Sport

Mullings bows to pressure - Skips NCAA champs after JAAA ban

By LEIGHTON LEVY, Freelance Writer

Steve Mullings - file

JAMAICAN SPRINTER STEVE Mullings may have pulled out of this week's National Collegiate Athletics Association's (NCAA) Athletic Championships, which began yesterday in Sacramento, California, because of mounting pressure on his university, Mississippi State, not to have him represent the school because he was banned by Jamaica for failing a drug test during the Olympic trials in 2004.

Mullings was officially banned as of June 26 last year by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) for having abnormally high testosterone levels during last year's trials. However, the NCAA does not recognise drug tests that are conducted by other anti-doping agencies and Mullings has been competing for MSU, running some of the fastest times on the collegiate circuit this season.

Mullings, the South Eastern Conference (SEC) 100-metre champion, on Tuesday, released a statement on the university's website of his decision not to compete in Sacramento.

The statement read, "In light of recent events, it is with great regret and after much thought that I have decided to remove myself from the 2005 NCAA Championships in Sacramento, California.

"This past year has been a very difficult year, in large part due to the stress placed upon myself, family, friends, teammates, coaches, and all those associated with Mississippi State University. In order to alleviate the stress for all those affected and to be fair to those who have stood by me during this time, I must be the one to make this decision and take the decision for those who care about me.

"I have come to realise that this decision may put an end to those lashing out at my team and university. There are two things I would like people to know. I truly appreciate the undying support that my coaches and teammates have given me, the support my university has given me, both academically and athletically, and I feel honoured to be a student-athlete at Mississippi State University. Secondly, I would like to wish all those competing in the NCAA Championships luck. It is an honour and a privilege to compete as a student-athlete in these championships."

Larry Templeton, director of athletics at Mississippi State, also issued a statement in support of Mullings.

"It is important to recognise that Steve was eligible for competition by NCAA, SEC, and Mississippi State's rules and regulations. It takes quite an individual to make this decision in light of his status," the statement read.

However, those regulations to which Templeton refers, are what irks observers and supporters of the sport in the United States.

Robert and Weldon Johnson, co-founders of letsrun.com, a website dedicated to running and to the appreciation of athletes at the top of the sport, issued a petition on their website which called for MSU not to include Mullings on the team to Sacramento. They described his inclusion as "disgraceful."

"It's disgraceful because Mullings tested positive for testosterone at last year's Jamaican Olympic trials," they said.

According to the Johnson brothers, "Mullings is eligible to compete at the NCAA level because for some reason the NCAA doesn't acknowledge drug tests conducted by the IAAF or any other national governing body.

"They only recognise their own tests. Can you imagine a school not expelling a student who was convicted of a serious crime only because it happened in the summer or because he or she wasn't arrested by the campus police?"

The Johnsons went further to state that Mullings did not earn his scholarship to MSU; he stole it. They called for those in support of Mullings being excluded from the team to sign a petition letter on the website or email the university's athletic director and coach demanding that Mullings not compete for MSU.

It is not clear how many people signed the petition or sent e-mails to the university at letsrun.com's urging.

There was further outcry about Mullings' participation in the NCAA Championships in the Keeping Track Newsletter issue No. 153 June 2005 edition. An article in the newsletter stated, "Congress has yet to apply the magnifying glass to the NCAA's anti-doping efforts. Lack of reciprocity with other anti-doping agencies means that Jamaican Steve Mullings, currently the fastest man in the NCAA, will be competing for MSU this month for a collegiate title."

According to the newsletter, Christine Ayotte, head of the anti-doping lab in Montreal, Canada, said the major problem with the NCAA programme is not recognising sanctions given by other testing authorities. "It is really unacceptable and sends the wrong message. A sprinter can run in the NCAA under suspension of the IAAF for a steroid."