Posted: July 18, 2004

Athletics: Jacobs Accepts Four-Year Sanction For THG

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that Regina Jacobs was suspended for four years for testing positive fot the anabolic steroid THG. Below is the statement from USADA, in full. --Asst. Ed.

U.S. Track Athlete Jacobs Accepts Four-Year Sanction For Thg Steroid Offense

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 17, 2004) – The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Saturday that Regina Jacobs of Oakland, Calif., the current U.S. 1,500 meter champion was suspended for four years for testing positive for the anabolic steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), which was first identified in the summer of 2003.

Jacobs, 40, tested positive for THG at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Stanford, Calif. on June 21, 2003. Jacobs accepted USADA’s recommended sanction and forfeits all of her results and winnings beginning on the day of the test including her first-place finish in the 1,500m on that day.

This is last of the five THG analytical positive cases all of which resulted in the athlete being suspended from competition since USADA’s and the UCLA laboratory’s discovery of the designer steroid linked to BALCO.

“Clean athletes should be motivated by knowing that Olympic sport has committed its resources and expertise to leveling the playing field by eliminating drugs, including undetectable substances from competition,” said Terry Madden, USADA Chief Executive Officer.

USA Track and Field, the national governing body for the sport in the United States, will carry out the sanction.

This is the 22nd announcement issued by USADA in 2004. USADA became the independent anti-doping agency for U.S. athletes in Olympic movement in October 2000.

USADA is responsible for managing the testing and adjudication process for U.S. Olympic, Pan Am and Paralympic athletes. USADA is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.