A Jacksonville man has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to influence major international sports competitions through doping, federal prosecutors announced.
Paul Askew, 46, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set, according to United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
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Court documents allege that beginning on or about July 10, 2023, and continuing through on or about Jan. 31, 2024, Askew conspired with a professional track and field athlete and at least one other person to provide the athlete with testosterone — a banned substance — to improve the athlete’s performance at major international track and field competitions.
The doping was ongoing during the athlete’s competitions at the 2023 Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis, Tennessee; the 2023 Xiamen Diamond League in China; and the 2023 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
Although the conspiracy was uncovered before the athlete could compete in additional events, court documents indicate Askew and the athlete also intended to use illegal testosterone injections to boost the athlete’s performance at the 2024 American Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, the 2024 United States Olympic Trials, and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
The case was investigated by the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the Drug Enforcement Administration.