The Drugs Don't Work

One of the most haunting songs by "The Verve" is, of course, "The Drugs Don't Work" and never does this statement ring more true than today with the news that Antonio Pettigrew, the former world 400 metres champion, has been found dead in the back of his own car in North Carolina. He was just 42 years of age.

The American won the 1991 world title and also an Olympic gold in the 4x400 metres at the 2000 Sydney Games but was subsequently stripped of the latter after admitting during the trial of the banned coach Trevor Graham that he had used the blood booster EPO and human growth hormone from 1997-2003. He also voluntarily surrendered his 1997 and 1999 world 4x400 metres relay golds as well.

The circumstances of Pettigrew's death are unknown, although there is evidence he had been taking sleeping pills. It seems either accidental or suicide. What is a fact is that Pettigrew is the latest in a line of American athletes who were either caught cheating with drugs or who were at least deeply suspected who have since reached a sorry end.

In the case of former 100 metres world record holder Tim Montgomery it is a long stretch in prison. In the case of Florence Griffith Joyner, who was never caught but holds to this day the women's 100 metres world record set 22 years ago, it was an early death in her late thirties. And now Pettigrew. Was momentary success, fame and wealth really worth it? Right now, it doesn't look that way, does it?