Dutch runner Simon Vroeman, who earlier had suggested he might shoot for the M40 steeplechase world record in 2009, has tested positive for an illegal performance enhancing substance — methandienone. Simon, in revealing the dope test, says he is shocked and wonders if the “result (is) from polluted meat that I ate on my travels outside Europe? I can only guess.” In any case, he has decided against competing in the Beijing Olympics.

Here is Simon’s posting:

July 11th 2008 – Athletic friends and others, I want to inform you that one of the anti-doping tests I did has revealed minimum amounts of a forbidden medicine in my urine a few weeks ago. The compound, named metandienone, increases muscle weight and volume (not so much strenth) and is therefore popular in the body building scene. As a steeple chase runner, one would probably only be disadvantaged by its consequences. It appears to be traceable up to 9 months in your urine and is hence unlikely to be used consciously by sportsmen as a performance-enhancing substance.
Although observed amounts are very limited and I am quite hopeful that the B test would thus not show them again, I feel it is my moral obligation to be open and inform all of you about it. I am just shocked and stressed by all this. I have an athletic career of 15 years behind me with a thousand of tests, and have actively participated in various anti-doping educational programs for youth. This happening to me is thus a great shock, especially since I had basicly retired and was just running for fun.
I accept anyones opinion and know that opinions vary in such cases. I have had thoughts over the last stressful days about what and why. I had retired, have had the infamous Pfeiffer (mono) disease… Was I probably in that period less careful about the medication I took? Did I need to be so careful, not being a top athlete anymore? Was I naive in returning to racing because it caused me so much fun doing it? And could these traces, as some veterinarian specialist say, result from polluted meat that I ate on my travels outside Europe? I can only guess….
While waiting for the results of the B sample, my webpage is open to any comments, as long as they respect the discretion and integrity that I have always had towards my sports and other people. Feel free to write something….

Here’s the article:

Dutch steeplechaser fails dope test
Friday 11 July 2008
Steeplechaser Simon Vroemen has failed a dope test for anabolic steroids, the athlete says on his website. Vroeman (39), the European 3,000 metres steeplechase record holder, is busy with a comeback after a two-year absence.
On his website Vroemen says he has no idea how the steroids came to be in his system but says it may be connected to the medicine he took for glandular fever. ‘I have a 15-year career behind me, I have gone through thousands of doping tests. It is a massive shock.’
Vroemen had asked for the test after running within the Olympic qualifying time in June. A test is needed to validate the time, news agency ANP reports.
The results of the contra test are due next week, but Vroemen has already pulled out of the Olympics, ANP says.