Steve Mullings cries foul

Photo: Steve Mullings (Getty Images)

Former Jamaican sprinter Steve Mullings took social media on Sunday, August 7, 2014, to plead his case. Mullings was banned for life from athletics by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission in June 2011, after he tested positive for the substance Furosemide.

That was his second doping violation. In 2004, Mullings was slapped with a two-year suspension following a positive test for the drug methyltestoterone.

In one of his personal status via the popular social media, Facebook, Mullings wrote as he appealed to fans and family – “Hello my name is Steve Mullings, many may know me as the former sprinter for Jamaica and many may think of me as just another drugs cheat. None of which I can be upset for.

“Today I am here to tell you little about myself beyond what was reported in the media.

“What I think is important to know is that I am innocent, at no point in the track and field career have I knowingly used any banned substance. I have spent the last 3 years in pain and agony asking myself why me and why my own country would betray me”.

He went to say that he has learnt a lot form his misfortunes and he lists some self-objectives and goals in moving forward:

1. Clear my name by providing the public and whoever will listen the opportunity to follow the evidence in my case.

2. I want to make sure no athletic federation or country can falsely accuse an athlete of drugs use to get them out of sport.

3. I want to help the athletes who I am coaching and who believe in me to understand that they will be able to train and compete without worry about being blackballed from the sport because of their association with me.

He also gave the measures that will be implemented in order to achieve his goals. He has a book in the making titled “Steve Mullings banned for life” which details the time line and evidence in the case available to the public, with the hopes of raising enough money to have his case reviewed by the Court of Arbitration. He revealed that the autographed copy of the book can be requested from his personal website or accessed at www.Stevemullingsbannedforlife.com and also on amazon.

Mullings ended by extending gratitude to his supporters “I would like to thank everyone including my family, friends and fans for the continued support and prayers.”