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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Podcast 98 Roy “Robot” Martin on his Arrest, Coaching and Drug Use in Track & Field

Posted October 26th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts, Drugs In Sports

olympics and drug use Episode 98 of The Final Sprint Podcast, the most listened to running podcast in North America, features my interview with two-time U.S. Olympian and National High School 200m Record Holder
ROY “ROBOT” MARTIN.

The former Olympian talks about his recent arrest, coaching, his take on the infiltration of performance enhancing drugs and how it contributed to his own retirement.

Since retiring from professional racing, Martin has focused on coaching and giving back to his community. He is also employed as a hall monitor at Florence Middle School in Pleasant Grove, TX. However, Martin was placed on administrative leave after being arrested on drug charges earlier this week. Police officials have charged Martin with drug possession, report that Martin conducted an “unauthorized drug sting” and are moving forward with their investigation. Conversely, the highly respected Martin says that he was only trying to help fight the significant drug problem in the middle school and in his community.

In the interview, Martin provides his side of the story and also discusses coaching, wanting to become the next Bob Kersee, highlights of his own career, and provides his own, startling estimate of the percentage of elite runners using performance enhancing drugs in the mid 1980’s to early 1990’s.

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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Roy Martin
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 20.2 MB | Length: 29:27 MIN

Episode sponsored by:
Camelbak - the originator and leader in hands-free hydration.

To learn more Camelbak Elixir, their effective, easy-to-use and portable electrolyte beverage, as well as Camelbak’s running specific hydration systems, please visit www.camelbak.com.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions and beliefs expressed by interviewees on The Final Sprint Podcast do not necessarily represent or reflect the opinions and beliefs of TheFinalSprint.com, TFS Media Network, The Final Sprint, LLC, and/or our sponsors.

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Former Olympic Runner Arrested on Drug Charges; Says He Wanted To Help Kids

Posted October 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Olympics

Roy “Robot” Martin broke speed records and ran his way on the U. S. Olympics team. Tuesday he was arrested for possessing Xanax without a prescription at Florence Middle School in Pleasant Grove, TX where he is currently employed.

However, Martin says that the possession stemmed from his efforts to fight the middle schools’ drug problem.

Click on the video below to watch CBS-11’s report on the Martin arrest:

For a more detailed analysis of this situation, check out the article published yesterday by TheFinalSprint.com’s Assistant Editor Jimmie R. Markham entitled High School Record Holder Roy “Robot” Martin Arrested.

For more information on Martin, please visit: www.robottrack.com/ourcoach.htm

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High School Record Holder Roy “Robot” Martin Arrested

Posted October 19th, 2007 at 9:26 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Growing up in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex in the early 80’s I used to marvel at an amazing sprinter as he consistently blazed through the 200m dashes at many of the same meets in which I competed. His name was Roy “Robot” Martin, a nickname he acquired because of his unorthodox, robotic running style that did make one imagine a robot. He was fast enough to make the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Teams and his national high school record of 20.13 in the 200m still stands two decades after he set it. His races were something to behold. He disappeared, from my radar anyway, but I never forgot watching him during my high school meets. His was an amazing, one-of-a-kind talent.

When I found this article about him today, I was shocked to learn that he had been arrested for drug possession. He is head track coach and hall monitor at a local DFW middle school, Florence Middle School in Pleasant Grove, TX. Apparently, Mr. Martin bought a Xanax (street name “T-bar”) from a student at the school in an “unauthorized drug sting”, then turned the drugs into the school principal. He felt that it was his duty to fight the drug problem at the school where he works and in his community.
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