Florida Man Charged, Facing 10 Years in Jail for Supplying Drugs in Case Linked to Suspended US Sprinter

A Florida man was charged by federal authorities on Tuesday for allegedly providing banned performance-enhancing substances to an athlete, a case connected to the 45-month doping suspension issued to Olympic sprinter Marvin Bracy-Williams last year.

The US Attorney’s Office in Orlando, Florida, announced the indictment of Paul Askew of Jacksonville under the Rodchenkov Act. This 2020 law grants US authorities the power to prosecute doping offenses that impact international sporting events.

If convicted, prosecutors stated that Askew could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

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Court records indicate that Askew was in the process of being assigned legal counsel. He did not immediately return messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Bracy-Williams, who competed in the 100 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics and secured a silver medal at the 2022 world championships, abruptly vanished from the track scene in 2023. He later accepted a ban in November after a whistleblower brought his case to the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

The investigation began after the sprinter tested positive for a prohibited substance. According to USADA, the case evolved as Bracy-Williams initially attempted to obstruct the investigation before ultimately providing "substantial assistance" that helped uncover other violations.

The indictment alleges that from July 2023 to January 2024, Askew conspired with others to corrupt international sports competitions by supplying an athlete with performance-enhancing drugs.

According to the indictment, the events allegedly affected by this scheme include the 2024 Paris Olympics and its trials, the 2024 World Indoor Championships, a 2023 Diamond League meet in China, and the 2023 Prefontaine Classic in Oregon.

In a statement, USADA expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort involving the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Athletics Integrity Unit, which manages doping cases for World Athletics.

"The ability to hold accountable those who conspire against the rules is more important than ever as the US prepares to host a mega decade of sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games," the agency's statement read.