Jeff Adams
Encyclopedia
Jeff Adams (born November 15, 1970 in Mississauga, Ontario
) is a Canadian Paralympian and a six-time world champion in wheelchair sports
. He has competed at six consecutive Summer Paralympics from 1988 to 2008, winning a total of three gold, four silver, and six bronze medals. At the 1988 Summer Paralympics
he won two bronze medals, one in the 800m race and one in the 1500m race. Four years later at the Barcelona Games
he won two silvers, one in the 800m race and one as part of the 4x400m relay. At the 1996 Summer Paralympics
he won gold in the 800 m, silver in the 400 m, and bronze in the 4×400 m relay. Four years later, at the Sydney games
, he won five medals, a gold in the 800 m and 1500 m, a silver in the 400 m and a bronze in the 5000 m and 4x100 m. At the 2004 Paralympics
he won a bronze in the 400 m race. Jeff was coached by Peter Eriksson who originates from Sweden now living in Ottawa, Canada.
In 2002, he climbed the 1,776 steps of the CN Tower
in a specially-designed wheelchair
; in 2004, he climbed the Acropolis
.
He is an inductee into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame
.
In March 2010, he will be a torchbearer during the 2010 Winter Paralympics torch relay
.
at the 2006 Canadian wheelchair marathon championships in Ottawa
.
Adams claimed an unknown woman inserted cocaine into his mouth while they were sitting together at the Vatikan Club, a Toronto nightspot. Shortly after, he used a catheter
. Later that week at Ottawa, Adams used the same catheter to provide A and B samples for his urine test which is how he tested positive for cocaine.
After the positive test, Adams asked for a hearing before an independent arbitrator, who determined he had committed an anti-doping violation. The arbitrator also ruled that Adams should be suspended from competition for a two-year timeframe. Adams' suspension meant a loss of federal sport funding for life.
Adams filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport
in Lausanne
, Switzerland
, which ultimately went in his favour. A three-person arbitration panel found Adams' story to be true, and that the failed test was because of the previously contaminated catheter. The panel added the athlete had been the victim of an assault at the bar and could not be held negligent or at fault.
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
) is a Canadian Paralympian and a six-time world champion in wheelchair sports
Disabled sports
Disabled sports are sports played by persons with a disability, including physical and intellectual disabilities. As many of these based on existing sports modified to meet the needs of persons with a disability, they are sometimes referred to as adapted sports...
. He has competed at six consecutive Summer Paralympics from 1988 to 2008, winning a total of three gold, four silver, and six bronze medals. At the 1988 Summer Paralympics
1988 Summer Paralympics
The 1988 Summer Paralympics were the first Paralympics in 24 years that take place in the same city as the Olympic Games. They took place in Seoul, South Korea. This was the first time the term "Paralympic" came into official use.- Sports :...
he won two bronze medals, one in the 800m race and one in the 1500m race. Four years later at the Barcelona Games
1992 Summer Paralympics
The 1992 Summer Paralympics were the ninth Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.- Sports :The games consisted of 487 events spread over fifteen sports. Powerlifting and weightlifting were considered to be a single sport...
he won two silvers, one in the 800m race and one as part of the 4x400m relay. At the 1996 Summer Paralympics
1996 Summer Paralympics
The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
he won gold in the 800 m, silver in the 400 m, and bronze in the 4×400 m relay. Four years later, at the Sydney games
2000 Summer Paralympics
The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
, he won five medals, a gold in the 800 m and 1500 m, a silver in the 400 m and a bronze in the 5000 m and 4x100 m. At the 2004 Paralympics
2004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
he won a bronze in the 400 m race. Jeff was coached by Peter Eriksson who originates from Sweden now living in Ottawa, Canada.
In 2002, he climbed the 1,776 steps of the CN Tower
CN Tower
The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Standing tall, it was completed in 1976, becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of the Burj...
in a specially-designed wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
; in 2004, he climbed the Acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
.
He is an inductee into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame
Terry Fox Hall of Fame
The Terry Fox Hall of Fame recognizes "outstanding Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities". It is run by the Canadian Paraplegic Association. The Hall is named after Terry Fox, a cancer research activist who...
.
In March 2010, he will be a torchbearer during the 2010 Winter Paralympics torch relay
2010 Winter Paralympics torch relay
The 2010 Winter Paralympics Torch Relay was a 10 day event leading up to the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver. It began on March 3, 2010,in Ottawa and will conclude at the Games' opening ceremony on March 12...
.
Suspension and appeal
Adams was suspended for two years for testing positive for cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
at the 2006 Canadian wheelchair marathon championships in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
Adams claimed an unknown woman inserted cocaine into his mouth while they were sitting together at the Vatikan Club, a Toronto nightspot. Shortly after, he used a catheter
Catheter
In medicine, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. The process of inserting a catheter is catheterization...
. Later that week at Ottawa, Adams used the same catheter to provide A and B samples for his urine test which is how he tested positive for cocaine.
After the positive test, Adams asked for a hearing before an independent arbitrator, who determined he had committed an anti-doping violation. The arbitrator also ruled that Adams should be suspended from competition for a two-year timeframe. Adams' suspension meant a loss of federal sport funding for life.
Adams filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, which ultimately went in his favour. A three-person arbitration panel found Adams' story to be true, and that the failed test was because of the previously contaminated catheter. The panel added the athlete had been the victim of an assault at the bar and could not be held negligent or at fault.