Issam Asinga’s 4-year track and field ban has stirred the percolating debate regarding his hearing. The Surinamese sprinter has been continuously questioning the authorities based on the viability of the batch testing of the samples. In fact, his lawyer has moved to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to bring a stay order on the Athletics Integrity Unit’s dictated ban. On the other hand, the track and field prodigy is still knocking at the door of Gatorade, asking them to clarify the reason for the banned elements’ (GW1516 sulfone and GW1516 sulfoxide’s presence in the Gummies he consumed.

In the meantime, several track and field stars have lined up to show sympathy for Issam Asinga. Yet, they have questioned the mentality of handing a four-ban to a sprinter who is 19 years of age. They have several things in their mind to penalize Issam. But a four-year ban has turned out to be ‘harsh’ for them. 

The track and field specials line up logic to back their debate 

It was a conversation in the Ready Set Go podcast between Justin Gatlin, Raes Take, and Rodney Green, asking pertinent questions on topics. However, in displaying his mood, the track and field raconteur Raes Take went off heavily on the AIU to put someone of young age out of track and field for the upcoming four years. Terming the entire fiasco bullsh**, Raes asked about the viability of such a dictate that could put the criminal order into shame. Keeping his logic sharp, he added subsequently, “It’s like who did I kill for you to have to treat me like this to where in life it’s going to affect me?” 

Both Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green nodded to this part. Raes Take kept continuing, “That’s too harsh of a punishment like I literally cannot survive and I’m just being honest like I’ve never been a fan of that’s that’s too harsh of a punishment.” Eventually, the Surinamese sprinter had to submit his world U20 championship title and other laurels to the authorities because of the ban order. That might affect deeper nooks and crannies, as added by the track and field pundits, who appeared on the podcast. 

Shedding light on that argument, Raes commented on the eligibility test of Issam Asinga that might hit him after serving the ban order. “I don’t have the certifications to do that [a job] I have no degrees. I’m still I’m trying to go to school. There’s nothing I can do if I’m there’s nothing can do for the next four years,” he said. In the same frame, Justin Gatlin asked Gatorade and PepsiCo to bring the batch number of the sample in public to “potentially save a young kid’s life”. However, as of now, no such steps have been followed on the ground. But Issam Asinga has yet to give up on his track and field dream. 

A testing approach that has faced questions 

Issam Asinga’s debate has been rising steadily to the point that the lot numbers of the tested Gummies and consumed Gummies were not the same. Rather, his request to “obtain a sealed container from the exact lot number” for the testing couldn’t breach the walls of authorities. Moreover, the jar of Gummies that was tested by the AIU had been given to Asinga as a prize in 2023. The jar had held the industry-approved NSF-certified for Sports logo. Still, it contained the prohibited elements. However, the drug test process for track and field athletes has come under the scanner several times. 

At the Bahamas World Athletics Relays this year, Noah Lyles faced an unexpected treatment. The irregular timings for the test put him in a serious condition, away from food and water. “Just when you think the job is done, doping control comes take away the fun. It’s 1 a.m., I haven’t eaten, definitely haven’t slept, definitely haven’t shower. All I want is to go home,” he said, expressing the problematic situation. 

Sha’Carri Richardson has an almost similar hectic test schedule where in the Easter holidays she had to go through the test. But after a gap of 48 hours, the tough questions were asked again as SCR had to go through another test. Therefore, the pundits are commenting on an easier but effective notion from the authorities. The clock is still ticking, however.