Duncan Fuller Atwood (born October 11, 1955, in Seattle, Washington) is a former American athlete who twice won a gold medal in the javelin throw at the Pan American Games: in 1979 and 1987. Atwood set his personal best (78.92 metres) on August 29, 1987, in Rome, Italy, during the qualification round at the World Championships.

Olympics

Atwood qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but did not compete due to the U.S. Olympic Committee's boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia. He was one of 461 athletes to receive a Congressional Gold Medal instead.[1] He competed for America at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, finishing in 11th place.

Doping

Atwood was one of the 12 American track and field athletes who abruptly left Caracas after it became known that there would be stricter and improved drug testing at the 1983 Pan American Games.[2]

In August 1985 Atwood tested positive for a prohibited stimulant at a competition in Koblenz, Germany. He was subsequently banned for life by IAAF for the anti-doping rule violation.[3] At the time IAAF banned athletes for life for the first doping offence, but the athlete could apply to have the ban reduced, something IAAF would routinely grant. Atwood got his ban reduced and was able to compete again in 1987.

Achievements

YearCompetitionVenuePositionNotes
Representing the  United States
1979 Pan American Games San Juan, Puerto Rico 1st 84.16 m
1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles, United States 11th 78.10 m
1987 Pan American Games Indianapolis, United States 1st 78.68 m
World Championships Rome, Italy 12th 72.54 m

Seasonal bests by year

  • 1979 - 84.16 m
  • 1987 - '78.92

References

  1. ↑ Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (2008). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  2. ↑ William R. Barnard: Shot put suffers following drug scandal, The Courier, 24 August 1983
  3. ↑ IAAF may lift two bans, but others ousted, Eugene Register-Guard, 22 February 1986


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