The suspension will not allow her to participate in any track and field competition. The sanction will definitely affect the career of Cox since the sanction will end in January 2014. Cox became a celebrity when she appeared on a TV reality show “Survivor: Gabon.” It is also definite that her medal in the Olympics will be forfeited and may even include her achievements in the track and field from 2001.
The question now is whether her teammates will also forfeit their medals. Cox ran in the preliminaries together with Moushaumi Robinson. But during the final relay, the team was composed of Monique Henderson, DeeDee Trotter, Monique Hennagan and Sanya Richards. Members of the team should worry because it may happen to them just like the teammates of Marion Jones who were also stripped off their medals when Jones admitted that she took steroids during the Sydney Olympics. Jones also spent time in jail for her steroid case. Jones’ teammates are still appealing to restore their medals.
Although in the case of another track and field athlete Jerome Young, his teammates were spared from the penalty. Young who also ran in the preliminary for the 4×400-meter team during that year was also penalized for involvement in steroid use. He was stripped off his medal in the relay competition.
In the interview of LA Times with U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Travis Tygart, the chief executive welcomed the admission of Cox but he showed some concern on the issue since it shows how the problem with steroids affects the sports. “You’ve got to give her credit for accepting responsibility,” Tygart said. “Hopefully this sends a strong message that if you’re going to succumb to temptation, you have to remember the terrible position you’re putting your teammates in,” he added.
The reports did not specify what particular type of steroids that Crystal Cox took to enhance her performance in the Athens Olympics. But if the steroids came from Victor Conte, the founder of BALCO, it was absolutely a potent one.
[...] admitting her steroid use, Olympian Crystal Cox made a different statement in an email sent to friends and family members. She said that she never [...]
[...] athletes involved in doping is increasing and has given the sport a bad reputation. In January, Crystal Cox was banned for two years for her admission that she took steroids during an Olympic competition. [...]