GREENSBORO, North Carolina, 7 December 2003 — American athletes unanimously backed lifetime bans for steroid offenders here Friday then challenged the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to adopt the policy.

“We just decided to raise the standard and tell the world stop pointing the finger at us — don’t even think about it,” US sprinter Jon Drummond said.

USA Track and Field’s athlete advisory committee backed the “Zero Tolerance” measure and the career-ending steroid punishment will be voted upon here today by the full membership at the governing body’s 25th annual convention.

Discovery of the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) last October and positive THG tests by US athletes Regina Jacobs, Kevin Toth, John McEwan and an unidentified fourth spurred adoption of a career-ending steroid penalty.

“The US is going to be the first to do it. We challenge the rest of the world to do it,” 1996 Olympic and four-time world 110m hurdles champion Allen Johnson said.

“We especially challenge the IAAF. They point fingers, say we don’t do enough on drugs. Now we’re the toughest in the world. Now who wants to follow? Everybody talks about it. We’re doing it.” Top US athletes said they expect the IAAF to adopt lifetime steroid bans.

“I think they will. They have to follow it,” Johnson said. “Everybody is going to have to put their money where their mouth is. If everyone is going to get together on the drug situation in sport, we have to get serious.”

“We’re hoping. We’re positive. We’re optimistic they will,” said high jumper Tisha Waller.

“It sends a strong message,” retired triple jumper Mike Conley said. “They want the world to be on the same page with this.”

Pole vaulter Stacy Dragila said the challenge, also unanimously approved, sends a message to those who ridicule US athletes as dope cheats — “It’s back on you.”

“Everyone has criticized us thinking we’re covering up for athletes,” Dragila said. “It’s a matter of getting the IAAF to follow. For us to be the first, it’s only going to be a matter of them following or looking stupid.”

Sandra Farmer-Patrick, the athlete committee chairman, was confident the IAAF would adopt the measure, but had no clue as to how long it would take.

“I have no doubt the IAAF and the rest of the world will fall in line. Eventually,” she said.

“There were concerns about what the rest of the world is doing. We were willing to stand up and say “We don’t care. We’re going to send a message. The rest of the world should be encouraged to match what we’re doing.

“It’s wonderful we’re sending a message worldwide that we are going to be the leaders. It will be nice for us to sit back and watch others and see what they are going to do about it.”