Boris Johnson distances himself as Tory politician attacks Olympic athletes

Boris Johnson was forced to distance himself from a fellow London Conservative politician who accused British athletes of being "tainted" with the blood of Tibetans and "leaving their consciences at passport control" when they attended the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Tory mayor's office branded the comments made by Brian Coleman, Conservative assembly member for Barnet and Camden, as "preposterous" and "offensive".

Less than a week after Johnson praised British athletes' performance at the Games and sought to rally enthusiasm for the 2012 London Games, Coleman issued a scathing attack on British Olympians' achievements.

In a column for the Barnet and Whetstone Press, Coleman said: "While Britain's athletes may have won more medals than usual, they must remember that they are tainted with the blood of Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners, and Roman Catholic priests." He went on: "If you are looking for young heroes and role models, forget the highly paid athletes who leave their consciences at passport control and consider the sacrifice being made by our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Coleman, a former deputy chair of the London assembly, also claimed in the article that the Tory London mayor had been "forced" to attend the games.

"Boris was forced to go to Beijing to collect the Olympic flag," Coleman wrote. "I would have told the International Olympic Committee to put it in the post."

A spokesperson for Johnson's office issued a statement rebutting Coleman's claims.

"Brian Coleman is entitled to his views on the Olympics, which is a matter of taste and political opinion, but it is preposterous to suggest that Boris Johnson was forced to go to Beijing. He did so with great enthusiasm and is extremely grateful to his hosts. It was a very proud moment to receive the Olympic flag on behalf of London for the 2012 Games.

"He rejects absolutely any suggestion that Britain's athletes are 'tainted with the blood of Tibetans, Falun Gong practitioners and Roman Catholic priests'. It is offensive to suggest so when these fine young men and women are not only doing Britain proud but are helping to open China to the world and the world to China."

Labour assembly member Valerie Shawcross described the rant as an outrageous direct attack on Britain's athletes.

She said: "The mayor's support for our athletes as they return from Beijing has been totally undermined by one of his senior appointments. Mr Coleman has gone out of his way to personally attack, insult and disparage the remarkable achievements of the British team. "Mr Coleman's gross insult does nothing but undermine and embarrass the city. We should be giving our young athletes all the resources and support possible, not rubbishing and going out of our way to put them down".