Eric Randolph Barnes (born June 16, 1966) is an American former shot putter who held the outdoor world record for the event from 1990 to 2021. He won silver at the 1988 Olympics and gold at the 1996 Olympics.^[2] Only three throwers have been within 40 centimetres (16 in) of his outdoor world record since it was set.^[3] Barnes was banned for 27 months in 1990 for anabolic steroid usage, before he received a lifetime ban in 1998 after testing positive for androstenedione.

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Randy Barnes

Randy Barnes (front) at the UTEP Sierra Medical invitational meet in 1994
Personal information
Full name	Eric Randolph Barnes[1]
Nationality	American
Born	(1966-06-16) June 16, 1966 (age 57)[1] Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.[1]
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.95 m)[1]
Weight	291 lb (132 kg)[1]
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Athletics
Event	Shot put
Coached by	Robert Parker
Achievements and titles
Personal best	23.12 m (1990)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  United States Olympic Games 1996 Atlanta Shot put 1988 Seoul Shot put World Championships 1993 Stuttgart Shot put 1995 Gothenburg Shot put

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Barnes was born in Charleston, West Virginia,^[1] grew up in nearby St. Albans, and began putting the shot in high school. In 1985, he put an impressive 20.36 metres (66.8 ft) with the prep shot of 5.4 kilograms (12 lb). After graduating from St. Albans High School in 1985, he attended Texas A&M University where he broke school records (set by Randy Matson) with a put of 21.88 metres (71.8 ft) with the 7.26 kilograms (16.0 lb) full size shot. While at A&M, Randy worked with hall of famer conditioning coach Istvan Javorek and throws coach Robert Parker.

He went to the 1988 Seoul Olympics where he put 22.39 metres (73.5 ft) and earned a silver medal at only 22. He came second to Ulf Timmermann of East Germany, who put 22.47 metres (73.7 ft).^[1] On January 20, 1989, he set a new indoor world record at the Sunkist Invitational in Los Angeles with a put of 22.66 metres (74.3 ft), which was better than his outdoor personal best at the time.^[4]

On May 20, 1990, he broke Ulf Timmermann's outdoor record with a put of 23.12 m (75 ft 10 in).^[4] Six days later he almost matched his world record, throwing 23.10 m (75 ft 9+1⁄4 in) at the Bruce Jenner Invitational in San Jose. Barnes was banned from competing for 27 months after testing positive for the anabolic steroid methyltestosterone at a competition in Malmö, Sweden, on August 7 that same year. He sued to have the suspension overturned but lost. Due to the suspension, he was unable to compete in the 1992 Olympics.^[5]

At the 1996 Olympic Games, Barnes won the gold medal that eluded him 8 years earlier with a come-from-behind 21.62 metres (70.9 ft) put on his final attempt.^[1] In 1998, he tested positive for androstenedione, an over-the-counter supplement (famously used by baseball player Mark McGwire) that is banned in track and field. Although Barnes claimed he did not know androsten was banned, he was suspended from competition for life.^[6]

Barnes later became a long driving competitor, competing to hit a golf ball as far as possible; he qualified for the 2005 World Long Drive Championship.^[7]