Track Stars Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell Tests Positive For Performance Enhancing Drugs
ANDERSON: You're with Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome back. Now with just three weeks to go to the World Athletics Championships, the sport has been rocked, I'm afraid, by another massive doping scandal. Former world champion Tyson Gay of the U.S., seen here on the left, and Jamaica's ex-100 meter world record holder Asafa Powell, or Asafa Powell, the man on the right, both tested positive for banned substances and four other Jamaican athletes, let me tell you, have had positive results in tests conducted at the Jamaican championships. Gay posted the world's fastest 100 meters time for the year. He was told by the U.S. anti-doping agency on Friday that his sample from out of competition tests in May was positive. And just a few hours ago, sporting giant Adidas decided to cancel its sponsorship contract with him. Let's find out what this latest doping scandal means for the world of Athletics. I'm joined by CNN's Amanda Davies. This has got to be another blow to athletics and what is a signature event of the 100 meters.</s>AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS CORREPSONDENT: Yeah. And this is two of the biggest names from two of the biggest sprinting nations in, as you said, the flagship event just three weeks ahead of the World Championships, the second biggest event for athletics after the Olympics which was just year ago. And this isn't the first time, is it, Becky, that this event has been affected by these problems. This is a list of the fastest hundred meters runners in the world. As we just said, Tyson Gay has tested positive. Not only Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake in 2009, he was banned for three months for testing positive. Asafa Powell tested positive on Sunday. Justin Gatlin has actually had two bans. And Steve Mullins as well. So just a handful, you can see, who haven't got a black mark of some description...</s>ANDERSON: I've got to say, so this is, what, July. Last August, we sat and, you know, were enthralled as the rest of the world was, as you and I, commented on the Olympics from London. What an incredible event that was. And what an incredible event the 100 meters. I'm absolutely distraught to see this sort of news. Does it, though, say that at least dopers are being flushed out, if this, I guess, positive?</s>DAVIES: That's the argument from the athletics governing body, the IAAF. They have said that their systems have been enhanced, not diminished, by these positive tests. But it is undoubtedly a huge, huge blow for the image of the sport, for people watching can you believe what you see? And it's that age-old problem, Becky, that the rewards still far outweigh the risks. For all the progress that is being made that the cheats will always stay ahead of the testers, because you can only test what you know about.</s>ANDERSON: Very briefly, Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, well let's see these two guys now, of course. Anything that we must surmise about where these guys are training, who they're working with?</s>DAVIES: It's very difficult to say. People never test positive, it seems, for something that doesn't help their sport. Sprinters will always test positive for something that helps sprinters. Endurance athletes will always test positive for something that helps endurance events. They say, not knowingly, but it is very difficult when you see the evidence to believe that.</s>ANDERSON: Not that by any stretch of the imagination we are suggesting anything about any one country, which is represented here. It just seems sad to see one flag standing out tonight. Amanda, thank you very much indeed. The latest world news headlines just ahead. Plus, we report on the latest wave of state terror and violence targeting Coptic Christians in Egypt. Also ahead, why JK Rowling has been using Harry's invisibility cloak for her latest project. And watching and waiting for a royal baby. An update from outside the hospital still to come.