Tyson Gay’s coach, Jon Drummond, was yesterday issued with an eight-year sanction by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), which was satisfied with the US Anti-Doping Agency’s evidence that he had committed multiple anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs). The AAA panel found that Drummond possessed, trafficked and administered banned performance enhancing drugs to an athlete under his care. Drummond was Gay’s coach when he tested positive for the presence of an exogenous androgenic anabolic steroid and/or its metabolites in 2012. The positive was confirmed by Carbon Isotope Ratio (CIR, GC/C/IRMS) analysis in May this year, as the result of two out-of-competition and one in-competition urine samples collected by both USADA and the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF).

Gay (pictured) accepted a one-year ban from 23 June 2013 and loss of all results dating back to  15 July 2012. He received a reduced sanction for providing ‘substantial assistance’ USADA in its investigations. He has had to return a silver medal won with the US 4x100m relay team at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The AAA panel found that ‘Drummond failed to act in the manner expected of a coach of athletes in the Olympic Movement. A coach cannot lead an athlete to into the danger of using prohibited substances…A coach must be a watchdog when it comes to prohibited substances.’ Drummond’s eight year period of ineligibility will begin on 17 December, the date of the arbitration decision. Drummond’s sanction prohibits him from coaching, training or advising athletes and participating or coaching at any event sanctioned by USA Track &Field, the International Association of Athletics Federations or any other WADA Code signatory.