Kelli White facts for kids
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's athletics | ||
Representing  United States |
||
| World Championships | ||
| Disqualified | 2001 Edmonton | 200 m |
| Disqualified | 2001 Edmonton | 4x100 m relay |
| Disqualified | 2003 Paris | 100 m |
| Disqualified | 2003 Paris | 200 m |
Kelli White (born April 1, 1977) is a former American sprinter who was once one of the fastest runners in the world. In 2003, she won two gold medals at the World Championships in Paris.
However, these medals were later taken away. This happened because she broke important sports rules about using banned substances to gain an unfair advantage. This is known as doping. After this, she retired from professional running in 2006.
Early Life and Career
Kelli White was born in Oakland, California. Running was a big part of her family. Her mother, Debbie Byfield, was also a sprinter and competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
White attended James Logan High School in Union City, California, where she was a star on the track team. By the time she graduated in 1995, she had the fastest time in the 200-meter race in her school's athletic section. Her talent earned her a scholarship to the University of Tennessee, and she graduated in 1999.
Breaking the Rules
In 2004, it was discovered that White had used banned substances to improve her performance. Because of this, she had to give back the gold medals she won at the 2003 World Championships. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), an organization that makes sure sports are fair, banned her from competing for two years.
All of her race results from December 15, 2000, onwards were cancelled. This meant that her victories and records from that time were erased. White admitted that she had made a mistake and worked with officials to explain what happened.
Life After Racing
After her ban, White decided to help others learn from her experience. She became the first athlete to work with USADA to teach them about the culture of doping in elite sports. She wanted to help prevent other athletes from making the same mistakes.
White has given talks all over the world about the dangers of using banned substances in sports. She also coached young athletes at her old high school. In May 2006, she officially announced her retirement from the sport.
See also
- List of doping cases in athletics
