[quote]dmb wrote:
He was so consistent for so long that I really think it is unlikely that he was dirty. On the other hand, if he was dirty, he was exceptionally luck to only have failed one drug test that so many people seem to know about.
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First off, I liked Michael Johnson. I loved watching him take on the "track & field establishment" (Carl Lewis & the rest of the Santa Monica crew). He was the ultimate "bad ass" sprinter. I don't believe he talked that much shit - when he did talk he typically backed it up. Watching MJ run 19.32 was one of the most enjoyable TV sports moments I've had.
That being said, since 1996 I gradually woke up to the LIKELY reality of the situation. You mention that he was "exceptionally lucky" in not testing positive. I think discussions about drugs and athletes become irrelevant when people start talking about athletes not testing positive for drugs that can't be tested for! Athletes had begun using human growth hormone well before the 1996 Olympics. Now we're in 2004 and the testers are finally threatening that they should have a test available for it by the Olympics. So you can say all you want that such and such athlete never tested positive, but that's a moot point.
So we are left to speculate (which, yes, includes rumors, hearsay, and other unsubstantiated stories) based on performances, physique changes, top athletes pulling out of championship meets, athletes retiring at odd times, and even athletes dying at odd times. And this speculation is OK - those of us who are speculating are not suggesting that they should be banned without any evidence. But their performances should certainly be scrutinized.
With that in mind, who believes that Kevin Young's 46.78 was done cleanly? Or any of Flo-Jo's WRs? Boulami's steeple WR? Montgomery's 9.78? Nobody's approached Young's record. Flo Jo went from world class to untouchable, completely changed her physique, retired early and died early. Boulami was busted not long after his WR (but it remains...). Montgomery will likely be busted soon, has a pile of evidence against him, and has not been relevant on the sprint scene for some time. These are some obvious examples, but I'm just pointing out that it's OK to speculate without "proof" of drug use. Such proof is incredibly difficult to get without the tests to uncover such drug use, or a confession.
BDG