WHY

90-Year-Old Cyclist Stripped of World Record After Failing Doping Test

The cyclist says he tested positive due to contaminated meat.

Carl Grove, a 90-year-old cyclist, was stripped of a world record after testing positive for steroids—but officials say the case is an example of how the anti-doping system needs to be fixed. Grove tested positive last July for epitrenbolone, a metabolite of the prohibited substance trenbolone. He was stripped of his national pursuit title and the age-group world record he set during his ride. However, Grove claims the positive test is a result of contaminated meat. The U.S. Anti Doping Agency, USADA, did not ban him from competition, determining that the positive test was non-intentional, and “more likely than not caused by contaminated meat.” USADA handed Grove the lowest sanction possible. Groves’ claim has been taken seriously, but competitive cyclists have pointed to tainted meat as a defense in the past with varying levels of success. “Cases like this, frankly, make us bang our head against the wall,” said Travis Tygart, CEO of the USADA. “It’s evidence of a system that needs to be fixed and overhauled. It’s exactly why we’ve been pushing so hard for change to the WADA rules on these types of cases.”