Michael Brinegar is not swimming the 1500 freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials because of a doping allegation, he revealed.
He stated in a social media post that after he was initially cleared in 2023, USADA has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the appeal was ruled in favor of USADA.
“I am devastated that I cannot compete today due to CAS’s ruling based on flawed assumptions and a misinterpretation of the facts,” he wrote. “I will continue to seek justice in this matter and thank everyone for their support and understanding.”
“As an Olympian and a son of an Olympic swimmer whose U.S. Women’s team faced an East German team that was systematically doping, cheating is a betrayal of everything I have been taught and stand for. I am deeply disappointed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) ruling and USADA’s accusations that are utterly unfounded,” Michael Brinegar posted on Instagram.
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Michael Brinegar’s mother is Jennifer Hooker, who competed in the 1976 Olympics. She was sixth in the 200 freestyle in Montreal.
Brinegar finished 17th in the 400 freestyle and 12th in the 800 this week.
He detailed his experience in the Instagram.
“Almost exactly one year ago, 24 hours before I was about to swim the 1500 on the first day of the international Team Trials in Indianapolis, I received an email from USADA. In the email, USADA claimed that test results from July, August and September 2022 were proof I was blood doping. I could not believe what I was reading. If I contested the finding, I would be subject to a 4-year ban, or the ban would be reduced to two years if I did not contest the finding. In addition, if I turned in anyone else, my sentence could be reduced an additional year. I was devastated. But knowing that I had not cheated, I chose to fight.
“Despite always testing negative for any banned substances, USADA suggests I was blood doping during a period when I was not training and when I was recovering from COVID-19. I had been preparing to compete in my first 25K at the World Championships in Budapest at the end of June, but I withdrew from Worlds as a result of contracting COVID. Given that I was already missing the biggest meet of the year in 2022, it is absurd to suggest I would engage in blood doping afterward while I was taking my first extended break from training in years.
“I have never taken any banned substances and my commitment to competing on a fair and level playing field is unwavering. After an independent arbitrator initially ruled in my favor in late November 2023, I turned my attention towards fulfilling my dream again of representing my country at the Paris Olympics. In early January, I received notification that USADA was appealing the arbitrator’s decision in my favor and must prove my innocence once more. I tried to refocus and began training for the pool events and was looking forward to competing in the 1500 in my home state.
“I am devastated that I cannot compete today due to CAS’s ruling based on flawed assumptions and a misinterpretation of the facts. I will continue to seek justice in this matter and thank everyone for their support and understanding.” – Michael Brinegar
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He wouldn’t be the first person to take a year off to use PEDs with less risk of getting random drug tests. That said, it’s not like his mother wasn’t on PEDs too.
Such a harmful generalization and bizarre disrespect of our country’s athletes, and especially towards Michael Brinegar and his mother, Jennifer.