Last week, one of Canada’s most well-known powerlifters announced that he had tested positive for banned substances. His announcement came the day before he was to step onto the platform at the 2019 Classic World Championships. Unfortunately, this is the second consecutive year that a Canadian athlete has tested positive in the lead-up to Worlds. In 2018, it was 57kg Junior athlete Rosie Stodalka. In 2019, 120+kg, perennial Open medal hopeful, Kelly Branton.
Branton and Stodalka both did the same thing – they tested positive for banned substances in an out of competition test, administered less than two months prior to Worlds (Stodalka on April 21, 2018; Branton on April 23, 2019). They presumably were notified by CCES of their positive drug tests on a similar timeline (as per Stodalka’s case summary, the adverse findings were reported on May 25, 2018). Both posted to Instagram announcing that they were dropping out of Worlds (though Stodalka’s post has since been deleted).
After posting, they both received similar responses from others. There were some messages of support, and many of derision. There were trolls aplenty. But there was one particular difference, and it really stood out to me. Stodalka received countless responses relating to how she had denied another athlete a spot at Worlds. Branton received none.
So What Happened at Worlds?
In 2018, Rosie Stodalka won the Junior 57kg category at Canadian Nationals. She lifted 122.5/93/137.5 for a 353 total. The silver medal went to Leanne McLaughlin (115/67.5/135, for a 317.5 total). Her margin of victory was 35.5kg (11%). IPF Worlds were subsequently won by Australia’s Rachel Jones (147.5/75/172.5 for a Junior World Record total of 395). Stodalka’s Nationals results would have placed her 7th in the field of 11 (well, 12 with one additional athlete). McLaughlin would have finished 10th.
In 2019 Branton won Canadian Nationals by a 51.5kg margin (427.5/265/320 for a 1012.5 total). This actually represented a 5.3% margin of victory over second, which went to Jason Byrne (365/230/366 for a 961 total). In true “anything can happen” sports fashion, Worlds for the 120+kg men were crazy. Branton was nominated in the top three and his withdrawal opened the door for new athletes to enter the podium fight. Ray Williams, the winner of five consecutive World Championships, went 0/3 and bombed his squats, opening the door even further. Nauru’s Jezza Uepa went on to win (407.5/265/300 for a 972.5 total). Had Branton been at Worlds, his total from Nationals would have netted him gold.
But let’s go back to Byrne’s numbers from Nationals for a second. His total would have placed him second. Medals are also awarded for the individual lifts at Worlds. Byrne’s 365 squat would have placed him second. A 365 (I removed the kilo chip, since it wouldn’t have been a record attempt at Worlds) deadlift would have been enough for gold.
Same Story, Different Outcomes
I’m in no way suggesting that we should all jump to our keyboards and get on Branton, but I would love to understand why everyone was so apt to blame Stodalka for costing McLaughlin a spot at Worlds. In testing positive for banned substances, both Stodalka and Branton were required to withdraw from Worlds. Because both withdrew less than 30 days prior to the event, they were not able to be replaced by another athlete.
One received significant negative backlash for this, and the other did not.
Is it status? Branton is a mainstay on the Canadian powerlifting landscape, with 8 National Championships to his name (Junior in 2009; Open in 2010 and 2014 through 2019) and four Open World Championship medals (three bronze – 2015-17, and one silver in 2018). Stodalka was a two-time Junior Worlds competitor (2016 and 2017), with one Junior National Championship (2018).
Is it gendered? Stodalka was a 23 year old, 57kg woman. Branton is a 32 year old, 350 pound man. Is it easier to berate and harass one versus the other? Even online, is the fear of reprisal greater when it comes to responding to men as opposed to women?
Is it timing? Stodalka’s announcement came with roughly two weeks to go before Worlds, whereas Branton’s came while Worlds were already taking place and the day before the 120+kg men were to take the stage. Branton was able to capitalize on the excitement of Worlds – his Instagram post came in between the incredible battle for the 84kg Open Women’s podium between Amanda Lawrence and Daniella Melo and the always exciting 105kg Open Men’s flight. Ray Williams subsequently bombing out of the competition, losing his chance at an impressive sixth consecutive World Championship. With everything else happening at Worlds, the powerlifting community certainly had a lot more to talk about than just Branton.
Is it a combination of all three?
At the end of the day, both cost another athlete a spot at Worlds – something that arguably, most competitive athletes would aspire to achieve and consider a pinnacle of their sporting careers. We, the powerlifting community, responded to that fact in very different ways. There may not be just one answer when it comes to why, but I think it’s important that we consider it nonetheless.
Two White Lights 