U.S. 100- and 200- meter champion Tyson Gay tested positive for a banned substance and will miss the world championships, he told The Associated Press.
“I don’t have a sabotage story,” Gay told the AP in a phone interview from Amsterdam. ” … I basically put my trust in someone and was let down.”
Two Jamaican sprinters who are Olympic medalists have also reportedly tested positive. Later reports said former 100 world-record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic 4×100 relay gold medalist Sherone Simpson were among the Jamaicans who tested positive.
Gay fought back sobs in the interview, according to the AP. He wouldn’t reveal the substance that led to the positive test.
He says he was notified by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Friday that a sample came back positive from an out-of-competition test May 16. He says he will have his “B” sample tested soon.
“It is not the news anyone wanted to hear, at any time, about any athlete,” USATF CEO Max Siegel said in a statement.
“I have to go over everything with USADA first,” Gay told the AP. “I will take whatever punishment I get like a man. I do realize and respect what I put in my body and it is my responsibility.
“I’m going to be honest with USADA, about everything, everybody I’ve been with, every supplement I’ve ever taken, every company I’ve ever dealt with, everything.”
Gay, 30, overcame a series of injuries over the past several years to turn in a healthy and productive season, taking the world lead over Usain Bolt in the 100 meters.
He owned the three fastest times in the 100 this year (9.75, 9.79 and 9.86). The next two fastest men were Carter and Powell and 9.87 and 9.88.
Gay is the American record holder in the 100 with a 9.69 set in 2009. He is a two-time Olympian who finished fourth in the 100 in London and took silver as part of the 4×100 relay.
Gay was the sprint sensation of track and field before Bolt, sweeping the 100, 200 and 4×100 at the 2007 world championships.
His absence at August’s worlds in Moscow opens the door wider for Bolt to take back the world title in the 100 and defend the 200 title.
Yohan Blake, the 2011 world 100 champ after Bolt false started out of the final, is an injury question mark for worlds. There’s also 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Justin Gatlin, who has beaten Bolt this year.
Neither Blake nor Gatlin are in the 200 at worlds though.
Gay’s last meet was July 4, a Diamond League 100 meters in Lausanne, where he beat Powell.
