Usain Bolt leaves athletics behind with final warning to drug cheats
Last week Bolt bristled in a press conference when asked if the modest 100m times run worldwide this year were perhaps reflective of improved anti-doping mechanisms. He rolled his head back as if exasperated that anyone should have the temerity to pose the question and his dismissive reaction was criticised in some quarters. But on Sunday night he was unequivocal in his damnation of drugs cheats.
“I’ve always been strong on doping,” he said. “I feel like athletes should get life bans. If you go out of your way to cheat to be a better athlete I feel you should get life bans, that’s a fact. We hit rock bottom last year or the year before and now we’re on our way back up. Now we have to be strict on this to help the sport stay in a good place. I’ve proven to the world you can do it. You can be great without doping, that’s one of the things I want to preach to the younger kids.”
Being a mentor to youngsters, particularly in his native Jamaica, is something Bolt intends to occupy much of his time on in retirement. But first will come the nightclubs of London and Kingston.
“My bucket list right now is to have some fun,” he said, “to just go out and have a drink. I’ve had a stressful championships, so I want to spend some time with my family, too.”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/aug/13/usain-bolt-leaves-athletics-warning-drugs-cheats
Last week Bolt bristled in a press conference when asked if the modest 100m times run worldwide this year were perhaps reflective of improved anti-doping mechanisms. He rolled his head back as if exasperated that anyone should have the temerity to pose the question and his dismissive reaction was criticised in some quarters. But on Sunday night he was unequivocal in his damnation of drugs cheats.
“I’ve always been strong on doping,” he said. “I feel like athletes should get life bans. If you go out of your way to cheat to be a better athlete I feel you should get life bans, that’s a fact. We hit rock bottom last year or the year before and now we’re on our way back up. Now we have to be strict on this to help the sport stay in a good place. I’ve proven to the world you can do it. You can be great without doping, that’s one of the things I want to preach to the younger kids.”
Being a mentor to youngsters, particularly in his native Jamaica, is something Bolt intends to occupy much of his time on in retirement. But first will come the nightclubs of London and Kingston.
“My bucket list right now is to have some fun,” he said, “to just go out and have a drink. I’ve had a stressful championships, so I want to spend some time with my family, too.”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/aug/13/usain-bolt-leaves-athletics-warning-drugs-cheats