Athletics: Yes, I was a drug cheat ..but I was just one of hundreds; CARL LEWIS COMES CLEAN WITH NEW SHOCKING CLAIM.Byline: John CROSS Athletics Correspondent NINE-TIMES Olympic champion Carl Lewis yesterday admitted he failed three drugs tests - but insisted everyone else was cheating. An outspoken anti-drugs campaigner, Lewis claimed he failed a drugs test after using a herbal supplement before the 1988 Olympic trials - but said it had no effect on his performance. But he insisted he was treated the same as "hundreds of others" who tested positive after it emerged more than 100 American athletes were involved in a drugs cover-up between 1998 and 2000. Lewis broke his silence yesterday after the United States Olympic Committee “USOC” redirects here. For USOC in telephony, see registered jack. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is a non-profit organization that serves as the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for the United States and coordinates the relationship between the director of drugs control Wade Exum revealed last week they let him off after his positive tests before the 1988 Seoul Games. He tested positive three times for banned substances pseudoephedrine, ephedrine ephedrine (ĭfĕd`rĭn, ĕf`ĭdrēn'), drug derived from plants of the genus Ephedra (see Pinophyta), most commonly used to prevent mild or moderate attacks of bronchial asthma. and phenylpropanolamine phenylpropanolamine /phen·yl·pro·pa·nol·amine/ (-pro?pah-nol´ah-men) an adrenergic, used in the form of the hydrochloride salt as a nasal and sinus decongestant, as an appetite suppressant, and in the treatment of stress incontinence. , but won 100m gold only after his greatest rival, drugs cheat Ben Johnson Ben Johnson or Benjamin Johnson may be:
tr.v. dis·qual·i·fied, dis·qual·i·fy·ing, dis·qual·i·fies 1. a. To render unqualified or unfit. b. To declare unqualified or ineligible. 2. after testing positive for steroids. Olympic legend Lewis said: "There were hundreds of people getting off and everyone was treated the same. The climate was different (then),"' Lewis added in an interview in a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. newspaper. "Everyone was treated the same, so what are we talking about? I don't get it. "At that time, if you had once offence, they usually wanted to check to see what the substance was, then they gave a warning. "That's why there were so many people. Most of the names nobody knew, so it's not like they were picking people out and doping. "There really is no pure evidence to show it does something, it does nothing. Now the policy has changed. "You get three months (probation) on one of these right now and the second time you get a suspension." It is another huge blow to the Olympic tradition ahead of next year's Athens Games. Lewis has been one of the most outspoken anti-drugs campaigners, especially after being caught up in the biggest drugs scandal in Olympic history. Canadian sprinter Johnson was stripped of his 100m gold medal and his world record of 9.79secs was struck off after he tested positive for drugs shortly after the Olympic final. Lewis has time and again slammed his rival for bringing shame on the sport, but revelations of his own positive test are huge blows to his clean reputation. Exum's revelations have even led to Johnson's manager and attorney Morris Chrobotek calling for Lewis to be stripped of his gold medal and he planned to sue the IOC IOC abbr. International Olympic Committee IOC n abbr (= International Olympic Committee) → COI m IOC n abbr (= and other athletes who had tested positive. But Lewis hit back: "It's ridiculous, who cares? So he's going to sue hundreds of people? It's a dead issue. "Do you expect him to say anything different? I mean we're talking about Ben Johnson. Come on. Let's be realistic." Lewis was initially disqualified by the United States Olympic Committee following his positive test and any sort of drugs ban usually results in a lifetime ban from from the Olympics. But Lewis appealed and he later received a let-off from the United States Olympic Committee after they accepted his claims his positive test came after 'inadverdent' use of a herbal supplement. The USOC (Universal Service Order Code) An equipment coding system created by AT&T. The number was applied to telephone equipment and to wire termination patterns. See 568A. denied the initial newspaper reports of Exum's claims, saying he had planned to use the documents in a law suit against it for racial discrimination and wrongful dismissal. Exum's case was dismissed in court through lack of evidence. USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel has said the organisation sees no reason for an audit or review, and there was no evidence any of the cases were mishandled. But Lewis, who was arrested in Los Angeles for suspected drunk-driving this week, said he was not concerned about the uproar around the world caused by the drug revelations. Lewis even insisted he is still a big star, adding: "I did 18 years of track and field and I've been retired five years, and they're still talking about me. I guess I still have it." IS ATHLETICS BEING DESTROYED BY DRUG PROBLEMS Fax us your views on 020 7293 3739 or email us at mirrorsport@mgn. co.uk CAPTION(S): RACE OF SHAME: Ben Johnson beats Carl Lewis in Seoul; LEW BETTER BELIEVE HIM: After denying he was a drugs cheat, Olympic hero Carl Lewis admits he was |
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