Steve Mullings in Memory of Track and Field

When Marion Jones was sentenced to prison a few years ago for lying in the investigation of performance enhancer-drug, Ben Johnson in an interview advised her to accept what has happened, back to normal life and just go forward. 

Such advices may apply to Steve Mullings too, as he would face a lifetime ban from athletics.

In June 2004, Steve Mullings was tested positive of banned substance or having excessive levels of testosterone found during the Jamaican national championships in Kingston. Here he was suspended two years under the rule of IAAF for first offence.

Mullings was back in athletics in 2006 but he could not reach his performance level as before. He recorded 10.31 in 100m and 20.54 in 200m. 

A year later he won silver medal at the 4x100m relays in the World championships in Osaka. 

In 2009, he was part of Jamaican team alongside Michael Frater, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell that won the gold medal at 4x100m (37.30) in the World championships in Berlin. it was the highest performance achieved by Mullings in the major meets.

Fast forward, he looked very impressive in 2011. 

Breaking the 10s barrier was something that he had never done (and only the very best will do), but the 28-year-old ran sub-10 seven times this year.  

It included his 9.80 run from the Diamond league meet in Eugene, just one hundredth of a second slower than the best time of Ben Johnson and Maurice Greene.

Even with such impressive result, he noted that he is still in the middle of heavy training and expecting to improve the time during the world championships. 

His current result makes him the third fastest in the world, and sits in sixth on the all-time rankings. 

The following is Steve Mullings' progression at 100 meters, and his sub10 performance lists.

Year	100 meters
2011	9.80  +1.3  Eugene USA  01 June 9.89  +2.0  Clermont USA  21 May 9.90  +2.0  Starkville USA  16 April 9.93  +1.4  Arzana ITA  30 July 9.96  +0.6  Kingston JAM  24 June 9.97  -0.2  Ostrava CZE  31 May 9.98  +0.6  Lignano Sabbiadoro ITA  19 July
2010	10.03  +1.2  Lappeenranta FIN  15 July
2009	10.01  +0.4  Roma ITA  10 July
2008	10.19  +2.0  Gainesville USA  04 April
2007	10.05  +1.3  Zaragoza ESP  28 July
2006	10.31  -0.3  Tessaloniki GRE  24 July
2005	-
2004	10.04  -0.1  Kingston JAM  27 June
2003	10.28  +1.1  Austin USA  04 April
2002	10.69  -2.2  Kingston JAM  21 June
2001	10.59  +0.7  Santa Fe USA  18 October
Courtesy of AdrianSprints.com

While Mullings and his coach Lance Brauman in their final preparations towards the biggest meet in the world, his 'A' urine sample taken at the Jamaican nationals in late June was found to contain a masking agent namely diuretic furosemide, which is known a powerful substance to increase  'cleaning' efficiency (of athletes taking banned substance). 

He denied it, claiming that he wasn't on drug and said he don't even know what does the drug really do. 

However his chance to convince the people around that he has not taken such an illegal substance appeared over - his 'B' sample (tested in Montreal), had also comeback positive.

Doping has been prohibited since 1928 in athletics. Based on current practices, the first offence will be banned about two years but it's depend on the types of doping. 

Just like Ben Johnson in 1993, Mullings who might be having a chance of winning at least two medals in the World championships next week, now would face a life ban (or at least 4 years) from athletics when the authority announce their final decision on this case.

Steve Mullings' 9.80s (PB) Video at Eugene, Diamond League

PS: There is an important lesson for athletes out there; no crap shortcut, magic pills, or snake oils,  to improve performance. Long-term development, proper training and recovery are the keys. If you got caught, then as Ben Johnson said, what ever happened life must go on.