VCB DOPING CASE BRINGS REALITY HOME
So, the news is finally out and many Jamaicans are in a state of shock. Jamaica’s ‘queen of the track’, Veronica Campbell Brown has failed a drug test.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist, defending 200-metre world champion, and 100-metre world champion returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) after competing at the Jamaica International Invitational on May 4, 2013 at the National Stadium here in Kingston. For two days after the news first broke that one of Jamaica’s star athletes had failed a drug test, Jamaicans waited on pins and needles to hear who that athlete was. On Friday night, their worst fears were realized.
Many couldn’t believe it. They still can’t and have simply chosen to run away from it. VCB was perhaps the most ‘pure’ of our stars. Most of us don’t know very much about her because of her very rigid approach to her privacy but we love her because she is ‘humble’, a trait most Jamaicans seem to connect with. We see Bolt, the fastest man alive ever, and commercially the most successful track and field athlete in history, as being cocky but to us VCB seemed like a sweet innocent soul who has been winning global titles ever since she was a child. We live vicariously through her; because of her we were all champions.
Now however, we don’t know the full story about Veronica. Perhaps she has a very good explanation as to how and why she returned this AAF. Maybe she was taking something to get her weight down, who knows but whatever it is, we hope those reasons will be good enough to absolve her of any culpability. What we do know is that her pristine image is now all but shattered and we don’t know what to do with ourselves. Many are having sleepless nights, eagerly waiting for the hearing she will face and where she will try to explain how the diuretic Lasix ended up in her bloodstream. What she presents will determine whether or not she will be banned from a sport she helped prop up for so many years as one of its greatest ambassadors.
Meanwhile, we all have to look at what we had believed and make some serious psychological adjustments.
For years, when American athletes dominated the world of track and field, it was very easy for us to point fingers at them accusing them of being drug cheats. Many were. The list is long. Marion Jones, Jerome Young, Regina Jacobs, Just Gatlin, Alvin and Calvin Harrison, Randy Barnes, Anthony Dees, Tim Montgomery, Mark Jelks, Kelli White and it goes on and on. We took some sort of perverse pride in thinking that American athletes were cheats and that ours were not.
We told ourselves that no Jamaican athlete needed to cheat. We fooled ourselves that Jamaica’s athletes were more naturally gifted than any other on this planet and that if they ever did cheat they couldn’t live here in Jamaica. Since Jamaica starred at the Beijing Olympics back in 2008, the world has had us under a microscope and has been pointing fingers at us, accusing us of being cheats. They challenge the integrity of our drug testing system and that there are ‘dirty’ labs here in the Caribbean producing drugs that testers can’t find. I must admit that I find that one hard to believe, but I have never fooled myself into believing that we, here in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, are always above board when it comes to doping.
Since 2008 several of Jamaica’s star athletes have run afoul of the World Anti-Doping Agencies (WADA) Code. Yohan Blake, the defending 100m world champion missed the 2009 World Championships in Berlin because of a doping violation and served a three-month ban. So did Sherri Ann Brooks, the 2006 Commonwealth Games 100m champion, Marvin Anderson and Allodin Fothergill were also banned in that incident. Then Steve Mullings, who failed a drug test in 2004 and returned from that ban to win a medal in 2009 as a member of the relay team in Berlin. He has now been banned for life following a doping violation in 2012. Bobby Gaye Wilkins, and Julian Dunkley were also banned during that period. Our two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce was banned for six months for taking Oxycodone and just this week Dominique Blake was banned for six years. Now VCB has been accused of cheating. That’s 11 violations in the last five years and more than 20 if you go back further.
Can we truly say that Jamaicans are clean? And for those who say that the home-based athletes are clean, can we truly say that after the incidents with Blake et al and the Frazer-Pryce incident (even though her violation occurred in Shanghai, China). There is a popular saying, ‘if you live in a glass house don’t throw stones’. Many of us could learn a thing or two by paying close attention to that saying because it would make our lives that much easier.
After years of being accused of being possible cheats, evidence is turning up in favour of our accusers. The only way we can fight back is to be more diligent in how we administer our doping controls. We need to test more, we need our athletes to take greater responsibility for what they put in their bodies and we, as a people, should be less quick to criticize and accuse other athletes of doping just because they beat our athletes. I remember when people tried to justify Merlene Ottey’s failure to win more international gold medals by saying that she was being beaten by cheats forgetting that Ottey herself failed a drug test for Nandrolone and was only absolved on a technicality.
We can only hope VCB gets a similar reprieve but her case should help us put things into proper perspective. We, as a people have run afoul of many rules and regulations, why do we believe that our athletes are any different?
The Gleaner reserves the right not to publish comments that may be deemed libelous, derogatory or indecent.
To respond to The Gleaner please use the feedback form.
63 Responses to “VCB DOPING CASE BRINGS REALITY HOME”
Leave a Reply
Older Posts
- DJOKOVIC RISING: COULD ECLIPSE FEDERER
- GRAF BLUNTS SERENA’S QUEST FOR FURTHER GLORY
- ZIKA THREAT TO ATHLETES AND THE OLYMPICS
- ‘WRONG AND STRONG’ GAYLE NEEDS TO KNOWRESPECT WORKS BOTH WAYS
- MY TOP PERFORMERS FOR 2015
- WHY WOMEN’S MILE RELAY WIN IS MY PEOPLE’S CHOICE SELECTION
- THE ‘AXEMAN’ WAS ROBBED
- DAVIES EMAIL COULD SPELL END OF COE’S PRESIDENCY
- EATON AND DIBABA WERE NOT BEST OF THE BEST FOR 2015
- DAY/NIGHT CRICKET SHOULD BE JUST THE START TO THE WAY TEST MATCHES ARE PLAYED
Other Blogs
Agriculture
Gavel
Have your say
Iconsumer
Motor sports
Social Impact
Sports
Social Bookmarks
Bookmark Here:
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| «-» | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | |
- Gleaner Company Websites
- Jamaica Gleaner
- The Star
- Go Jamaica
- Go Local
- Sports Jamaica
- Sports Caribe
- Hospitality Jamaica
- Youth Link
- Voice UK
- Gleaner Company Websites
- Business Directory
- Gleaner Classifieds
- Kingston Restaurant Week
- Financial Gleaner
- Discover Jamaica
- Discover Caribe
- Returning Residents
- Go Jamaica hosting
- Contact Info
- RSS Feed
- Contact Us
OMG! VCB?
They say “you can fool some of the people some of the time but you can’t fool all the people all the time.
I hope too that she has a very good explanation I don’t think “I can’t recall” would be adequate in this case.
Do you think they should be lenient on her, or should her punishment be severe to send a clear message?
I still think Jamaica athletes are naturally much more gifted than others countries. Yes we have some who have tested positive not saying I condone these behavior, but square per square mile how many Jamaican athletes have tested positive compare to the U.S think on these things.
In the last five years we have 11, check how many from the US.
I do hope for the best for V.C.B. I am never too quick to bash others not knowing the truth behind situations. I hope she has a good explanation behind all this.
11 in the last 5 years. Proportionality may suggests that we (jamaica) have a disproportionately higher per capita drug offence that the USA. ( 3 miilion Versus 300 million )
I don’t believe that VCB is that foolish to commit such an offfence. She is a decorated Olympian which guarantees her invitations and lucrative appearance fees at all Diamond League and non Diamond League events. Just doesn’t add up!!!
Why would she do it now? Something just don’t seem right, I’ll wait for her explanation.
It is indeed interesting to note that all our Athletes who have tested positive live and train in the U.S, it is also interesting to note that other sports such as swimming are not tested so stringently track athletes cannot even take a pain killer or nasal spray or else they will test positive, I would hope and believe that this is really a nightmare of a mistake if not all her achievements will be tarnished.
Your column is 100% on point.
Re; VCB , i am really lost for words,in every storms there will be calm, she trains in the USA with steve mullings , why would she thinks she exceptional from been a target , american dont like to be second in nothing the prigramme themselves to be the best in the world, how long we think they will train any athletes to beat theirs hold your country flags over them com on veronica think twice, may God almighty help her, be blessed my dear.
A very dispassionate and fair analysis. We appear to have a serious problem that rather than seek to deny we need to vigorously address. Whilst we hope that VCR has a legitimate explanation, too many of our athletes are being caught in drug violations tarnishing the track and field accomplishments of our athletes and country.
I am one of those naive people who believe our athletes. for the most part, are just naturally gifted. I am also one of those cynics (see the paradox?) who believe it is NAIVE to continue being simple minded once you become famous.
For our major competitor at sports is the USA and trust me, I would NOT trust any lab work any American or European came up with. Tests can be tainted, is all I am saying. Then there is the “bribability” factor of other testers, whatever country they are in and the sheer lack of process in our own country which could well lead to a mix-up. So anywhere the athletes tun, makka juk dem.
Bolt is the next one they will be targeting, so he better stop some of the night clubbing, accepting drinks or food from strangers, or even friends, because the power of a couple of hundred thousand US dollars is enough to make any man your enemy.
I do not believe in my heart that VCB doped herself deliberately. Yet, something went into her sample, whether via her system or via a dropper. NO ONE was going to take a urine sample from me and I don’t deliver it MYSELF to the testing space and STAY There until the testing is complete. We cannot trust the testing any more than we can trust the Athletes.
IF Jamaican Athletes are really innocent, it is TIME for them to step up and insist that testing be done in an OPEN Forum in front of the persons being tested.
The sample must be one given on the spot!
How could she allow this to happen to her as her sprint career is winding down?
How could her handlers allow this to happen?
Has she been recently diagnosed with hypertension?
Whilst we all hope (including myself) that VCB has compelling reasons why this drugs was found in her system, lets not deny ourselves that athletes are and rightfully so, are responsible for what enters their body. Some may argue why now and not before? It can happen at any given time, it’s just a matter of WHEN a person gets caught. It won’t help accusing other countries, all we want is for our country / athletes to be drugs free. It is a shame because she is such an icon. Maybe we don’t know what our athletes are capable of, but surely, there must be a more robost testing system in JA itself to cast out any doubts by those who are waiting for ‘another one caught’.
I have absolute confidence in the integrity of VCB as an athlete and her I know she will be vindicated and absolve from blame in the not too distant future. The drug she was alleged to have taken in whatever form Lasix has been a popular drug used to clense the body of excess electrolites and in the cheating world. It is used as a masking agent to cover evidence of drug usage by drug cheats. VCB has so much potential but we have to ensure that we do not make the wrong substances go into our bodies to cast dampers of doubts on your career. I cannot see why Ver would try to ingest a substance that has a deblitating effect on her body. Veronica is a very humble person who has been seen as a very sociable person who would not do such a thing but so many persons have been accused of involvement in drugtaking over the years. As such one has to wonder if they are cheating or not. I doubt that some have deliberately cheated but as the Mr Levy has said we are too quick to accuse other of cheating when we might have persons cheating. I doubt that VCB cheated because of the persona she portrays on every given occasion. We love our lovely VCB for the image she has given our country over the years and we are in you corner now that you are placed in a state of bother. I do hope the JAAA will make you feel comfortable although we are going through a most unfortunate time now. I can guarantee that you will be exonerated from this stiff situation as the time passes.
I am just trusting God and praying for her.
I believe that Jamaican athletes should live and train in Jamaica. Thereby giving 10% of their annual salary to maintain a sport consortium for a)Training Facilities, b)A Medical Facility with UWI, c) Legal, Financial, and Management Facilities (With Jamaican having Law degrees in Various Countries around the world). Having such a system would protect the athletes more, knowing that all phases of their career are taken care of, until retirement. This would send a message to the sporting world that we are not going to let any one push us over. However, this kind of alliance is something to think about.
Mr. Levy
VCB ran 100M at Jamaica Invitational on May 4th, 2013 and tested positive for banned substance.
She ran the 200M in Adidas Grand Prix New York May 25th and the 100M in Samsung Diamond League EUGENE, OREGON May 31st.
What happened with those races? Any banned substance found?
I cant say for sure because if she was tested at those meets the results would probably still be pending. Besides, those results would be completely unrelated. We dont know the full story and most likely not know what they are until she appears before a panel for the hearing that will determine her fate. Let me just use this medium to clear up something. I hear people talking that VCB was set up. The athlete’s sample has no name on it, only a code; a number that matches up with a name that is kept secure by the testing authority. So for someone to set any athlete up, there would have to be widespread collusion between the people at the lab in Canada and the body that conducted the test.
Dave, what would give Jamaica that advantage? Why would we be more gifted than any of the other athletes across the planet?
Come on non believers . If you think that others cheat but not your own ,you might as well be living in some remote world where drugs have never been discovered.
And to be using some form of Lasix. That is exactly what Vets precribe for thoroughbreds to stop bleeding and improve stamina.
“Peoples”,face it ,your beloved vcb is also a cheater. And cheaters never stopp until caught . She has now been caught, and unless she can come up with a very, very, believable alibi she’ll be just like Ben J. Marion J. baseballs’Roger C. Barry B, and the scores before her who when caught denied they were trying to hood wink us all until they were proven guilty. Iam sure she’ll try the same.
Wrong will always be wrong, no matter who does it!!! To compare the quantum of incidents with those of the USA does not depreciate the seriousness of the offence.
I am an ardent Trinidadian fan of VCB and many Jamaican and Caribbean athletes. Trinidad has had its share of doping infractions and I must admit it hurts the Country.
Even “If” Ms. Campbell survives this fiasco, there are many lessons to be learn’t. Foremost is “The world is watching us closely in their bid to maintain their turf of domination, even if it is a foul turf”.
My heart goes-out to VCB and all stakeholders.
According to the Jamaica Gleaner the drugs that were found within her system does not hold water in regard to violation of banned substances.
VCB and the Jamaican Athletic Commission needs to challenge this ruling very aggressively.
As I anxiously await the hearing on this positive drug test of our sprint queen, I have one question to ask the experts on this matter. Is it possible to take performance enhancing drugs and remain beautiful and at the same time achieve such long and successful career without showing major signs of doping side effects?
Simple answer, yes. Does it apply to VCB, no one knows for sure except her. Like you I hope she is cleared but the damage has been done.
You all saying she’s guilty, but you all never hear fer side of the story, The lady has medical problem, and she did declare that she was using the cream, for medical purpose.Go read the iaaf rule with regards to this. LONG LIVE VCB, who wanna she fall day, guess what not this time, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. I LOVE ME VCB
You all
Who is saying she is guilty Fabian?
There is no escaping the fact that her sample did return an adverse finding. Now, if there is a plausible explanation why the finding was returned, she will be exonerated but don’t pretend as if something is being made up. It is about time we stopped being so emotional about the whole thing and started thinking rationally. That she returned an adverse finding doesn’t mean she intentionally tried to cheat nor does it mean she didn’t. That she is Jamaican and that you obviously adore her also doesn’t mean that she is not culpable in some way.
It is time we stopped hiding our heads in the sand and start growing enough backbone to recognize two basic facts. Athletes are human and they sometimes make mistakes, and two, recognize that you may adore VCB but you don’t know anything about her, how she thinks and what she is capable of. We all want her to be cleared of this situation so that she can pursue her career but not for one moment can we dispel the reality of what is.
Two things Marcia, discard the myth that local based athletes dont return adverse findings. Blake, Fothergill, Anderson, and Shelly Ann Frazer Pryce have all been suspended in the past few years and VCB does not train with Steve Mullings. It has been four years since she stopped training with the Lance Baumann camp and moved on. In fact since that time he has also been coached by Tony Carpenter in Marietta, Georgia and Claude Grant in Montego Bay. And this conspiracy theory that somehow the world is out to get our athletes is a little crazy. From Julian Dunkley in 2008 to this case now, if you look at the cases against the Jamaican athletes, with the exception of Steve Mullings who claimed he was being set up, all of the others got into trouble of their own making. The Racers athletes took a supplement they didn’t know contained the banned stimulant, Frazer-Pryce was given a narcotic by her coach to alleviate pain she was suffering following mouth surgery, Dunkley clearly tried to cheat, as did Mullings, Dominic Blake took a supplement that had a clear warning on the bottle that she apparently chose to ignore. Bobby Gay Wilkins, not an elite athlete by any stretch, took a banned substance and was banned for two years. In none of the 13 cases against Jamaicans over the past few years has there been any evidence that they were set up other than by their own negligence in one form or the other. Look how many Jamaican athletes train overseas and have never failed a test. Danny McFarlane, Kerron Stewart, etc. We need to stop blaming ghosts for our problems and start imploring our athletes to be more diligent when putting things into their bodies.
It’s nice to be emotional and throw blind support behind our athletes, but despite the presence of detractors we seem to be our own worst enemy. We all hope VCB will be absolved and that her reputation will not be scarred by this incident but let’s be rational about this.
The authorities can also most certainly do more to help the athletes because it’s a minefield out there when trying to determine what to take and what not to take. Athletes have a hard time choosing stuff to treat simple ailments like the flu etc. I suspect WADA and the IAAF should find and list ‘safe’ products that can be used by athletes to alleviate ailments they might suffer from time to time because they are human and subjected to aches and pains like the rest of us. Public education programmes by the local agency JADco would certain also help the athletes understand what they can and cannot take when it comes to simple things like cold medicine or taking a pain killer or other similar things.
I dont agree entirely with your article… It sounds has though you’re to cast judgement before you get the details of the situation. I am a hugh fan of VCB,since I first saw her in 2000 at the world junior games… I dont think VCB would intentional induce PED and then go to the extent to induce a masking agent to hide the presence of PED… Many of our athletes (Blake and Frazer-Pryce)didnt intentional “drug-up” themselves… I believe this is just a plot against JA Track and Field… They just think its time to “get rid” of VCB (so they did to Ottey) and its for this reason why they have done such a thing… I notice that none of the fellow country runners have showed any support for VCB on the issue, while the Americans are busy pouring out their love and support for her in this situation… This justy shows the impact the woman has on the lives of those outside of JA… LOVE VCB STR8… and even if she is found guilty, it wont change what she as done for JA track and field and how I feel about her.. 16 years of Glory and dominance, why would she wanna do drugs now?
levyl, I think u need to read today’s front page… The Gleaner doesnt publish anything unless its “credible”… VCB informed the necessary ppl about her medz she was taking, they failed to make provisions for the TUE…
Poor VCB. In my eyes she can do no wrong.
Well stated Mr. Levy, I agree with what you have said and hope for the best results for VCB
Everyone just calm done, and stop been judge , jury. Let the doping system perform its job and wait to see the out come, before unno open up unno big mouths
I wish to make a few comments: The drug found in her A sample is not a Performance Enhancing Drug(PED) although it has been used to mask PEDs. Not all Adverse Analytical Findings(AAFs) are evidence of drug cheating. All AAFs are not equal and cannot be regarded as evidence of drug cheating.(Note Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s use of Oxycodone, a pain killer to treat a dental problem) We need to await VCB’s explanation as to how the chemical got into her system. On a programme on TVJ last night it was said that she had declared on her form given with the sample that she was using a preparation for treatment of a swollen knee so obviously she was not hiding use of the substance. We have not been officially informed of what was found in the B sample.
Her management team should pursue the appropriate procedures to get her hearing by the JAAA as quickly as possible so that the matter can be resolved and she can resume her career.
VCB I wish you all the best. You are my Queen. I believe you are an honest woman, with good morals.
God bless.
Where do I cast judgement. Read the piece again.
You can’t stay young forever. At some point your body will not allow you to compete at the highest level. Athletes are not willing to give up the fame and glamour that’s why when they get older they turn to drugs to keep them going. I doubt there’s any other explanation. All the athletes who’ve been accused of doping, check their ages. You may see a pattern of aging.
Other athletes have also gotten better with age like Kim Collins and Carmelita Jeter. So check those stats while you are at it!
This isn’t surprising, Jamaicans are responsible for track & fields bad reputation with regards to performance enhancing drugs. Most drug cheating sprinters have been Jamaican. Every major doping scandal has had a Jamaican connection. Even the ringleader of the BALCO scandal was a Jamaican by the name of Trevor Graham.
I can’t believe Mr.Levy is questioning our edge in sprinting talent globally. It’s in the numbers sir ; aside from the USA no land produces the amount of top speedsters as we do.
Having said that , there is a certain arrogance and a certain holier-than-thou attitude held by many among us that nuh mek it. One time , PED’s was an American thing but now it’s spread throughout the region and it’s a murky world. The average person judges people’s worth by the amount of material they own , so people will do whatever to get rich. It’s called materialism and that’s the world we live in right now.
I wouldn’t put my neck on the block for anybody.
Its indeed shocking news but I think the writer was being realistic rather than judgemental. We will just have to wait and see how things unfold. I wish all the best for VCB in clearing her name and repairing her image.
Anyway, I sincerely believe our sprinters are more gifted than most of the world.I dont know if its the food,or the training programs as suggested at times but they are phenominal considering the size of the country and the limited resources to truly develop the athletes and sports at all levels. I am not convinced that the basic school champs make any sense but I see how most high schools struggle to prepare for and participate in champs. Many without proper gears yet bigger and better stars unfold year after year.Suppose we had adequate resources? They couldn’t stop us!Jamaicans are especially gifted on the track! Full stop!
Victor Conte is not Jamaican, neither is Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, Regina Jacobs, Calvin and Alvin Morrison, Just Gatlin, Lashawn Merritt, and many more my friend. Dont get it twisted. Other than the East Germans and Russians the US has been the kings of doping. Look at American baseball and football. Baseball is about to be blown up by the biggest of scandals. Check yourself.
The argument on the Seriousness of the Offence, be it Major or Minor is of no significance in the objective of Drug Testing. Too many athletes choose to plead “Ignorance as to the presence of banned substances within their bodies”. The solution to this Recurring problem is the same with all instances of “IGNORANCE”, it is called “AWRENESS THROUGH EDUCATION”.
Eternal Father Bless our Land
Bless VCB and take away this curse from off her name,and profile, Father we know You are a great and Merciful JAH,Veronica needs You right now,
only You and Veronica knows the truth and if it’s a set up please unset it so we can continue 2 be proud of our Golden Queen
in your Great and Omnipotent Name..JAAAAAAH
The headline is a travesty.
And why is that?
Every one should reserve judgement until the result of the B sample is known. All the evidence must be put before sentance is pronounce. VCB carried the Jamaican flag with pride and distinction for many years, we owe her respect, time and space to prepare her defence and as a Jamaican I sincerely hope that she comes out of this cleaner than she went into it.
Wow, you all have so much to say..Thank God for reality…all the judgement and rhetoric..
it is all out in the wash…
get over yourselves
long live VCB
So Tony, where did Jamaican Trevor Graham learn to give drug to athletes and beat the system ?
Isn’t it funny that a country whose medical practices and technology in medical science is very under rated (when compared to the USA) could be suddenly be just as good or better in taking drugs ALL THESE YEARS and masking it so that it is not detected ?
Fact is that the detection procedures have caught up with the long time cheaters and the true performers have risen.
We beat Americans at the high school level (see Penn Relays) and at the NCAA level for years (look at the record holders and winners).
I just need to know why we could not beat the Americans once they were out of the formal school system ? Jamaica has the oldest (from 1910 to present) and largest high school track and field championship competition in the world (28to32,000 spectators in attendance on the final day).
Please note that almost all the great performers for Jamaica (on the international scene) graduated through those championships. We also have a college that train coachesin Track and field (the only one in the English Caribbean) and most top Jamaican athletes are linked to one of those graduate coahes.
Next we now train our athletes at home because we have the facilities to do so.
When we send at least 20 top school athletes (per year) in the past to US University ( on scholarships) where are they in relation to returning to Jamaica to competete for us ? They are destroyed in the NCAA circuit. Staying home, eating good non fast-food and the rest (that I have mentioned) is what you see in the results sir.
I think it’s ridiculous to believe the world has some sort of conspiracy against Jamaica to discredit Jamaica’s athlete’s performances. That would be the equivalent of saying Jamaica has a conspiracy against Kenya to discredit Kenya’s great distance runners when Kenya athlete’s test positive. Kenya or any other nation that produce great distance runners, or field event athlete’s are not blaming another nation for positive test of it’s athlete’s. Why would the U.S. (one of the wealthiest nations) have some sort of “let’s get Jamaica” agenda. VCB tested positive for a banned substance. It’s not a U.S. attack against Jamaican athletic program or it’s sprinters.