Pan American ( 80-Year-Old Weightlifter Don Ramos Banned for Doping - steroids )

Published at 10:15 am EST, September 1, 2013

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Photo: Don Ramos Banned 80-Year-old Weightlifter

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If we were to tell you about Don Ramos the 80-year-old champion weightlifter we would leave you inspired instead we are here to tell you about Ramos’ doping scandal which will leave you with your jaw dropped.
The Colorado Springs octogenarian was competing in the Pan American Masters Weightlifting competition when he tested positive for steroids.  The Masters circuit is for weightlifters 35-years and older.  Ramos had won his age group in the 85kg class.  Now the distant second place winner Robert White will claim the title. 
The same agency that took down Lance Armstrong, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, made the following announcement this week to send a message to young and old competitors – we intend to clean up sports:

USADA was contracted to test the Pan American Masters Weightlifting Championships, which is an event for athletes 35 and older, in Chicago, Ill.  June 14 - June 16, 2013. Ramos, 80, tested positive for the presence of a steroid of exogenous origin as the result of an in-competition urine sample collected on June 14, 2013 while he was attempting to set a world record. 

Ramos who trains at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, has earned numerous Gold medals at the World Masters Games and was named Grand Master of the event in Australia in 2009.  When he was 76-years he became the oldest man in the world to clean and jerk 100kg in competition.
Ramos can return to the competitive arena when he is 82 in 2015.