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Out of Track’s Doping Scandal, Redemption and Progress Out of Track’s Doping Scandal, Redemption and Progress
(12 days later)
MOSCOW — Ten years ago this month, the American sprinter Kelli White tested positive for modafinil, a stimulant used to treat narcolepsy, after winning the 100- and 200-meter gold medals at the world track and field championships in Paris. It was the first time a track athlete from the United States had tested positive during a world or Olympic championship event.MOSCOW — Ten years ago this month, the American sprinter Kelli White tested positive for modafinil, a stimulant used to treat narcolepsy, after winning the 100- and 200-meter gold medals at the world track and field championships in Paris. It was the first time a track athlete from the United States had tested positive during a world or Olympic championship event.
The French sports daily L’Equipe broke the news of White’s positive test. At Stade de France, an interview room teemed with journalists waiting to hear White’s explanation.The French sports daily L’Equipe broke the news of White’s positive test. At Stade de France, an interview room teemed with journalists waiting to hear White’s explanation.
That day, she told a tall tale. There was a family history of narcolepsy, she said. She took modafinil for medical purposes. She had no medical exemption for it because she could not remember all the things she put into her body. And her family’s personal affairs were no one else’s business.That day, she told a tall tale. There was a family history of narcolepsy, she said. She took modafinil for medical purposes. She had no medical exemption for it because she could not remember all the things she put into her body. And her family’s personal affairs were no one else’s business.
White was the first athlete caught in the drug scandal that became known as Balco. Within a year, she admitted that she had sought out the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative’s founder, Victor Conte, on the advice of her coach, Remi Korchemny, and took the drugs he gave her. Korchemny’s stable of athletes dissolved: White, Chryste Gaines and Britain’s Dwain Chambers served suspensions.White was the first athlete caught in the drug scandal that became known as Balco. Within a year, she admitted that she had sought out the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative’s founder, Victor Conte, on the advice of her coach, Remi Korchemny, and took the drugs he gave her. Korchemny’s stable of athletes dissolved: White, Chryste Gaines and Britain’s Dwain Chambers served suspensions.
But then White did something remarkable. She became the first athlete to work directly with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to help it understand the system and culture of doping at the elite level. And she began to speak publicly about the dangers of doping, first to the news media, and then at several professional conferences around the world.But then White did something remarkable. She became the first athlete to work directly with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to help it understand the system and culture of doping at the elite level. And she began to speak publicly about the dangers of doping, first to the news media, and then at several professional conferences around the world.
Balco would eventually ensnare far more celebrated athletes, including Marion Jones. But I always wondered about what would happen to White after all of this was over.Balco would eventually ensnare far more celebrated athletes, including Marion Jones. But I always wondered about what would happen to White after all of this was over.
I knew Kelli and Remi personally, and genuinely liked them. I lived nearby in Oakland, Calif., and profiled Korchemny for an American track publication in 2002.I knew Kelli and Remi personally, and genuinely liked them. I lived nearby in Oakland, Calif., and profiled Korchemny for an American track publication in 2002.
Then I was asked to cover the Paris event, my first world championships. Kelli was just five years younger than me. We were contemporaries working our way up the ladder.Then I was asked to cover the Paris event, my first world championships. Kelli was just five years younger than me. We were contemporaries working our way up the ladder.
Kelli and I met again in November 2005 in a Copenhagen lecture hall, where I watched her tell her story at the Play the Game sports governance conference sponsored by the Danish Institute for Sports Studies. The executive director of the conference, Jens Sejer Andersen, had traveled to Oslo to hear Kelli speak at another conference sponsored by the World Anti-Doping Agency and was impressed. After a series of e-mails, she agreed to appear at Play the Game.Kelli and I met again in November 2005 in a Copenhagen lecture hall, where I watched her tell her story at the Play the Game sports governance conference sponsored by the Danish Institute for Sports Studies. The executive director of the conference, Jens Sejer Andersen, had traveled to Oslo to hear Kelli speak at another conference sponsored by the World Anti-Doping Agency and was impressed. After a series of e-mails, she agreed to appear at Play the Game.
“I want to explain what it takes for the whole system to work,” she said in her prepared remarks in Copenhagen. “It not only took Conte’s help, it took my coach making me believe it was O.K. I think a lot of the time, what happens to athletes is that people make you believe that what you are doing is O.K. because everyone else is doing it.”“I want to explain what it takes for the whole system to work,” she said in her prepared remarks in Copenhagen. “It not only took Conte’s help, it took my coach making me believe it was O.K. I think a lot of the time, what happens to athletes is that people make you believe that what you are doing is O.K. because everyone else is doing it.”
Andersen, reflecting last week on the success of that conference, said of White’s speech, “There is nothing to replace a firsthand eyewitness account” of doping. He added, “The potential for the encounter between Kelli and the audience was fully realized.”Andersen, reflecting last week on the success of that conference, said of White’s speech, “There is nothing to replace a firsthand eyewitness account” of doping. He added, “The potential for the encounter between Kelli and the audience was fully realized.”
From the darkest of days, White had emerged as a symbol of redemption.From the darkest of days, White had emerged as a symbol of redemption.
Travis Tygart, the chief executive of Usada, also spoke at Copenhagen. His praise for White extends far beyond the importance of her telling the truth.Travis Tygart, the chief executive of Usada, also spoke at Copenhagen. His praise for White extends far beyond the importance of her telling the truth.
“Kelli is a wonderful example, still today, that when you try to right the wrongs you’ve committed, it becomes a great tale of redemption for other athletes who come forward,” Tygart said last week, recalling White’s cooperation with the Balco investigation.“Kelli is a wonderful example, still today, that when you try to right the wrongs you’ve committed, it becomes a great tale of redemption for other athletes who come forward,” Tygart said last week, recalling White’s cooperation with the Balco investigation.
“Kelli’s contributions to antidoping,” he added, “will have a much longer-lasting and beneficial impact for athletes and sport than anything she ever did on the track.”“Kelli’s contributions to antidoping,” he added, “will have a much longer-lasting and beneficial impact for athletes and sport than anything she ever did on the track.”
We’re all older and wiser now. White has an M.B.A., is married and is living in Europe. She and her representatives didn’t respond to a request for an interview, but who can blame her? She was wrapped up in a dangerous game and got away safely. Why rehash a painful past?We’re all older and wiser now. White has an M.B.A., is married and is living in Europe. She and her representatives didn’t respond to a request for an interview, but who can blame her? She was wrapped up in a dangerous game and got away safely. Why rehash a painful past?
There have been memorable performances here during this year’s world championships, but it’s inevitable that there will be more doping positives, especially as out-of-competition testing programs improve in developing countries. I wonder how people who trusted athletes who were doping (like Ron Rapoport, a co-author of Marion Jones’s autobiography) feel about having been hoodwinked. We’ve learned that an athlete’s denials mean nothing, that passing drug tests means nothing.There have been memorable performances here during this year’s world championships, but it’s inevitable that there will be more doping positives, especially as out-of-competition testing programs improve in developing countries. I wonder how people who trusted athletes who were doping (like Ron Rapoport, a co-author of Marion Jones’s autobiography) feel about having been hoodwinked. We’ve learned that an athlete’s denials mean nothing, that passing drug tests means nothing.
But those of us covering the sport know that there is a beauty to track — that great test of human strength and endurance, with a three-ring circus of events that provides something for every taste — that is still compelling. And we know the fight against doping will never be over, but can never cease.But those of us covering the sport know that there is a beauty to track — that great test of human strength and endurance, with a three-ring circus of events that provides something for every taste — that is still compelling. And we know the fight against doping will never be over, but can never cease.
Athletes today seem less apt to create false cover stories when faced with positive tests. Justin Gatlin, the American sprinter who served a doping suspension in 2006 and came back to win a silver medal in the 100 here behind Usain Bolt, broke the news of his failed test to the news media. Tyson Gay, who would have been in Moscow if not for a failed test earlier this year, also pulled no punches, admitting immediately that his test results were accurate.Athletes today seem less apt to create false cover stories when faced with positive tests. Justin Gatlin, the American sprinter who served a doping suspension in 2006 and came back to win a silver medal in the 100 here behind Usain Bolt, broke the news of his failed test to the news media. Tyson Gay, who would have been in Moscow if not for a failed test earlier this year, also pulled no punches, admitting immediately that his test results were accurate.
Andersen, whose conference attracts sports journalists from around the world, believes deeply in the antidoping cause.Andersen, whose conference attracts sports journalists from around the world, believes deeply in the antidoping cause.
“It would be impossible” to legalize doping in sport, he said from his home in Aarhus, Denmark. “Today, you can say yes to doping or you can say no to doping.” He said if doping were legalized, it would become “a precondition, and you no longer have a choice.”“It would be impossible” to legalize doping in sport, he said from his home in Aarhus, Denmark. “Today, you can say yes to doping or you can say no to doping.” He said if doping were legalized, it would become “a precondition, and you no longer have a choice.”
“Sport is an expression of civilization,” he said. “Sport has a moral side, and although it’s very difficult to maintain it, it’s worthwhile. We invest in police, but we still have crime. But we don’t give up, because there are certain values we want to protect.”“Sport is an expression of civilization,” he said. “Sport has a moral side, and although it’s very difficult to maintain it, it’s worthwhile. We invest in police, but we still have crime. But we don’t give up, because there are certain values we want to protect.”
In her own quiet way, White stood up for those values after falling down the rabbit hole. And last week in Moscow, 10 years on, the sport continued to move on, and we all try to do the same.In her own quiet way, White stood up for those values after falling down the rabbit hole. And last week in Moscow, 10 years on, the sport continued to move on, and we all try to do the same.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: August 29, 2013

Because of an editing error, a picture caption on Aug. 18 with an essay about the American sprinter Kelli White, who tested positive for drugs at the 2003 world track and field championships, misstated the surname of The Associated Press photographer who took the picture of White at a news conference. He is Michel Euler, not Eule.