The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced on Tuesday that Paul Askew has been charged with conspiracy to provide performance-enhancing drugs.
Askew, 46, from Jacksonville and is alleged to have targeted athletes leading up to competitions in 2023 and 2024, including the Paris Olympics and is the latest indictment under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act.
According to an initial grand jury indictment filed last September, Askew is accused alongside other individuals of providing and attempting to supply banned drugs at major international track and field events.
The indictment claims that Askew sought to distribute the substances to an athlete competing in the 2023 Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis, 2023 Diamond League Xiamen meet in China, 2023 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, 2024 American Outdoor Track and Field Championships, 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in San Antonio, 2024 United States Olympics Trials in Eugene and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Askew faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison if convicted and will have to forfeit assets alleged to be traceable from any crimes committed.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Anti-Doping Agency have also been involved with the investigation.
“This indictment marks the culmination of a coordinated investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Orlando District Office’s Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force 2, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and the Middle District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office,” Christopher Lane, the DEA Orlando District Office Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge said. “Their work protected the integrity of the 2024 Summer Olympics and sent an unmistakable message that attempts to undermine major international sporting competitions will be met with decisive action.”
And while the indictment does not name the athlete Askew had contact with and allegedly supplied banned drugs, he has been linked to Marvin Bracy in published reports.
In November, Bracy was given a nearly-four year ban from USADA after admitting to anti-doping rule violations, which included attempting tampering. USADA received a tip about Bracy in early 2024 and an out-of-competition urine sample tested positive for testosterone, anabolic agent. He was provisionally suspended on February 5, 2024.
The investigation of Bracy was a joint effort with USADA, the Athletics Integrity Unit and DEA’s Orlando District Office and he also committed a third whereabouts violation during the course of the inquiry.
Bracy confirmed in January that he would join the growing lineup of sprinters for the upcoming Enhanced Games, which permits its athletes to use banned substances.
He won silver in the men’s 100m at the 2022 world championships and silver as part of Team USA’s men’s 4×100 relay team.
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act was signed into law by the first Trump administration in 2020 and specifically targets doping schemes at major international competitions. Penalties for those convicted under the act include prison sentences up to ten years and fines up to $1 million. The act is named after Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, who uncovered a major state-sponsored doping program in Russia.
“RADA continues to be an incredibly important tool that strengthens the global fight for clean sport by holding accountable the athlete support personnel and others who enable and profit from doping,” USADA said in its statement. “While athletes face clear sanctions under the World Anti-Doping Code, others have escaped responsibility for undermining the integrity of sport. Without RADA, this indictment of an athlete support person never would have happened, demonstrating how it can be a powerful complement to the Code in ensuring that all those who engage in doping fraud are held accountable.”
