More masters bite the drug dust

According to latest IAAF newsletter, dated Oct. 14, 2004, Jacobs was joined on the banned list by Ivan Faychak of Ukraine. Faychak is an M60 multi-event star who performed well at the 2003 indoor Eurovets meet in San Sebastian, Spain. He also picked up medals in the hurdles and long jump.


The IAAF reports that Faychak’s drug positive occurred March 14, 2004, at the inaugural World Indoor Masters Championships at Sindelfingen, Germany. He was handed a two-year suspension for his violation. What was in his system? Heck if I know, and heck if WMA will tell.
This is ridiculous. WMA and the local organizing committee spend hundreds or thousands of Euros to test a handful of athletes at the world indoor meet — achieving their goal of scaring the hell out of thousands of athletes who worry they’ll get caught up in a dragnet for imbibing doctor-prescribed medications. And then WMA sweeps the news under the rug. Little good that does.
If WMA really wanted to make an example of dopers and frighten masters athletes shitless, it would publicize the drug positives far and wide. And it would tell what “performance-enhancing substances” were in the athlete’s system.
Instead, we get squat. And we’re left to wonder — yet again — whether the suspended athlete was a true cheater or another Kathy Jager, yet another victim of excessive IAAF ass-kissing.
I’ll do my due diligence and ask WMA officials for details. But don’t expect much information from this clueless bunch.

Print Friendly

October 26, 2004

2 Responses

  1. Mickey Miller - October 26, 2004

    I agree with you Ken. Why the dickens do they even do drug testing on Masters? Do these WMA people have a clue as to what drugs many Masters must take to live healthy lives?
    But if they are going to suspend the poor guy, then how can they not tell us what they’re suspending him for?
    Does an athlelte have no rights whatsoever in a matter like this? Do Masters athletes have any say in what rules we have to abide by, or they imposed on us from these Associations we all have to pay dues to?
    I believe its time for some big changes at WMA, and on a slightly different tack, at the USATF too.

  2. Chuck Greene - October 26, 2004

    I cannot feel the least bit mournful for any athlete…in any sport…that tests positive for performance enhancing drugs.
    It pains me to think of the effect that steroid mongering has on inflating the Olympic Trials, National, & World Championship Qualifying Standards…past and present.
    Many of us have been cheated by the people who use these drugs and those who do nothing to stop the madness.
    Zero tolerance is all we have.

Leave a Reply