AMERICAN ATHLETE DAWN Harper-Nelson, the 2008 Olympic champion in the 100m hurdles, has been banned following a positive drugs test.
Harper-Nelson, 32, was handed a three-month ban after an out-of-competition test in December came back positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide.
In handing down the ban, which has been in effect since 1 December, the US Anti-Doping Agency said that it accepted her explanation that the positive had been caused by prescribed blood pressure medication.
“Recently, I was rushed to the emergency room where I was diagnosed with high blood pressure,” Harper-Nelson said in a statement on Twitter.
“As a result my physician prescribed a non-performance enhancing medication for high blood pressure that contained Hydrochlorothiazide, water pill.
I never hid my use of this required medication, but did fail to fully understand how it’s [sic] administration was governed by current doping protocols.
“I take full responsibility of my mistake and have fully cooperated with IAAF and USADA in the handling of the matter.
“I have learned a valuable lesson and hope my mistake will serve as a reminder to all athletes to be diligent in thoroughly checking any and all prescribed medications.”
Harper-Nelson won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, running a personal best of 12.54 in the final.
She shaved even more time off that PB when she returned to defend her title in London four years later, running 12.37, but had to settle for silver as she finished two-hundredths of a second behind Australia’s Sally Pearson.
USADA said: “Following an investigation into the circumstances of her case, including Harper-Nelson’s medical records, USADA has accepted Harper-Nelson’s explanation that her positive test was caused by a blood pressure medication she was prescribed by a physician to treat hypertension.
“Harper-Nelson further explained that she made efforts to determine if the medication contained prohibited substances; however, due to using partial search terms, those efforts were unsuccessful.”
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Too many football matches, hurling was far more entertaining this summer bar Dublin v Kerry
What about Cavan v Fermanagh?
Very Dublin centric list. Waterford v Kilkenny hurling game was one of the best hurling games in years. Definitely up there with the Clare v Cork replay which was one of the best all-Ireland finals in years. The Waterford v Offaly game in Tullamore in the qualifiers was another fantastic & hard-fought game of hurling but as it wasn’t on TV or in Croke Park so won’t make the list that this “journalist” has compiled.
Nelly, maybe if both Cavan and Fermanagh had the same amount of
money invested in Gaelic games as Dublin and got playing all their
matches in the Championship at home , they too could play the nice
flowing football like Dublin for almost an hour before they start the
Professional fouling .
I agree with you but if I say something like i get called a troll
Nelly , why had you to mention Cavan Fermanagh at all, why be the clever one
trying to sneer at Counties with very small resources who try their best in very
difficult conditions .
Just to be clear now, one of the 2013 football semi finals was better than the best hurling final ever?
If someone made that comment I’d think they were trolling.
Are you trolling?
Agree with u 100% buffalo
That’s because it’s mainly only Clare people who think it was the best final ever. You saw the poll that was on here asking was it the best final ever and NO was the clear result
Take your Kilkenny bitterness away with you Stevie boy. Anybody who watched the game & knows anything about hurling knows it was a classic all-Ireland final.
Well I only voted once on that poll and yet the result was NO by a good few hundred with over 900 I think saying NO in total? Therefore I’m not the only one who thinks it. You can’t put everything down to Kilkenny bitterness. What do I have to be bitter about? It’s not like Kilkenny didn’t get their fair share of All Ireland’s over the years. Can’t win them all.
Do u watch football frank, or do u only watch hurling (legitimate question, not being smart)
I watch both codes and while it was a great year for football, to say that Dublin v Kerry was the best game is showing a terrible football bias. Cork v Clare was one of the best games of hurling I’ve ever seen and I’m not from either county.
I agree that the hurling replay was an excellent game but practically all neutral support was behind Clare which made us all enjoy it more (myself included). The reality was that Clare were clearly the better side on both days. Dublin Kerry was level after 68 mins of exceptional football and if either side had won they would have deserved it. Definitely #1 for me
I would have Kk v Waterford and Tipp in instead of the drawn hurling final (but credit to Cork) and Mayo Donegal. Both were one sided games
I don’t know about you but I watch games for enjoyment. The ones I get the most enjoyment out of are generally the best ( unless my own county are playing then I dont care as long as we win!). My wife’s from Cork so I was shouting for them and I dislike Davy Fitz but I still thought the games were full of skill, speed and passion.
Andy, I agree entirely. The majority of people agree
Steve now I know you are full of it!
A Killkenny man thought the football was better? Come off it are ye that sore?
Just cos Killkenny weren’t involved then it wasn’t up to scratch.
Ha ha that’s priceless!
Just my opinion Frank. Why does my opinion have to match yours and if it doesn’t you get upset? It would be a fairly boring world if everybody agreed with everybody.
I play football in Dublin. Just because someone is from Kilkenny doesn’t mean they are not interested in football. That’s an arrogant attitude to have. But Kilkenny are rubbish at it. That’s why it’s good to have Kilkenny in hurling and Dublin in football to follow!
I don’t think it’s being biased frank, what that match done for football this year was brilliant, it brought football back to what it should be free flowing and open, so for that alone it should be no.1, I do agree that the hurling final was brilliant and exciting though.
I’ve dismissed two great Kilkenny victories this year as been games of the year as the standard of hurling was poor so I’m hardly against Clare or Cork because I also think the standard of hurling, especially the defending, was quite poor for large chunks. Clare were also the dominant team for most of the game and the result flattered Cork. You just can’t win with some people no matter what you say and Frank is one of them for whatever reason, maybd he’s from Clare! But I’m not going to waste any more time on him!
Might be biased myself but hurling final should be top for so many reasons – namely the excitement of it and the quality of scores throughout.
In my opinion, and surely the majority of the country that isn’t football-biased, hurling is a more skillful, more exciting, and more difficult game, and therefore games like the Cork-Clare final, or the Dublin-Cork semi or Waterford-KK match that were so close throughout, are better.
Either way it was a classic summer. Now hopefully somebody compiles a list that isn’t based in Dublin.
Seamus you are a beacon of sanity!
Because he agrees with you Frank? So people who don’t agree with everything you say are insane? Do you act this way in every walk of life? If so you must have ulcers that came from you working yourself up so much from people that don’t agree with everything you say!
Seamus there gives a nice balanced response there on his thoughts but he doesn’t try ram them down peoples troats. Since you agree with him so much Frank please learn from him regarding everyone being entitled to their own opinion.
Steve, relax, you’re the only one upset.
Not a bit upset as I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I love the banter on here with people like you though. For me it’s what makes the site. A good oul debate every now and again never hurt anyone!!
Agreed.
Think as good as Dublin/ Kerry match was, Hurling replay was without a doubt the best match of many a Summer!
No way, both were exciting games but the quality in the football semi was much higher than the quality in the hurling replay.
Typical dub, but if ye were in the hurling final it have top everything . Bloody junkie.
Not a Dub. Just a GAA supporter who can separate excitement from good quality. Probably the most exciting game I’ve ever been at was Kilkenny v Waterford in the qualifiers this year but the standard of hurling was poor. There is a huge difference between close exciting games and close high quality games.
Steve, don’t think the hurling was short on quality to be fair, football match was extremely good too. Thankfully there’s no measuring stick for this, for me I thought that Dublin/Kerry match wouldn’t be topped for having the whole package & for me, it was, in the best Hurling match I’ve seen. Its not just about the quality of the play, also the sheer drama, passion & dare I say it “Intensity”!
Ah it was quite poor. You could see Kilkenny were playing very poor but yet were winning the game and then went on to win it. Cork showed then how bad they actually were. Same as the Kilkenny v Tipp game in Nowlan Park. Incredible atmosphere and unreal excitement but the standard of hurling was poor.
Is you’re surname Wonder by any chance?
Ha, nice one bogman!
You have to remember that Stevie is from Kilkenny & just hurting that they went the entire year without winning any hurling all-Ireland at all. Well Done to All-Ireland champions 2013 senior & U21 Clare. Junior. Tipp & U18 Waterford :)
Not a bit hurt. Great year of hurling. Had a great time at some of the matches.
I agree – I was at the Dublin Kerry game and loved it but Clare -Cork replay was 1) an all Ireland final, 2) a replay and 3) it was neck and neck the whole way for not just 70 but 140+ minutes. It has made me wish that my county was stronger at hurling. Also Croke park was more evenly spread – Dublin Kerry was mostly Dublin fans.
Steve I agree about Nowlan park – the atmosphere was electric but to my untrained eye the players were not at their best.
Peter yea I said above it was an unreal atmosphere but the standard was poor, same as Kilkenny v Waterford. I absolutely wouldn’t have the Dub v Kilkenny game in the top 10. Yes if you are a Dub, it was a great result but not exciting and not good hurling (not from Kilkenny anyway)
Oops that’s the Inter that Tipp won, not junior.
Well said Steve, the semi final changed the way people looked at football again and by the way bogman whatever u call yourself we do play hurling and play it well
Honourable mention me ass the Kilkenny v Waterford qualifier after extra time , evening match in Semple Stadium —- magic – if that doesn’t make top ten then I give up
For me the best hurling performance of the year was from Dublin in the Leinster final and the best game of the year was Dublin v Cork.
With you there, honourable mention is cutting it.
Thought Waterford/kilkenny would’ve got more than an honourable mention, shame on you journal. Booo ‘says the waterford man’ boooooooooooo : )
What crap. The hurling replay was epic & confirmed hurling as the greatest field sport in the world. Deserved No. 1
Ah come on now. I’m Mayo and even I know Mayo-Donegal shouldn’t be there. Performance of the summer,easily. But not even close to game of the summer. Dublin-Kerry should be at 9/10 and the rest hurling. Cork-Clare had to be 1 and 2, Waterford-Kilkenny should be in there. As should Tipp-Kilkenny. It only takes away from lists like this when the writer tries to appease the audience by mixing in the football and hurling. There would be no argument at all if Dublin-Kerry had been the only football match
Think you need to switch ya 1 and 2 picks….Good as The Dublin – Kerry Game was…..it waa a close 2nd….but 2nd nonetheless. Plus the fact that CLARE V CORK was a Final only gives creedence to the WOW factor….
The way in which Clares young team has rejunivated and revolutionized Hurling in 2013 …has to Put this game on Top….
U can say the same about a young Dublin team
Hurling finals, both games were better than Kerry V Dublin.
Also, Laois V Galway in the LSHC was a worthy mention too.
All in all though, the hurling and football championships have been the best in years.
Best hurling season so far and a football match is picked as No 1 game of 2013. What a load of manure!!!!!
How is the cork dublin match only at number 5 you clown?
It’s actually at number 5, ‘you clown’
Thats what i posted, open the eyes….you clown
Colm you are right. Easily the best hurling match of the year.
All Ireland hurling final replay was the not only the best game but as an avid GAA supporter and fan of both codes I can say wholeheartedly that it was the best game Ive ever seen. The atmosphere, the drama, the skill..it was like watching a mirage happen in front of you!! Amazing.
Mayo-Donegal football quarter ahead of Dublin-Cork hurling semi?!!!
Are you havin a laugh?
The hurling final has to be no.1!!More Dublin bias on the list.Will it ever end!!
How can Dublin v Mayo rate above last Saturday’s hurling replay? How can you rate it higher than Kilkenny v Tipp and Kilkenny v Waterford. The mind boggles
They didn’t rate Dublin v Mayo above last Saturday’s hurliung replay.
Dublin v Mayo was in 9th place and Clare v Cork replay was in 2nd.
Dublin, Kerry game? Good game, not good enough for top 3!
Football = hand pass hand pass hand pass/ free. Refs & media have destroyed that game.
Only football game worthy of a top ten was Dublin/Kerry. The rest was rubbish. London playing I can’t remember and mayo/Donegal… Please. What rubbish.
Galway Cork in the football
Amazing the amount of kilkenny fans on every comment section i look at who are trying to insist that this seasons hurling was exciting but of poor quality. Hulring moved on this year without kilkenny and cody’s “manliness”. Get over it .
Amazing how you seem to be obsessed with what you think Kilkenny people think.
Possibly because Kilkenny people understand the difference between exciting hurling and high quality hurling. I don’t think it matters to the Clare team or supporters what the general public think of the quality or excitement levels of the hurling year considering they won the ultimate prize. All the rest will just have to be happy with been part of an exciting year of hurling but with no reward to show. Having said that Dublin are probably happy enough with a Leinster title as are Limerick with a Munster title, nice to pick up another league in Kilkenny too.
Too many Gaelic games, not enough Hurling. Clare V Cork should have been ranked 1 and 2
What a season it was. Just watched most of the videos there. Incredible passion and skill on show. The GAA is alive and kicking at a time when football and rugby are tearing themselves apart because of money.
Waterford v Kilkenny
at least in top 5, up their with best hurling games this year…
Monaghan 0-13 Donegal 0-07
When Monaghan were totally written-off by everyone in the country and came through as total underdogs to out-Donegal Donegal and win the Ulster Championship for the first time in 25 years.
The hurling replay was an exciting game but not the best quality match of the year. That would have to be Dublin v Kerry in the football semi!
The Dublin v Kilkenny replay shouldn’t be there, it was an absolutely brutal low scoring game. I’d have KK v Wat or KK v Tipp in there instead but wouldn’t have any of the 3 to be honest as like the All Ireland replay they were some of the most exciting matches I’ve ever been at but the quality of hurling in them was quite poor!
A low-scoring game does not make it a bad game Steve… I think this years hurling final replay was the best AI hurling final since KK v Cork in 2006… can you remember that final? Kilkenny hunting Cork in packs – that was a low-scoring enough game, but the tactics were fantastic.
This years final and 2006 would be nowhere near the 2009, 2010 or 2011 finals in my opinion. Those 3 games had it all. Lots of scores, pure intensity and unbelievably skillful.
Anyway this topic isn’t about others years only this year
That 2011 final was awful shite though. Tipp didn’t turn up at all and Kk weren’t much better but just did enough. The 09 and 10 finals were very good alright. If there was more Kk ‘intensity’ (aka dirt) in those games then you can have that. Hope they don’t come back with that again next yr. Was there more skill or fantastic scores in those games than in 2013? You must be joking. Have a look at scores from the likes of Collins, Kelly, Lehane, Cronin etc. How anyone could spend all week denigrating the two Clare-Cork finals as sub standard is just baffling. It’s pure smugness to say a year without Kk in the mix is automatically a poor year in terms of quality.
Also have a look at the poor defending in the replay. The poor standard of hurling led to a lot of goals which generated most of the excitement as people love to see goals scored. I’ve seen underage games where 15 goals have been scored but it doesn’t make it one of the best games of hurling ive ever seen! Huge difference between exciting and great games
Also Clare had it in the bag for most of the game. They took their foot off the pedal for a while which allowed Cork back in to it but pulled away again. The Cork crowd never really got going as they were out of the game for long periods. It wouldn’t be like them to be quite. I think the outpouring of emotion is a lot got to do with why some people think it was such a great game
Cavan derry in Celtic park
As much of a great game that the Dublin-Kerry game was, on it’s best day Gaelic Football is a pale comparison to the vibrant beauty of hurling! I am a huge fan of both codes, but both Clare-Cork games had a visceral beauty that is rarely experienced in life (and I am a Dublin man). To put anything before the replay as the best game of the summer, notwithstanding the great Michael’s experience (a gentleman who I once had the good fortune to meet at the Melbourne races in 2005) is pure folly. Let’s embrace the new age of Irish sport and sport stars, and not get stuck in subterfuge of old rivalries which distort or sense of what pure artistry
I only daw the second half of the football final, not big into GAA, can someone please explain why Mayo used both chances in the dying minutes to try and score a point when they needed a goal just to draw?
Anyone?
First one they took the point as they had enough time for 2 more scores, second one O’Connor was told he had 30 seconds but took nearly a minute to take the free
Because a Dublin player stood right in front of him and stopped him taking
the free. Therefore their should have been 30 seconds after the kick out .
Hurling, the best game the world has to offer. Can’t wait to take my Australian son to a Munster final when he is old enough.
Great list niall! Well done
Go back to talkin Shiite !!!
Hahaha nice one billy!
Both hurling finals should be joint number 1. Simple as.
How is the cork dublin match only at number 2….you clown
Sorry Colm this is the one i meant to comment under. Being the clown I am I commented under the wrong one. Maybe we can all be clowns together?
What a load of rubbish. First I read 12 dublin footballers are in the GAA team of the year then the best match arguably ever in an All-Ireland hurling final has been relegated in favour of dublin footballers…do me a favour
Your joking with this. The two All Ireland Hurling Finals should be 1 and 2 how can you put the football final first somebody living in dream world or maybe Dublin, but wherever you need to go to specsavers
One to be in with a shout is the Wexford v Dublin in Wexford Park
Dublin v Kerry match of the decade
No – match of the decade would have to be Mayo v Dublin All Irl semi 2006. It’ll never be credited as such nor anywhere near it because of course – Dublin didn’t win it. Games are only classics when Dublin win.
what I find most laughable is the inclusion on the list of arguably the poorest All-Ireland football final in years at no. 9. jesus I’d have the camogie final ahead of it! but sure what do you expect really from The DublinJournal….
To say that the donegal Mayo game was better than the all irl final is a joke. Wise up. Mayo looked great against a donegal team that Didnt turn up. Mayo had a handy run through to the final and were then found out.
Up the Rebels !!!
A good match is a good match up so how can mayo and Donegal be on the list ..Cavan v Derry great
match this year
Cavan or Monaghan games?!?!?!?
This year has been the best and has put hurling right back at the top,where it deserves to be,i hear the GAA have an exibition game planned as a curtain raiser for a Notre Dame NFL game on their home turf, ahead of rugby,aussie rules,or soccer,looks like the only way is up for the greatest game in the world.
As a hurling man it’s hard to even consider so many football games being considered on this list.
But the number 1 game, of not only this year but arguably the last 20 years, not being the Hurling Replay is a travesty…