Eric Randolph Barnes 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. Only three throwers have been within 40 centimetres (16 in) of his outdoor world record since it was set. 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.
Randy Barnes (front) at the UTEP Sierra Medical invitational meet in 1994
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—the shot—as far as possible. For men, the sport has been a part of the modern Olympics since their revival (1896), and women's competition began in 1948.
Polish double Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski
Czechoslovak shot putter Plíhal at the 1957 East German Indoor Athletics Championships
Shot putter at the University of Nebraska, 1942, showing the circle and stop board
Czechoslovak shot putter Jiří Skobla showing the correct technique for keeping the shot near the neck