Regina Jacobs
Encyclopedia
Regina Jacobs is an American
former middle distance runner
from Los Angeles
. After graduating from Stanford University
she represented the USA in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988
in Seoul, South Korea, before ending her career in disgrace after a positive drug test.
Jacobs took second place in the 1500 m race at the 6th World Championships in Athletics
in Athens
(4:04.63) in 1997, and again won the silver medal in the 1500 m at the World Championships in Sevilla in 1999 (4:00.35). In her years of running she won 25 national titles. On February 1, 2003 at age 39 Jacobs set a world record in the indoor 1500 m with a time of 3:59.98, becoming the first woman to break 4 minutes in the event.
With rumors of her use of performance enhancing drugs going back as far as 1995, in 2003 she tested positive for BALCO
's 'designer' steroid THG
and was subsequently suspended from competing in track & field for four years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency
.
Since her positive doping
test and subsequent retirement from track & field, she has become a real estate agent in Oakland
, CA
. Originally she used her past athletics successes to promote her new career, stating "I am regarded as one of the finest middle-distance runners ever to grace American soil, setting records to age forty. The reason for a long outstanding career was not luck and out of this world talent". There was no mention made of her drug suspension. After an outcry in the athletics community Jacobs eventually deleted the quote from her website.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former middle distance runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. After graduating from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
she represented the USA in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul, South Korea, before ending her career in disgrace after a positive drug test.
Jacobs took second place in the 1500 m race at the 6th World Championships in Athletics
1997 World Championships in Athletics
The 6th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece between August 1 and August 10, 1997. In this event participated 1882 athletes from 198 participant nations...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
(4:04.63) in 1997, and again won the silver medal in the 1500 m at the World Championships in Sevilla in 1999 (4:00.35). In her years of running she won 25 national titles. On February 1, 2003 at age 39 Jacobs set a world record in the indoor 1500 m with a time of 3:59.98, becoming the first woman to break 4 minutes in the event.
With rumors of her use of performance enhancing drugs going back as far as 1995, in 2003 she tested positive for BALCO
Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative
The Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative was an American company led by founder and owner Victor Conte, a former bass player for the soul band Tower of Power. In 2003, journalists Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada investigated the company's role in a drug sports scandal later referred to as the...
's 'designer' steroid THG
Tetrahydrogestrinone
Tetrahydrogestrinone is an anabolic steroid developed by Patrick Arnold. It has affinity to the androgen receptor and the progesterone receptor, but not to the estrogen receptor...
and was subsequently suspended from competing in track & field for four years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency
United States Anti-Doping Agency
The United States Anti-Doping Agency , is a non-profit organization and the national anti-doping organization for the United States. The organization is charged with managing the anti-doping program for the U.S...
.
Post Track & Field Career
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
test and subsequent retirement from track & field, she has become a real estate agent in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Originally she used her past athletics successes to promote her new career, stating "I am regarded as one of the finest middle-distance runners ever to grace American soil, setting records to age forty. The reason for a long outstanding career was not luck and out of this world talent". There was no mention made of her drug suspension. After an outcry in the athletics community Jacobs eventually deleted the quote from her website.
External links
- sports-reference
- Jacobs handed ban from BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- Regina Jacobs Sets 1500M World Record from Cool Running
- Steroid Is Reportedly Found In Top Runner's Urine Test from New York Times