90-Year-Old Stripped of World Record After Failing Anti-Doping Test
Cycling has had its share of doping scandals over the years, but never one quite like this.
Carl Grove, a 90-year old from Bristol, Indiana, competing in the U.S. Masters Track Championships, tested positive for a banned substance after the race last July.
Grove tested positive for epitrenbolone, a metabolite of the prohibited substance trenbolone.
He was given a public warning by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency last week for violating anti-doping rule violations.
U.S. Cycling Athlete Carl Grove Accepts Public Warning https://t.co/6q5AVwRa23 pic.twitter.com/1DTjlnQuXl
— USADA (@usantidoping) January 5, 2019
Grove had set the record at that competition on July 11, 2018, in his age group — 90 to 94.
This raises the question: Is there a 95 and over category?
Grove was the only competitor in his age group at the U.S. Masters event.
However, because of the positive sample, he has been disqualified from competitive results, according to the USADA.
That means Grove’s world record time of 3:06:129 for the 2-kilometer — or 1.24-mile — race was thrown out.
But here’s the kicker: The USADA thinks the positive test was the result of contaminated meat.
“During USADA’s investigation into the circumstances of his case, Grove provided USADA with information which established that the source of his positive test was more likely than not caused by contaminated meat consumed the evening before competing on July 11, 2018,” the USADA said in a release.
Carl Grove told the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency his failed drug test was the result of a piece of contaminated meat he ate the night before his race. https://t.co/y8ied3OF5B
— IndyStar (@indystar) January 8, 2019
“Prior to consuming the meat, Grove had tested negative for prohibited substances during an in-competition test on July 10, 2018,” the agency said.
Grove had provided the USADA with information about supplements he had used, none of which listed any prohibited substances.
The good news is that he won’t be suspended so he has a chance to go for the record again this year — at age 91.
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