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MUMBAI, India (AP) — Long jump world record holder Mike Powell said on Monday that athletes caught using banned drugs should never be allowed to return to competition.
"I think if you are using drugs, you should be banned for life," the 47-year-old American told reporters in Mumbai.
Powell highlighted the efforts of the International Association of Athletics Federations to combat drugs in sport.
"Athletics is at the forefront of any sport in the world as far as taking control to eliminate performance enhancing drugs (is concerned)," he said at an event where he represented the IAAF as a brand ambassador.
"Athletics is one of the few sports which is willing to burst its stars. As of now, if you try to use something, you are taking a big, big risk."
The comments from the former double world champion came only days after six Indian athletes tested positive for anabolic steroids.
Two of the six — Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose — were in the 4x400 meter relay squads that won gold at last year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Mandeep and other 400 meter runner Jauna Murmu tested positive in out of competition tests conducted by the IAAF.
Jose, another 400 meter runner Tiana Mary, shot putter Sonia Kumari and men's long jumper Hari Krishnan were caught by India's National Anti Doping Agency after being tested during a national meet.
All six athletes have been provisionally banned.
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"I think if you are using drugs, you should be banned for life," the 47-year-old American told reporters in Mumbai.
Powell highlighted the efforts of the International Association of Athletics Federations to combat drugs in sport.
"Athletics is at the forefront of any sport in the world as far as taking control to eliminate performance enhancing drugs (is concerned)," he said at an event where he represented the IAAF as a brand ambassador.
"Athletics is one of the few sports which is willing to burst its stars. As of now, if you try to use something, you are taking a big, big risk."
The comments from the former double world champion came only days after six Indian athletes tested positive for anabolic steroids.
Two of the six — Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose — were in the 4x400 meter relay squads that won gold at last year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Mandeep and other 400 meter runner Jauna Murmu tested positive in out of competition tests conducted by the IAAF.
Jose, another 400 meter runner Tiana Mary, shot putter Sonia Kumari and men's long jumper Hari Krishnan were caught by India's National Anti Doping Agency after being tested during a national meet.
All six athletes have been provisionally banned.
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