Running for justice

Back in business: Richardson wins the AAA

The Mark Richardson Story
Wednesday 25 July 2001, BBC Radio 5 Live, 2100BST

It started off as a random drug test and ended up as a nightmare.

In October 1999, British athlete Mark Richardson was found to have tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone, a banned substance.

The 400m runner was at a loss to explain how it could have happened.

He says, "My whole world was upside down. It was so surreal, like something out of a movie, being accused of something you know you haven't done. It was one of the worst moments of my life."

So when he was subsequently banned by both UK Athletics and the International Amateur Athletic Federation, Richardson resolved to clear his name.

In the Mark Richardson Story, the BBC's athletics correspondent, John Rawling, charts Richardson's battle for justice and the 18-month roller coaster ride before his ban was finally lifted.

Rawling says that Richardson's determination to prove his innocence kept him going.

"He knew in his heart of hearts that he had not knowingly taken anything which was illegal. He's an intelligent and articulate man, one of the brightest athletes running in Britain," Rawling says.

"But there were times he looked in the mirror and thought, 'Am I ever going to clear my name, am I every going to see a way of out this?' But he has ultimately done that."

Six months after the test, Richardson seemed to have won a reprieve when scientific research indicated that the combined effects of exercise and dietary supplements could result in a positive nandrolone test.

UKA cleared Richardson, who was all set to compete at the Sydney Olympics when the IAAF announced it was taking the matter to arbitration - two days after the start of the Games.

Mark Richardson could go on and establish himself as the world number one

  John Rawling

Richardson tried and failed to have the hearing put back until after Sydney. He reluctantly withdrew from the Olympics so that he would have more time to prepare his case.

Rawling believes the IAAF's decision deprived the Briton of a chance to shine at the highest level.

"Had he gone to the Olympic Games, there's a very good chance that Mark would have got a medal," he says.

"As a top-class athlete, you only get so many chances on the highest stage. He's now 28 years old, he may still be able to be there in Athens in 2004. You'd certainly hope so."

Victory

Painful though the decision was, the bid worked - scientific evidence persuaded the IAAF that the runner's test results were the result of taking contaminated supplements.

The two-year suspension, which would have banned him from the sport until December 2002, was lifted last month and Richardson's comeback has seen him pick up the AAA 400m title.

The 28-year-old will also compete for Britain at the World Athletic Championships in Edmonton next week.

Although Rawling feels that the World Championships have come too soon for the runner, he believes Richardson can go on to hit the heights.

"Now that Michael Johnson has stepped aside and decided, at the age of 33, that the drudgery of training is no long for him, it's created a bit of a void.

"John Smith, sprinter Maurice Green's trainer, says that in the years to come it may be that Mark Richardson can go on and establish himself as the world number one.

"I'd love to see him there. I get a lot of pleasure out of seeing a guy who gets a huge buzz out of running back on the track and running competitively. It's great to see."