“4 Years Is Ridiculous”: Track and Field Community Divided Over Issam Asinga’s Ban

Issam Asinga, the Surinamese track and field phenom who took the world by surprise through his U20 world record in the 100m event, has recently faced a ban order. The axing has come upon him after the anti-doping officials traced a performance-enhancing element in his sample. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) ordered a subsequent stripping of his records and handed him a 4-year ban. For an athlete of 19 years of age, the penalty is a heavy blow. Currently, Issam Asinga’s lawyers are working towards taking the AIU’s order to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But before the Paris Olympics, any breather could hardly be expected. 

However, on X, the discussion soon came to the fore regarding the subsequent episodes that led to Issam Asinga’s judgment and penalty. The track and field connoisseur, Track Spice, has uncapped the discussion, calling for a detailed debate on the matter. However, the ups and downs in the entire scenario have left several dark alleys to be questioned. One such instance involved the level of GW1516 (the banned substance) in the Gatorade Recovery Gummies consumed by Issam Asinga.

Several fans think that the allegations are off the scale as the product was reportedly contaminated as the initial data displayed. Showing that part, an X-handle has demanded to decrease the banned period from 4 years to 1 year. “4 years is ridiculous…he was influenced to take the contaminated product so a 1 year max ban would be fair,” commented the fan. But what made the issue complicated or force AIU to take the tough call? 

As per the note released by AIU, there had been a desperate try to make things look different, or a matter of contamination. The official press release has clearly narrated, “The Disciplinary Tribunal took into account the fact that the Gatorade Recovery Gummies provided in unsealed containers by the athlete for testing contained significantly more GW1516 on the outside than on the inside, which practically excludes any contamination by raw ingredients during the manufacturing process.” 

Furthermore, the batch-test report shows that the gummy manufacturing process obeyed the National Sanitation Foundation’s sport certification rules and tested negatively in the Lausanne anti-doping laboratory. Such a debacle has raised more questions. Is there any deliberate attempt at, or is it a plot to keep Issam Asinga out of the Paris Olympics’ contention? Remember, the teenager had dodged Noah Lyles behind in a 100m contest in Florida last year? Well, the track and field fans have things to add. 

Issam Asinga’s fans are on a fine thread

The X-handle, Queenatletica nullified the innocent angle. Rather, the handle pointed out the manipulated part. The statement remained, “Asinga has shown 2 open bar of gummies with the banned substance inside, but the analysis has proved that these substance was just in superfice (they openly speaks of manipulation). A closed bar was instead found negative”. 

But another X-handle paid no heed to that theory. The concerned fan with the username, @Luxxuryxoxo, added, “I think he’s innocent.” But hardly anybody could ignore the contrasting picture where a fishy play was not present. Therefore, in such a situation, several fans went after Issam Asinga, calling him the prime offender. One such fan, Lisa Blackman, cleared the air on the matter.

Calling the chips on Issam Asinga, the fan added, “Nah…he did it and to try and blame it on Gatorade is really dangerous. So what he saying is Gatorade gave him infused gummed laced with steroids? Nah I’m not buying it that’s why he got 4 years.” But if there remains any part from Gatorade, then the sprint prodigy has a way out. 

The fan, Ken O, compared the situation with Asafa Powell’s treatment to a similar happening a few years back. In his prime time, the former world champion bought a legal supplement, Epiphany D1. The situation changed when it came to light that the supplement contained a banned element, oxilofrine. Later, Asafa fought a legal battle to decrease the penalty, and he won the case. But as of now, things have not gone that far as the CAS has yet to take the case. So, a thorough tab at the happenings should be the need of the hour.