Carl Lewis questions Bolt's form, Ja's testing published: Saturday | September 13, 2008
MIAMI, United States (CMC):
American Olympic legend Carl Lewis has raised stern doubts over Usain Bolt's recent stunning performances, but has stopped short of accusing the Jamaican sprint marvel of doping.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Lewis also lashed out at Jamaica's drug-testing programme, saying that too needed to be examined in light of the fact that there was no random drug testing of athletes.
"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 contended.
"I'm proud of America right now because we have the best random and most comprehensive drug testing programme. Countries like Jamaica do not have a random programme, so they can go months without being tested.
"No one is accusing Bolt, but don't live by a different rule and expect the same kind of respect. How dare anybody feel that there shouldn't be scrutiny, especially in our sport?"
World-record times
Bolt raised eyebrows in Beijing last month when he jetted to World-record times in capturing three gold medals at the 29th Olympiad.
He clocked 9.69 seconds to win the 100 metres and returned to break American Michael Johnson's 12-year old, 200 metres record of 19.32 seconds with a new time of 19.30. In the process, Bolt became the first athlete in 24-years - Lewis was the last in 1984 - to win the coveted sprint double.
The 22-year-old then crowned a fine outing with his third gold as a member of the Jamaica sprint-relay team.
Bolt, along with the other Jamaican sprinters, were tested repeatedly at the Beijing Olympics, but none of the results returned positive.
Lewis, the star of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with four gold medals, said he also questioned Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown's failure to make the 100 metres team for the recent Olympics.
"Veronica Campbell-Brown lives in the United States and has been transparent and consistent," Lewis pointed out.
"She won the Worlds last year in the 100 metres and this year can't even make the team. Are you going to tell me that shouldn't be questioned?"
Dr Herb Elliott, the Jamaican team doctor, who is also a member of the IAAF anti-doping commission, hit back saying: "They still think we don't know anything down in Jamaica.
"I am the person who tests in Jamaica and I tested Bolt 15 times between last November and December."
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It has been a Jamaican love-in since Usain Bolt bestrode the Olympic Games and won a hat-trick of gold medals, but a voice from the past urged caution as the new sprint sensation was heralded as the king of Kingston. With Bolt in the throes of a national party after his homecoming this week, Carl Lewis said that his achievements are questionable.
The American, 47, who won nine Olympic golds, stopped short of accusing Bolt of doping, but his remarks were the most damning yet from a track insider. In an incendiary interview in Sports Illustrated, Lewis said: 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 dont question that in a sport that has the reputation it has right now, youre a fool. Period.
Like many others, Lewis pointed to Jamaicas perceived lack of testing as the foundation for his suspicion. Im proud of America right now because we have the best random and most comprehensive drug-testing programme. Countries like Jamaica do not have a random programme, so they can go months without being tested. No one is accusing Bolt, but dont live by a different rule and expect the same kind of respect. How dare anybody feel that there shouldnt be scrutiny, especially in our sport?
Lewis, who was allowed to compete in the 1988 Games in Seoul having been cleared by the IAAF after being accused of testing positive for banned stimulants, said that he was not singling out Bolt and also questioned the performance of Jamaicas female sprinters. The IOC targeted the Jamaica sprinters for *lo**-testing when they were in Beijing and none of them tested positive.
Related Links Bolt and the making of an Olympic champion Bolt blasts past perfection, so why do I think he should stop? Lewis also expressed his anger that Antonio Pettigrew, the American who testified this year to doping when part of the United States Olympic title-winning 4 x 400 metres relay team in 2000, had kept his job as a coach.
However, it is Lewiss remarks about Bolt that will cause a storm in Jamaica. Herb Elliott, the Jamaica team doctor and a member of the IAAF antidoping commission, accused the US of peddling condescending crap at the Olympics. They still think we dont know anything down in Jamaica, he said.
what a f**king fool look how much times them test him an the other Jamaican athletes and the results were nagative WHAT THE F U C K YOU WANT MORE THAN THAT I mean for arugument sake even if him was taking it in JA don't you think it would show something in him system in Beijing??? Thats just ignorance exp[ect betta from Carl Lewis yu is a educated fool, just give JAMAICA ours props and done is it that hard to do?????????? Good GOD.