Another Olympian may be stripped off her Olympic medals in the latest development on the USADA’s investigation in the use of performance enhancing drugs in athletics. Beverly McDonald was implicated in the case of her husband Raymond Stewart, a former Jamaica Olympian. In the arbitration hearing held for her husband, evidences were presented that McDonald was also involved in the use of steroids. McDonald represented Jamaica in the 4×100 metres relay. Their team won the silver medal in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and a gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics. The Olympian, who is now 40 years old, have not failed any steroid test during her career.

Raymond Stewart who acted as her coach and trained other athletes was sanctioned by the anti-doping agency because of violations of many anti-doping rules. He was charged with violations of WADA policies specifically sections 2.7 and 2.8. Based on the Jamaica Gleaner report, the USADA ruled that Stewart violated several USADA and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules in last month’s hearing in Dallas, Texas. The trainer was also banned for life.

According to the Gleaner, WADA’s section 2.7 is about doping violation for trafficking in any prohibited substance or prohibited method. Stewart also violated section 2.8 which states that a doping violation of administration or attempted administration of a prohibited substance or prohibited method to any athlete or assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, covering up or any other type of complicity involving an anti-doping rule violation or attempted violation.

Although the investigation was centered on Stewart, the testimony of Angel Memo Heredia revealed that Beverly McDonald was also using anabolic steroids. It was alleged that the couple ordered anabolic steroids and received shipments of the drugs from Heredia as early as September 2000. Heredia also confirmed the additional evidences provided by USADA like the cheques and Western Union payments which were used to purchase performance enhancing drugs from the supplier. He also testified that on September 2000, Stewart and McDonald paid him US$240 for the purchase of an injectable drug winstrol. He said that it was intended for McDonald.

Heredia claimed that he has a long relationship with Stewart which lasted for a decade. He supplied the coach with performance enhancing substances which were allegedly given and used by his athletes. Another drug which Heredia sold to Stewart is the blood boosting drug EPO. This drug is commonly used by athletes and cyclists who need endurance. Many professional cyclists like Floyd Landis and Lance Armstrong were believed to be taking EPO to improve their performance. EPO was purportedly given by Stewart to McDonald during her training.

During the hearing Stewart argued that the anabolic steroids he purchased from Heredia were for his own consumption and he never gave these PED’s to his athletes. He said that these were used to treat his football-related health issues he had suffered. There were also taped conversations which prove that he was asking information about anabolic steroids from Heredia. Stewart said that he just wanted to be familiar on how these drugs are administered. He said that a lot of people are asking him about these drugs and he wanted to give them accurate information on its administration and use in training.

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