Because of his terminally ill dog: Paralympic winner acquitted after positive doping test

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

It’s some of the worst news an athlete can receive. In November, American long and high jumper Roderick Townsend tested positive for doping and was temporarily suspended. His dream of defending the gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris falls apart. But things turn out differently because Townsend is able to explain his positive doping test and is completely cleared by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

The positive sample

Last year, Townsend took the fateful doping test. In November, traces of capromorelin – a growth hormone on the banned list – were found in his urine. USADA launches an investigation and quickly finds the reason for the positive sample: Townsend’s deceased dog, Winnie, is to blame.

It turns out that Townsend has had to give his terminally ill dog medication in recent weeks to stabilize his weight. It contained the substance capromorelin. The Paralympic champion gave his dog the medication using a syringe. After Winnie dies, Townsend remains in charge.

He uses this to later measure the amount of a vitamin D supplement, which he takes on the advice of a nutritionist. However, the syringe still contained small amounts of his dog’s medication, including trace amounts of capromorelin, which led to the positive doping test.

The complete acquittal

This discovery now leads to Townsend’s acquittal. “Because of our ability to conduct more detailed investigations, it is our job to protect innocent athletes,” said Travis Tygart, head of USADA. This means that the 31-year-old can participate in the Paralympic Games in Paris this summer.

Declared a para-athlete at the age of 15

At birth, the umbilical cord wrapped around Townsend’s neck. As a result, he suffers permanent nerve damage in his right arm and shoulder. His muscles are not fully developed and he has limited mobility in his right arm. As a youth, he competed against unqualified individuals in athletic events. At the age of 15, Townsend was classified as a para-athlete.

He won the gold medal for the US in the long jump and high jump at the 2016 Olympic Games. Five years later he even managed to defend his title in the high jump in Tokyo. The Californian can also call himself a four-time world champion. But Townsend has also had another big task for nine weeks. His son Rodney Ariel was born during the doping case.

Source : Blick