Dozen athletes tabbed for new USADA program

BRIAN GOMEZ reports

When DeeDee Trotter explodes from the starting blocks, hands off the baton or stretches across the finish line, she doesn’t want anyone wondering if she’s doping.

“Test me, I’m clean,” Trotter said. “Test me any day of the week, any time you want.”

The 2004 Olympic gold medalist sprinter will deliver that message through the “Athlete Ambassador” program, a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency initiative announced Friday, in which 12 elite athletes were tabbed to preach the danger of performance-enhancing drugs.

Athletes in the program – Colorado Springs synchronized swimmer Nathalie Bartleson is participating, and the biggest names are cyclist Kristin Armstrong, luger Erin Hamlin and sprinter Lauryn Williams – will speak to kids about the importance of playing clean, and they’ll write articles for USADA’s Web site, www.usantidoping.org.

It’s an extension of “Project Believe,” a USADA program that gathered 12 athletes, most notably sprinter Tyson Gay and swimmer Michael Phelps, for a combined 355 voluntary tests last year. Trotter was part of the group, giving 31 blood and urine samples. USADA has tested her 59 times the past six years.

Trotter said she’s vocal in support of anti-doping measures “to prevent myself from going down in the flames” after track and field’s drug scandals. “We have to do something,” she said. “Otherwise, it will continue to go down this path, and it won’t stop.”