subject: Cases of Drug Test Failure in US Sports [print this page] Cases of Drug Test Failure in US Sports Cases of Drug Test Failure in US Sports
A drug test failure involving a popular sports celebrity inadvertently leads to scandal. Such cases really are not surprising, given that sports authorities are very strict in regulating even the nutritional supplements that athletes take.
Why is a drug test failure such a big deal in sports? There are two likely reasons for this. One is that drugs can alter the performance of an athlete with his or her game. The other is that most professional athletes are looked up to by children. They would serve as bad role models if they are found to have failed their drug test.
Drug test failures have ended the career of a number of athletes, and here are some of the athletes that have been involved in such cases.
Deuce McAllister
Deuce McAllister is the running back of the New Orleans Saints and has been since 2001. As a professional football player, he won the Conerly Trophy in 1999 and became part of the Pro Bowl selection twice.
However, on December 2, 2008, the National Football League suspended McAllister for four games as a result of drug test failure. His test result was positive for bumetanide, a drug whose medical purpose was to treat high blood pressure but was banned by the NFL for its ability to cover up drug abuse. McAllister's legal team maintained that McAllister did not know that the supplements he was taking contained bumetanide.
Antonio "Bulldog" Silva
Antonio "Bulldog" Silva is a mixed martial arts fighter who hailed from Brazil. A star in the Ultimate Fighting Championship games, Silva competed in the heavyweight class. He holds the distinction of being the first and the last EliteXC heavyweight champion.
The EliteXC championship that Silva participated in on July 26, 2008 became a controversial one after the fact. In that fight, Silva beat Justin Ellers, another UFC veteran, with a TKO on the second round. However, the drug test that Silva took shortly after the fight was a failure. The drug test was positive for anabolic steroids. Because of the drug test failure, Silva was suspended for a year and was fined by the California State Athletic Commission with $2,500.
Travis Henry
Travis Henry is a professional running back football player who recently played for the Denver Broncos. He was a leading rusher for the team in the 2007 season. Currently, he is a free agent, having been released by the team for lack of commitment.
In 2007, Henry became the center of a drug test failure scandal when he tested positive for marijuana. He appealed and won this appeal because he passed a lie detector test and his Hair Drug Test samples were negative for any drugs.
However, the drug test that Henry took in early 2008 was a definite failure, because this time, it tested positively and irrefutably of marijuana. He was suspended for a year. Henry also faces the possibility of serving between ten years and life imprisonment for involvement in drug trafficking.
