Courtesy: USADA

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced on March 6, 2002 that Desiree Owen of Kingwood, Texas, tested positive during an out-of-competition test on January 2, 2002 for the use of androstendione, a prohibited anabolic steroid under the International Amateur Athletic (IAAF) rules.

The IAAF is the international federation for the sport of track and field.

Owen, 27, was suspended for two years from competition, which is the maximum sanction in accordance with IAAF rules. USA Track and Field (USATF), the national governing body for the sport in the United States, will carry out the sanction, which began on February 5, 2002, the date of the acceptance of the sanction.

She will be disqualified from any results obtained since January 2, 2002.

"This is a result of taking an over-the-counter supplement (which contained androstendione). It never occurred to me that supplements I could buy over the counter would contain a prohibited substance like this. This was a stupid mistake on my part, which I take full responsibility for. I hope that other athletes will learn from this," said Owen, who is a distance runner.

She was disqualified from the Bayou City Classic 10K on March 9 after crossing the line first. Additionally, she also was retroactively stripped of her title from the Conoco 10K Rodeo Run on February 9 -- a race she participated in just five days after accepting the penalty from the USADA.

Conoco said it has disqualified the overall female winner of the 2002 Conoco Rodeo Run after learning that she was suspended and sanctioned by USA Track and Field for illegal steroid use prior to the race. The Conoco 10K Rodeo Run is a USATF-sanctioned event and had 4,100 registered runners.

Owen apologized for her error in participating in the Conoco Rodeo Run and agreed to return the prizes, including airline tickets and a custom-etched glass trophy.

Jody Hawkins of Richmond, Texas, who was the second place overall female, will be designated the winner of the competition, and awarded the prizes.

"Conoco is guided by its core values, and fully supports the decision of the USATF," said Race Chairman Rick Oshlo, Conoco vice president and general manager, supply and trading, materials and services. "While this incident is very unfortunate, we hope it can serve -- in a beneficial manner -- to help prevent other athletes from making similar mistakes," said Oshlo.