Culled from Telegraph...
Usain Bolt's reign as the
Olympic champion and world record holder in both the 100m and 200m has lasted a
mere few weeks before questions over the veracity of his achievements overtook
the fleet-footed Jamaican.
Asking
questions: Retired American sprinter Carl Lewis says the absence of stringent
drug-testing programmes in Usain Bolt's native Jamaica raises questions about
his performances Photo: Getty Images
By
Robert Galster and agencies
6:03PM BST 12 Sep 2008
And while
behind-the-scenes whispers have featured in the wake of all record-setting
performances on the track in recent years, few insiders would give voice to
these without a positive drugs test to back up the doubts.
However, the absence
of a positive test has not stopped Carl Lewis, the retired American sprinter
who dominated the sport through much of the 1980s, from expressing strong
doubts over Bolt's mesmerising performances in Beijing. Speaking to US magazine
Sports Illustarted, Lewis based his statements on the relative absence of
stringent drug-testing programmes in Bolt's native Jamaica.
"No one is
accusing anyone. But don't live by a different rule and expect the same kind of
respect. They (Jamaican track officials) say, "Oh, we've been great for
the sport." No, you have not. No country has had that kind of dominance.
I'm not saying they've done anything for certain. I don't know. But how dare
anybody feel that there shouldn't be scrutiny, especially in our sport?
"The reality is
that if I were running now, and had the performances I had in my past, I would
expect them to say something. I wouldn't even be offended at the question. So
when people ask me about Bolt, I say he could be the greatest athlete of all-time.
But for someone to run 10.03 one year and 9.69 the next, if you don't question
that in a sport that has the reputation it has right now, you're a fool.
Period."
Lewis, who was cleared
of positive tests for stimulants ahead of the 1988 Olympics, added that
sprinting's recent past should automatically raise doubts over any
extarordinary performance on the track. And Bolt's runs in Beijing were
certainly that.
"Let's be real.
Let me go through the list: Ben Johnson, Justin Gatlin, Tim Montgomery, Tyson
Gay and the two Jamaicans. Six people have run under 9.80 legally, three have
tested positive, and one had a year out," Lewis said.
"Not to say
[Bolt] is doing anything, but he's not going to have me saying he's great and
then two years later he gets popped. If I don't trust it, what does the public
think?"
For their part, the
IOC ensured that Jamaican sprinters were chosen for blood-testing in Beijing,
but none returned positive tests.
Lewis also questioned
the performances of Jamaica's female sprinters who like their male compatriots
also train in the absence of a random drug-teasting programme.
"I'm proud of
America right now because we have the best random and most comprehensive drug
testing program. Countries like Jamaica do not have a random program, so they
can go months without being tested. I'm not saying anyone is on anything, but
everyone needs to be on a level playing field.
“Veronica
Campbell-Brown lives in the United States and has been transparent and
consistent. She won the worlds last year in the 100 metres and this year can’t
even make the (Jamaican) team. Are you going to tell me that shouldn’t be
questioned?”
Lewis' comments are
likely to case a stir in Jamaica as well as much of the athletics world but the
winner of nine Olympic gold medals is unrepentant.
"People forget
that I was the first one to speak out about Ben [Johnson], and I got
crucified," Lewis said. "A year later, I was a prophet. The athletes
have to say, 'No, this isn't right.' They know who's on it. They need to step
up."
Thus far, no one has
leaving Lewis on his own.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/2826070/Carl-Lewis-questions-Usain-Bolts-record-setting-performances.html
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