TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Dentarius Locke's 9.97 second 100-meter dash is the fourth-fastest time in the United States this year and the seventh-fastest in the world. With that number and a sixth-place finish at USA Outdoor Nationals in Iowa last month, the rising senior at Florida State earned a spot in the six-man 4x100m relay pool, training with Team USA in Monaco for next month's IAAF World Championships in Moscow.
Now, Locke has one less teammate in that relay pool.
Tyson Gay stole the show at those same USA Outdoor Championships where Locke qualified for Team USA, winning both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.
But as quickly as Gay comes out of the blocks at the starting line, so quickly has his situation changed as well.
Gay announced he has tested positive for a banned substance, and will withdraw from Team USA for the upcoming World Championships. In a phone conversation with ESPN, Gay choked through sobs, "I don't have a sabotage story. I don't have any lies. I don't have anything to say to make this seem like it was a mistake."
"I basically put my trust in someone and I was let down."
That last statement brings up the question, "Who is ultimately responsible for what supplements an athlete takes: The athlete or his dietitian/nutritionist/doctor?"
Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Angelo Taylor was one of many to express his thoughts on Twitter after hearing the news of Gay's failed test.
"It's a valuable lesson to be learned #tracknation," the 400-meter hurdler typed out. "Young and old athletes. You and only you are responsible for what goes in your body."
Just how long this failed test weights on the career and the mind of Tyson Gay will be more certain after his second "B" sample is tested as confirmation of the initial positive test.
Whatever happens with that sample, Gay says he will face the consequences.
Again in that conversation with ESPN, Gay stated, "I will take whatever punishment I get like a man. I do realize and respect what I put in my body and it is my responsibility."
The IAAF World Championships in Track & Field begin August 10th in Moscow.
