Relay sprinter Debbie Dunn, who is originally from Jamaica but graduated from Fairmont Heights High School in Prince George's County, Md., has withdrawn from the U.S. Olympic team after testing positive for excessive testosterone.
Dunn, who currently lives in Norfolk, Va., and finished fourth in the 400 meters at Olympic trials, was selected for the American relay pool. She is the 2010 world indoor champion at 400 meters.
In a statement Friday, she acknowledged a positive doping test and said she was withdrawing from the Olympics while the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency resolves the case.
"I have been informed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that a sample I gave at the U.S. Olympic Trials contains an elevated testosterone/epitestosterone level," Dunn said in a statement. "While I work with USADA to resolve this matter, I am withdrawing from my relay pool position for the 2012 Olympic Games. I do not want any issue like this to distract from my teammates' focus for the biggest meet of their lives. I wish Team USA best in London as I work toward resolving this matter."
USADA CEO Travis Tygart said the agency is analyzing Dunn's "B" sample, and that "USADA appreciates Ms. Dunn voluntarily removing herself'' from the team while the case is pending. Here is Tygart's full statement:
"In response to Ms. Dunn's statements, USADA appreciates Ms. Dunn voluntarily removing herself from the Olympic team while the full facts surrounding her elevated T/E ratio and adverse carbon isotope ratio analysis (CIR) are evaluated. We are currently processing the B sample, and as in all cases all athletes are innocent until and unless proven otherwise through the established full, fair legal process which was approved by athletes, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and all Olympic sports organizations."
No replacement was immediately named. USA Track and Field CEO Max Siegel said Dunn did the appropriate thing by withdrawing.
