Mark French
Encyclopedia
Mark French is a retired Australian sprint cyclist
. He started cycling competitively relatively late at the age of 15, in 1999. Born in Melbourne
, Victoria
, French lives in the Melbourne suburb of Elwood
.
, an illegal doping agent), syringes and vitamins outside his boarding room at the Australian Institute of Sport
. On testing some of the syringes were found to contain the EquiGen hormone.
At his drugs hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport French gave sworn evidence that named Shane Kelly
, Sean Eadie
, Jobie Dajka
and Graeme Brown
as riders who often injected vitamins and supplements in his room. Further French said that for months they injected themselves once or twice a week in room 121 at the Australian Institute of Sport. French was banned from cycling for two years after he was found to have taken and trafficked corticosteroid
and equine growth hormone
. No other cyclist were charged with drug offenses but Jobie Dajka
was found to have lied in his evidence to the inquiry and was suspended and sent home from the 2004
pre-Olympic training camp.
French appealed and in July 2005 was cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport
due to lack of evidence, and they also rescinded his lifetime ban from competing at the Olympics. The drugs scandal meant French missed competing at the 2004 Athens Olympics
. French expressed anger at the cycling world and said "It wasn't until after the day after the decision got handed down with the appeal that I started enjoying life."
, French was successful in being selected in the Australian national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He achieved 4th and 13th in the team and individual sprints, respectively. He retired after the Olympics and now works as a personal trainer.
and Tim Smith who branded French as a "dirty, stinking, dobbing cyclist" by radio station Triple M
.
In March 2010 French was awarded $175,000 in a successful defamation action against The Herald and Weekly Times over allegations that were similar to those raised by Triple M
.
1st Sprint, World Track Championships - Junior
2002
2003
2006
2007
2008
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
. He started cycling competitively relatively late at the age of 15, in 1999. Born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, French lives in the Melbourne suburb of Elwood
Elwood, Victoria
Elwood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
.
Drug scandal
French is most recognised for the 2004 scandal where he was accused of taking drugs, after cleaners found 13 ampoules labelled EquiGen (equine-derived growth hormoneGrowth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
, an illegal doping agent), syringes and vitamins outside his boarding room at the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
. On testing some of the syringes were found to contain the EquiGen hormone.
At his drugs hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport French gave sworn evidence that named Shane Kelly
Shane Kelly
Shane John Kelly OAM is a former professional Australian track racing cyclist. Kelly specialized in the men's 1000 m time trial, commonly known as the Kilo. Kelly announced his retirement from international competition at the end of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics...
, Sean Eadie
Sean Eadie
Sean Eadie is a retired professional track cyclist. He lives in Como, New South Wales . He started cycling at 10 and became a professional in 1990. Despite competitive aggression on the track, he is a "gentle giant" off the track. Prior to becoming a full time cyclist, Eadie was a kindergarten...
, Jobie Dajka
Jobie Dajka
Jobie Lee Dajka was an Australian professional track cyclist from Adelaide, South Australia.- Biography :Dajka received an AIS Junior Athlete of the Year award in 1999, and an Achievement Award in 2002 and 2003...
and Graeme Brown
Graeme Brown
Graeme Allen Brown OAM is a professional cyclist and dual Olympic gold medallist from Australia.-Cycling career - road and track:...
as riders who often injected vitamins and supplements in his room. Further French said that for months they injected themselves once or twice a week in room 121 at the Australian Institute of Sport. French was banned from cycling for two years after he was found to have taken and trafficked corticosteroid
Corticosteroid
Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte...
and equine growth hormone
Growth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
. No other cyclist were charged with drug offenses but Jobie Dajka
Jobie Dajka
Jobie Lee Dajka was an Australian professional track cyclist from Adelaide, South Australia.- Biography :Dajka received an AIS Junior Athlete of the Year award in 1999, and an Achievement Award in 2002 and 2003...
was found to have lied in his evidence to the inquiry and was suspended and sent home from the 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
pre-Olympic training camp.
French appealed and in July 2005 was cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
due to lack of evidence, and they also rescinded his lifetime ban from competing at the Olympics. The drugs scandal meant French missed competing at the 2004 Athens Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. French expressed anger at the cycling world and said "It wasn't until after the day after the decision got handed down with the appeal that I started enjoying life."
Return to cycling
After failing to qualify for the 2006 Commonwealth Games2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
, French was successful in being selected in the Australian national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He achieved 4th and 13th in the team and individual sprints, respectively. He retired after the Olympics and now works as a personal trainer.
Defamation actions
In December 2008 French was awarded a $350,000 payout after being defamed by James BrayshawJames Brayshaw
James Antony Brayshaw is a former state cricketer and now Australian television and radio personality. As a cricketer he was known as Jamie Brayshaw. He is the son of former Western Australian cricketer and Australian rules footballer Ian Brayshaw, and the brother of Mark Brayshaw, a former...
and Tim Smith who branded French as a "dirty, stinking, dobbing cyclist" by radio station Triple M
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
.
In March 2010 French was awarded $175,000 in a successful defamation action against The Herald and Weekly Times over allegations that were similar to those raised by Triple M
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
.
Palmarés
2001:1st Sprint, World Track Championships - Junior
- 1st Team Sprint, World Track Championships - Junior
2002
- 1st Keirin, World Track Championships - Junior
- 1st Sprint, World Track Championships - Junior
2003
- 1st Sprint, World CupUCI Track Cycling World Cup ClassicsThe UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics is the elite men and women's season-long competition in track cycling, which now comprises several rounds, each held in a different country. The 1995 World Cup had six rounds, this was reduced to four in 1998, 1999-2001 compromised of five rounds before...
, AguascalientesAguascalientesAguascalientes is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 11 municipalities and its capital city is Aguascalientes.... - 3rd Team Sprint, World CupUCI Track Cycling World Cup ClassicsThe UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics is the elite men and women's season-long competition in track cycling, which now comprises several rounds, each held in a different country. The 1995 World Cup had six rounds, this was reduced to four in 1998, 1999-2001 compromised of five rounds before...
, Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality... - 1st Keirin, Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
, Sydney - 2nd Team Sprint, World CupUCI Track Cycling World Cup ClassicsThe UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics is the elite men and women's season-long competition in track cycling, which now comprises several rounds, each held in a different country. The 1995 World Cup had six rounds, this was reduced to four in 1998, 1999-2001 compromised of five rounds before...
, Sydney - 2nd Sprint, World CupUCI Track Cycling World Cup ClassicsThe UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics is the elite men and women's season-long competition in track cycling, which now comprises several rounds, each held in a different country. The 1995 World Cup had six rounds, this was reduced to four in 1998, 1999-2001 compromised of five rounds before...
, Sydney
2006
- 1st Sprint, Oceania Games, MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
- 1st Keirin, Oceania Games, MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
- 2nd Team Sprint, Oceania Games, MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
2007
- 2nd Sprint, Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
, Sydney - 1st Team Sprint, Australian National Track ChampionshipsAustralian National Track ChampionshipsThe Australian National Track Championships are held annually and are composed of competitions of various track cycling disciplines across various age, gender and disability categories.-Senior:-Team Pursuit:-Team Sprint:-Madison:-Junior:...
, Sydney - 3rd Team Sprint, Oceania Cycling Championships, InvercargillInvercargillInvercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
2008
- 3rd Team Sprint, World Cup2007–2008 UCI Track Cycling World Cup ClassicsThe 2007–2008 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics is a multi race tournament over a season of track cycling. The season began on 30 November 2007 and completed on 17 February 2008. The World Cup is organised by the UCI. The 2007–2008 series carries vital ranking points towards the 2008...
, Los Angeles