2016 Olympic Games

Justin Gatlin's Former Coach Goes On Facebook Rant

Justin Gatlin's Former Coach Goes On Facebook Rant

In 2003, Trevor Graham kicked off one of the biggest doping scandals in the history of American sports by anonymously sending a syringe to USADA. That syrin

Aug 7, 2016 by Dennis Young
Justin Gatlin's Former Coach Goes On Facebook Rant
In 2003, Trevor Graham kicked off one of the biggest doping scandals in the history of American sports by anonymously sending a syringe to USADA. That syringe eventually led to the discovery of Victor Conte's BALCO, which supplied steroids to Barry Bonds and Marion Jones. For his trouble, Graham was eventually banned for life by the USOC and USATF.

While being coached by Graham, Justin Gatlin tested positive for testosterone in 2006. (Victor Conte wrote in 2003 that Graham was doping numerous athletes, including Gatlin, with oral testosterone.)

Graham has maintained his innocence in the decade since. And Gatlin has never publicly admitted to doping, though he did wear a wire in 2006 to get his ban reduced from eight years to four.

On the eve of the Rio Olympics--where the 34-year-old Gatlin could become the first man to win 100m gold medals twelve years apart--Graham took to Facebook to defend himself and Gatlin. 

The denials are mostly what we've been hearing from Graham for a decade: "Over the past ten years, I have been bullied, harassed, attacked, and defamed by the UNITED STATES ANTI DOPING AGENCY and the media," "For everyone's information sprinter Justin Gatlin did not test positive they made it all up to destroy me and I can prove it."

But the entertaining part of Graham's diatribe comes at the end, where he starts slinging accusations against noted steroid dealer Angel Heredia, sprinter Maurice Greene, Gatlin's current coach Dennis Mitchell, and track coach John Smith. Graham was convicted of perjury in 2008 for claiming that he did not know Heredia, so it's more than a little rich that Graham knows so much about Heredia now. Here's Graham's list of allegations:

"Heredia state to agents that H20-2 is better than EPO. HE describes H20-2 as a hydrogen peroxide. He stated that a 3% solution is injected into the blood stream. He also states that it is taken two days before a race and it maximizes the availability of oxygen in the blood. He stated that the protocol also involve ATP right before a race.

Heredia stated that Gonadorelin is a hormone that triggers the production of testosterone. It is injected approximately one hour before a race. It is an analog of gonatropin and can only be detected through an amino test. An individual's testosterone levels rises from 300 ng to 800-900 ng quickly. Heredia confirmed that he gets the raw material from China and Italy. He states that he mixes it with alcohol so that it can be ready.

Heredia affirmed that he also distributes Geref, a human growth hormone releaser to athletes. He states that Geref is cheaper than HGH and helps to maintain good HGH levels.

Heredia stated to the agents that he has records of his assistance to the athletes. He states that he communicated to the athletes through email and that they are his friends. He stated that he also have a notebook with his assistance towards these athletes and coaches.

Heredia is in regular contact with track coach John Smith of HSI International.

Heredia states that he works with Smith and sports agent Robert Wagner.

Heredia has provided Maurice Green with EPO and HGH. Heredia met with Green personally in Houston. Green has wired money to Heredia's mothers account with Wells Fargo Bank in exchange for the drugs.

Heredia states that John Smith set up a meeting with him in Houston.

Heredia states that the gonadorelin was referred to as "Clara" ("clear" in Spanish)

When reference between Heredia and his supplied athletes and coaches. The H2O2 is referred to as "IV". The Geref is referred as "releaser". The Geref is manufactured by Serono.

Dennis Mitchell stated that he met Heredia at the World University Games in Sydney Australia

Mitchell stated that designer drugs were hot in track and field.

Mitchell has heard that victor Conte is "still in business" with track and field athletes. 

Mitchell stated that Conte was pushing his stuff on track and field athletes.

Mitchel stated that he paid Heredia for drugs via Western Union. 

Mitchel stated that he was often uncomfortable with what Heredia sent because much of it was not labeled.

Mitchell stated that the drugs "geref" sounded familiar in something he may have received from Heredia.

Upon conclusion of Mitchell's interview, Mitchell returned to the agents and stated that he remember he had a sample of a substance that was sent to him by Heredia. The agents subsequently followed Mitchell to his residence where he retrieved the substance from a box in his garage."

The Olympic 100m final is a week from today.