Lifetime Ban for Steve Mullings

Jamaican sprinter Steve Mullings is to serve a lifetime ban from Athletics. The sentence was handed down  this afternoon by a disciplinary panel of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission.

Last Thursday the three member panel found him guilty of taking the masking agent Furosemide.
The prohibited substance was detected in his blood samples after competing at the country's national trials in June 2011.

Prior to that, Mullings had been the fastest athlete in the 100 metres for the season, clocking an impressive  9.79 at the 2011 Prefontaine Classic following that up with several other sub 10 performances.

Mullings has always maintained his innocence and has indicated his intent to appeal against the conviction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

This is the second ban for the 28 year old who served a two-year suspension in 2004 for taking testosterone.    

Decision Day for Mullings

Jamaican athlete Steve Mullings will know today whether he will be allowed to continue his dream of becoming the world's best sprinter. A three day anti-doping panel will convene in Kingston Jamaica to decide his fate.

Mulling's who's 2011 season got off to a flying start, was forced to cut it short after he tested positive for the banned substance Furosemide during the Jamaica's National Trials in June of this year.

In 2004 he served a two year suspension for abnormal testosterone levels in his body. Mullings who is currently based in the U.S. has always maintained his innocence.
A decision is expected sometime after 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

Original Story:  http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/D-Day-for-Steve_10183889#ixzz1dxo1vT1K 

Usain Bolt and Sally Pearson crowned IAAF Athletes of the Year

Usain Bolt                                                               Sally Pearson

I'm sure by now all would have heard the news, Jamaica's Usain Bolt and Australia's Sally Pearson copped the prestigious title IAAF 2011 Male and Female Athlete of the year.

Let's start with Sally. Up against Kenya's outstanding distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot and New Zealand's genius shot putter Valerie Adams, I think it's fair to say Pearson was the obvious choice. The Australian became one of the biggest highlights of the world championships, after she decimated the field in a thrilling 100m hurdles final, that saw her clock an astounding 12.28sec. The time was the 4th fastest EVER and the fastest we've seen in the event in two decades.