/ 25 August 2006

Report: Yet another US athlete tests positive

Another United States sprinter coached by Trevor Graham has tested positive for use of a performance-boosting drug, according to the Chicago Tribune in its edition on Friday.

LaTasha Jenkins, silver medallist at the 2001 indoor world championships, was tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone in July, the report said.

The results are based on an A sample from an in-competition test, unnamed sources told the newspaper. If the second B test is positive, Jenkins could face a minimum two-year ban from competition.

Jenkins is the third United States track athlete to test positive for banned drugs recently. The others are Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin and Olympic triple gold medallist Marion Jones, who tested positive for the endurance-enhancer EPO after winning the 100m at the US championships on June 23.

The Tribune said Jenkins was the 11th athlete who is now coached or was previously coached by Graham to test positive. The group includes Gatlin and Jones, who was trained by Graham when she won her three medals in Sydney in 2000.

Jenkins (28) finished third in the 200mat the US track and field championships in Indianapolis in late June. She announced her retirement in 2003 but returned to the sport the following year. — Sapa-dpa