Armstrong clears air on ‘missed drug tests’, supports teammate Baptiste
Aaron Armstrong says there is no truth to a recent newspaper report that he has “missed two mandatory drugs tests”. And the Trinidad and Tobago sprinter has produced an email message from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to verify his claim.
On Sunday, Armstrong e-mailed the IAAF’s Athlete Whereabouts Programme, seeking clarity on the report.
“I haven’t been required to send in testing forms for 2 years...can you please shed some light on this situation.”
Project Manager of the Whereabouts Programme, Jane Boulter-Davies responded on Monday.
“We received your email — however, you are not on the IAAF Registered Testing Pool anymore, so you have no Missed Tests in 2013 as far as we are concerned.”
In an interview with the Express, yesterday, National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) president, Ephraim Serrette explained that if any T&T athlete misses a drug test, the IAAF would inform his organisation.
Serrette confirmed that the IAAF had not contacted the NAAA about Armstrong, adding that the Texas-based sprinter is not among the T&T athletes currently on the IAAF Registered Testing Pool, and therefore not subject to out-of-competition testing.
Armstrong told the Express, yesterday, he was at a loss to explain “where the information came from” that led to the erroneous story.
“When I first saw it, it was rattling, but I didn’t stress on it because I know it’s not the truth. I contacted my agent (Mark Wetmore), who directed me to the IAAF. It was a quick turnaround from the IAAF to verify it wasn’t the truth.
“But who would release something like that? It was kind of weird.”
Armstrong also took the opportunity to publicly express his support for fellow T&T sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste. On Saturday, Baptiste left the World Championships, here in Moscow, Russia, voluntarily withdrawing from the meet after testing positive for a banned substance.
“A lot of people don’t really know. Whether it’s cold medicine or something else, an athlete can have a positive test. People are quick to judge, but we can take supplements based on the label, but don’t always know what’s in the product.
“Kelly-Ann’s in the same situation like Tyson Gay. She’s like a sister to me. Knowing her like I do and knowing her integrity, I’m standing by her. I’m asking the country to support her and stand by her. When the truth comes out, that she never took anything deliberately,” Armstrong ended, “they would be able to say they stood by her.”