Horace Dove-Edwin
Encyclopedia
Francis Horace Dove-Edwin (born 10 February 1967 in Freetown
) is a retired Sierra Leone
an sprinter
who specialized in the 100 metres
.
Participating in the 1988 Summer Olympics
, he failed to make it through to the second round. In 1990 Dove-Edwin migrated to London together with his mother. His first major athletics event after his migration was the 1991 Summer Universiade
held in Sheffield. At the 1992 Summer Olympics
he competed in 200 metres
, reaching the quarter finals.
In 1994 Dove-Edwin won a surprising silver medal in 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games
, behind the expected winner Linford Christie
but ahead of Michael Green and Frankie Fredericks
, becoming the first medal winner in athletics for Sierra Leone. However, a few days later as he prepared to run in the semi final heat of the 4 x 100 metres relay
event, he learned that the doping test sample he had delivered after the 100 metres final contained traces of the banned substance stanozolol
. Dove-Edwin was given a two-year ban by the IAAF and stripped of the medal, whereas Green was promoted to silver medalist and Fredericks to bronze medalist. Commenting on the suspension in retrospect in 2002, Dove-Edwin stated that he "was a victim of circumstances and a procedure that was full of flaws", and that he "never took steroids or anything".
During his suspension from active athletics he worked briefly as a trainee assistant coach for the Saudi Arabian
1996 Summer Olympics
team. Dove-Edwin returned to compete at the 1997 World Championships
in Athens, but with 10.65 seconds he failed to progress from heat 8 in what turned out to be his last international competition. His personal best 100 metres time, achieved before the 1994 Commonwealth Games, was 10.14 seconds.
In the meantime Dove-Edwin had moved to the United States to escape the negative publicity in England. He graduated from California State University, Chico
in May 1999 with an MA
in Exercise Science.
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
) is a retired Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
an sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
who specialized in the 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
.
Participating in the 1988 Summer Olympics
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...
, he failed to make it through to the second round. In 1990 Dove-Edwin migrated to London together with his mother. His first major athletics event after his migration was the 1991 Summer Universiade
1991 Summer Universiade
The 1991 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVI Summer Universiade, took place in Sheffield, England. In the host country it was generally referred to as the World Student Games....
held in Sheffield. At the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
he competed in 200 metres
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
, reaching the quarter finals.
In 1994 Dove-Edwin won a surprising silver medal in 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games
1994 Commonwealth Games
The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
, behind the expected winner Linford Christie
Linford Christie
Linford Cicero Christie OBE is a former sprinter from the United Kingdom. He is the only British man to have won gold medals in the 100 metres at all four major competitions open to British athletes: the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games...
but ahead of Michael Green and Frankie Fredericks
Frankie Fredericks
Frank Fredericks is a former athlete from Namibia. Running in the 100 metres and 200 metres, he won four silver medals at the Olympic Games , making him Namibia's first and so far only Olympic medalist...
, becoming the first medal winner in athletics for Sierra Leone. However, a few days later as he prepared to run in the semi final heat of the 4 x 100 metres relay
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
event, he learned that the doping test sample he had delivered after the 100 metres final contained traces of the banned substance stanozolol
Stanozolol
Stanozolol, commonly sold under the name Winstrol , Tenabol and Winstrol Depot , was developed by Winthrop Laboratories in 1962...
. Dove-Edwin was given a two-year ban by the IAAF and stripped of the medal, whereas Green was promoted to silver medalist and Fredericks to bronze medalist. Commenting on the suspension in retrospect in 2002, Dove-Edwin stated that he "was a victim of circumstances and a procedure that was full of flaws", and that he "never took steroids or anything".
During his suspension from active athletics he worked briefly as a trainee assistant coach for the Saudi Arabian
Saudi Arabia at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Saudi Arabia competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.-Athletics:Men's 5,000 metres* Alyan al-Qahtani* Qualification — did not start Men's 4x400m Relay...
1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
team. Dove-Edwin returned to compete at the 1997 World Championships
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, but with 10.65 seconds he failed to progress from heat 8 in what turned out to be his last international competition. His personal best 100 metres time, achieved before the 1994 Commonwealth Games, was 10.14 seconds.
In the meantime Dove-Edwin had moved to the United States to escape the negative publicity in England. He graduated from California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
in May 1999 with an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Exercise Science.