Wallace Spearmon returns positive drug test

Photo: Wallace Spearmon (Getty Images)

New broke via American media – Track and Field News on Friday that one of America’s finest male track and field talents, Wallace Spearmon had returned an in competition positive test for the corticosteroid, Methylprednisolone, after competing at the Edmonton International Classic on July 6 2014. Spearmon finished 3rd in the 200-meters at the meet.

The three-time national champion, who won World 200m medals in 2005, 2007 and 2009, has been handed a three month suspension by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) with an effective date of August 27, 2014 and will end in nine weeks’ time, November 2014.

The 29-year-old had hinted that some news about him was due to break when on Friday September 12 he tweeted: “In about a week I’ll make a statement that will disappoint quite a few people. I apologize in advance. Irresponsible moments.”

Spearmon claimed the anti-inflammatory drug was in a prescription he was taking and that he didn’t know that it was on USADA’s and the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list.

“I was not trying to cheat, I made a mistake,” Spearmon told Track and Field News.

Spearmon finished third at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, but was later disqualified for stepping out of his lane. He currently holds personal best times of 9.96 in the 100m and 19.65 in the 200m.