Ben Dawson and Westley Keating??

i highly doubt that keating is on drugs as you suspect. it is way too hot there to take epo for example because he would run the risk of dehydrating himself, leting his blood get too thick and running the risk of a stroke. the fact that someone runs fast and works in a pharmacy isn't grounds to accuse someone of doing drugs.

Keating is definitely doping. Not sure of Dawson but very suspicious

Keating is doping. I have heard from multiple knowledgable sources that it is true. And considering that keating left texas (got kicked out?) because Vig knew he was on drugs would lead me to believe that he wouldnt put up with dawson doing it. So the answer to your question would be, Keating=Doper, Dawson=incredible talent.

Ben is definitely not doping. He just got his shit together, plain and simple. I ran with him all summer and can vouch for all the long runs and painful miles (no runs under 60min). Anyone who has ever ran with him can tell you how talented he is, it was only a matter of time before he had a breakthrough. Don't tarnish his accomplishments based on the flimsy theory "he PRed big, must be drugs!"

~mike

I think the accuser should have the balls to reveal himself.

heh look everybody, someone else has run well and it means that they are on drugs! I ran 4.01 for 1500 last summer and the year before i only did 4.17----ooooo somethings gotta b going on there! and my uncle is a doctor!!!! who in there thinks im a cheat???

I knew it would only be a matter of time before someone said Ben was on something. If you just look at the 5 years he's been at Texas you will see the improvements from year to year. This indoor season is an accumulation of 5 years of hard work. I think he's been to nationals 3 times in cross if I'm not mistaken. Bottom line is he stayed healthy, trained his ass off, and ran smart races. Nothing more to really say here!

Bottom Line-

Westly Keating: Doper

Ben Dawson: Clean

There is no secret to Ben's recent success.

This is obviously the same jackass posting the same thing over and over under different names to make it seem like a public outcry. We get your point, moron. You think Keating is on drugs.

Keating IS doping, the question was if dawson is as well... i guarantee you he isnt, just a lot of hard work from that man

and just when did ben dawson and westly keating room together? the answer? the same time you roomed with both of them - never. If you can't get your facts straight, your assumptions will merely make an ass of you.

UT sucks anyway. Who cares who is on drugs.

I'm tired of reading these rumors and lies. I recruited Westly while at UT-Pan Am and saw him race several times, talked to his coaches, roommate, friends, teammates, etc. What I KNOW IS THAT WESTLY IS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING INDIVIDUALS ON THE NCAA CIRCUIT. Does anyone forget that this kid was a Footlocker All-American? That equals the talent to run what he has run. Put him in a conducive environment and a strong program and you get results.

Also, my theory on Westly is that he is much like Lance Armstrong in that he has gone through some troublesome tribulations that allows him to block pain out or put himself in a zone that is unknown to most. The boy can just run distance. He doesn't accumulate much lactic acid at all. It's quite awesome, anyway. It's like his body has a governor for the really fast races, but unleash him over 10K and he can maintain. His economy and efficiency are tremendous.

As for Ben Dawson, I've competed against him and for anyone to think he is NOT capable of 13:41 IS ON DRUGS. Period. The man has worked his @ss off.

And by the way, I will not get into Westly's background, that is for him to bring up if it's not too painful, but if you know him and his surroundings (anyone ever been to the Valley?), you'd realize there is no way to get the type of drugs you speak of, especially not with his financial situation.

Press On!!!

Gabriel Rodriguez

Former University of Texas-Pan American Assistant Coach

no offense but when did UTPA become a strong program? Everyone knows he got the boot bc he was doping and got busted. Guys on the team have told me

Remember when that post was brought up ff dyestat a while back. There are poeple who seriously claim to know Keating is doping. I dunno only way to ever bes ure is to test all college atheltes but thats doubtful.

i know that some of the responses have not been directed at me but some have, and just to clarify, i never accused anyone of anything. i asked about these guys and i said that i thought there should be a "suspicion" rule for drug testing. i do admit that i believe that these two guys are a little suspicious. if they are not doing anything illegal than i commend them and do apologize for bringing this back up. part of the reason i question in the first place is because of the accusations from keating's teammates and the fact that dawson came from virtually nowhere to run extremely well threw me off a little until i put things together. anyway, just wanted to clarify that i never said they are doing anything illegal, i just brought up their names while wondering about their past performaces and brought up the "suspicion" rule.

GRod,

How's it going? What are you up to these days. Shoot me an email.

Interesting to see your post. You're about the only person who I've seen defend Keating. I did know he went through a lot of personal shit but I didn't know he was a footlocker finalist. Before your post, I'll admit that I had basically come to the conclusion that he was indeed a drug cheat. Your post makes me reconsider it.

However, the fact that Dawson is being drug through the mud supports a contention I've been saying all along. If Keating is dirty, then I think his former teammates and coach owe it to the sport of track and field to rat him out. It won't besmirch the UT program at all.

I mean it doesn't have to stand up in a court of law. Just send us or one of the running publications a letter signed by x number of teammates saying he's a drug cheat, you saw him with the drugs,etc. We received a lot of info on this last fall but it bothered me that no one went public with the supposed info.

I was thus hoping that Wesley would fade into oblivion and I could tolerate it. Now I hope he's clean or hope that those in the know come out with goods.

The sport will never be clean unless the other athletes coaches take a pro-active role in cleaning it up.

Good post rojo. Vig, for the good of the sport and for wesley's own health tell the public what you know. I know this kid has been through hell and back, it sucks, but hes playing with his life. He has no idea the danger he has put himself in, please consider telling his current coaches, if they dont already know. He should be banned and should get some help. Someone needs to get the ball rolling.

ps. despite popular belief EPO is not actually that expensive. In the US it may be, but i know for a fact that athletes in europe can get as much as a 2 month supply for $300 out of italy. I assume it is nearly the same in mexico....

the combat the arguement that Westley was a footlocker finalist, I'd like to add that he was on drugs in high school as well.