Infamous Drug-Related Incidents

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Feb 6, 2012

Alberto Contador

Alberto Contador, winner of the 2010 Tour de France, lost his title on February 6, 2012 when the CAS found him guilty for doping. Contador's drug test on the July 21 rest day of the 2010 Tour showed high levels of clenbuterol, which Contador blamed on the meat he ate in Spain. After an investigation, Spain's cycling governing body initially cleared him in February 2011, but the UCI and WADA appealed the decision. A year later, the CAS has imposed a back-dated two-year ban and removal of all titles won since January 25, 2011, the day the Spanish federation proposed a one-year ban. Contador will be eligible to ride again on Aug. 6, forcing him to miss the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and the London Olympics.

Floyd Landis

Landis won the 2006 Tour de France, but was stripped of his crown shortly thereafter when it was revealed the urine sample he provided following Stage 17 indicated an abnormally high ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone. Landis denied the doping allegations for years before finally admitting to performance-enhancing drug usage in May, 2010. After telling ESPN "I don't want to be part of the problem anymore," Landis accused numerous other cyclists of doping, including seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong. Armstrong continues to deny the allegations.

Edinson Volquez

Edinson Volquez of the Cincinnati Reds failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs and was given a 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball on April 20, 2010. Volquez, an NL All-Star in 2008, was on the disabled list at the time recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery the previous summer.

Mark McGwire

McGwire was subpoenaed to testify in a 2005 Congressional hearing on steroids. Despite repeatedly denying previous allegations, McGwire refused to address the question of his own steroid use before finally coming clean in January 2010. On January 11, McGwire released a statement in which he admitted using steroids off and on during his career, including in 1998, when he captivated the nation by setting a new single-season home run record of 70.

Sammy Sosa

According to the New York Times, which cites "lawyers with knowledge of the drug-testing results from that year," Sosa tested positive for steroids in 2003. Like Alex Rodriguez, Sosa was reportedly one of the 104 players who tested positive in the survey testing of 2003.

David Ortiz

Slugging star David Ortiz, who with Manny Ramirez helped deliver the Boston Red Sox their first world championship in 86 years in 2004 and a second title in 2007, is among the names on the list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to the New York Times.

Manny Ramirez

In 2009, Ramirez tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, becoming the first major star to be suspended under baseball's stricter drug-testing rules that went into effect in 2003. Manny's name, like former teammate David Ortiz, also reportedly appears on the infamous "list" from 2003. Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.

Alex Rodriguez

In 2003, when he won the American League home-run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids. His name appeared on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball's 2003 survey testing.

Shawne Merriman

Merriman was suspended for four games by the NFL in 2006 for testing positive for a steroid, which he claimed was ingested with a tainted nutritional substance. Even though he only played 12 games, Merriman still led the NFL in sacks in 2006, earning him a controversial trip to the Pro Bowl.

Barry Bonds

Although he has not tested positive or admitted to using steroids, Bonds had been linked to performance-enhancing drugs during his time with the Giants. But the 2006 book Game of Shadows alleges Bonds used steroids and growth hormones, building its case through hundreds of interviews and illegally leaked grand jury testimony.

Marion Jones

The former Olympic sprinter was sentenced to six months in prison in 2007 after pleading guilty to charges of lying to a federal agent in 2003 about her use of steroids.

Bill Romanowski

In 2005, Romanowski admitted to having used steroids provided by BALCO founder Victor Conte, who has also been linked to Barry Bonds and others suspected of using steroids. Romanowski, the physical linebacker who played 16 years in the NFL with the 49ers, Eagles, Broncos and Raiders, tested positive for THG during his final season in 2003 as a member of the Oakland Raiders.

Rafael Palmeiro

During a spring, 2005 congressional hearing on performance-enhancing drugs, Palmeiro pointed his finger and said, "I have never used steroids, period." Later that year, he tested positive and served a 10-day suspension from baseball after a grievance to appeal the suspension was denied.

Jose Canseco

Canseco admitted to using steroids in his 2005 book Juiced, joining a short list of former players such as Ken Caminiti who have owned up to their past. In his book, Canseco accuses a number of former players such as Mark McGwire and Jason Giambi of having used performance-enhancing drugs.

Ben Johnson

Johnson tested positive for stanozolol after his world record, gold medal-winning performance in the 100 meters at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He initially denied knowingly using steroids, but he later admitted it during a Canadian government inquiry. After serving a suspension and being stripped of his medal and record, Johnson returned to racing, only to test positive for testosterone doping in 1993 and earn a lifetime ban.

Jason Grimsley

In 2006, Grimsley admitted to past steroid use after a sting operation connected him to HGH. Grimsley was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for violating its drug policy, and he gave investigators the names of several former teammates who he believed to be guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Fernando Vargas

After losing a world junior middleweight title and a super welterweight crown to Oscar De La Hoya in 2002, post-fight drug testing revealed stanozolol in Vargas' system. He denied taking the steroid knowingly, but was given a $100,000 fine and nine-month suspension.

C.J. Hunter

The former world-champion shot putter admitted using steroids as part of the BALCO probe. He has since retired from competition and pointed the finger at ex-wife Marion Jones for also using banned substances.

James Toney

After defeating John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight championship in 2005, Toney failed his post-fight drug test. He was subsequently stripped of the victory and belt and suspended from fighting for 90 days and barred from competing for the WBA heavyweight crown ever again.

Justin Gatlin

In August of 2006, Gatlin was given an eight-year ban from track and field, punishment for a positive test for testosterone and steroids earlier in the year at the Kansas relays. Gatlin, an Olympic gold medalist who shares the world record in the 100-meters, has denied knowingly using the substances.

Jason Giambi

Although he has never stated it explicitly, Giambi said in May 2007 that he was ''wrong for doing that stuff.'' He recently agreed to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's demand that he meet with steroid investigator George Mitchell to discuss his past usage of performance-enhancing drugs. Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.