IOC Confirms Olympic Ban for LaShawn Merritt

Yesterday, the International Olympic Committee announced their decision—or rather, reaffirmed an already existing rule—to keep American track star LaShawn Merritt from competing in the 2012 Olympics because of a ban resulting from Merritt’s failing a drug test. The 21-month ban ends before the games start in London, but an IOC rule adopted in 2008 bars any athlete who has received a drug suspension lasting six months or longer from competing in the next Olympics.

Merritt failed multiple drug tests shortly after winning the 400-meter sprinting events in the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Championships. He claimed that the positive test was the result of his using an over-the-counter penis enhancement drug called ExtenZe and not reading the “fine print” which said the drug contained Dehydroepiandrosterone, a banned substance. Using over-the-counter male enhancement drugs is foolish; using them without reading the ingredients when you are a world-class athlete subject to some of the strictest drug testing in the world is breathtakingly stupid.

Not letting Merritt defend his Olympic gold medal is a harsh punishment for what he says was a lapse in judgment rather than a malicious attempt at cheating. The sprinter will probably be too old to compete in 2016, and he will probably be more remembered for his suspension—and the ridiculous reason behind it—than his success on the track. But track and field events have a necessary zero-tolerance policy in regards to steroids. An Olympic career cut short because a 23-year-old decided to buy a snake-oil penis pill endorsed by porn star Ron Jeremy is simply collateral damage resulting from that zero tolerance.