Aside from the controversy of whether her 1988 Olympic trial world record was wind-aided, Griffith-Joyner was dogged by rumors of drug use.
In 1988, Joaquim Cruz, Brazilian gold medalist in the 800 meters at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics suggested that her times could only have been the result of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs, that her physique had changed dramatically in 1988 (showing marked gains in muscle mass and definition), and that her performance had improved dramatically over a short period of time. Before the 1988 season, Griffith Joyner's best 100 meter time was 10.96 seconds. In 1988 she improved that by 0.47 seconds, a time that no one has approached since. Similarly, her pre-1988 best at 200 meters was 21.96. In 1988 she improved that by 0.62 seconds to 21.34, another time which has not been approached. Griffith-Joyner attributed the change in her physique to new health programs.
Her retirement from competitive track and field after her 1988 Olympic triumph further fueled the controversy, with some suggesting that her retirement was linked to the start of mandatory, random drug testing conducted out of competition in 1989. Prior to this type of testing, Griffith-Joyner was tested during competition and did not fail any drug tests. Her husband has stated that Griffith-Joyner was never interested in being a career sprinter, found the early nights and no-junk-food diet restrictive, and wanted to start a family as well as pursue interests in fashion design and crafts.
Joyner's supporters claimed that the autopsy cleared her of allegations that she used performance-enhancing drugs. However, the coroner noted that the autopsy records showed only that she did not die from drugs or banned substances, the autopsy did not prove that Joyner had never used such drugs. Her husband had requested that Joyner's body specifically be tested for steroids, but was informed that there was not enough urine in her bladder and that the test could not accurately be performed on other biological samples.
Personal information
Full name : Florence Griffith Joyner
Nationality : United States
Date of birth : December 21, 1959(1959-12-21)
Place of birth : Los Angeles, California
Date of death : September 21, 1998(1998-09-21) (aged 38)
Place of death : Mission Viejo, California
Height : 1.69 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in)
Weight : 59 kg (130 lb)
Country : United States United States
Sport : Running
Event(s) : 100 meters, 200 meters
Retired : 1988
