Carl Lewis, who underwent a crash course on doping at the hands of Ben Johnson in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul Korea, says it is time to fight the dopers. Story in the Telegraph.
Lewis delivered the keynote address at the IAAF meeting this year in Monte Carlo -- the same IAAF that decided to wipe out Marion Jones. Lewis was likely singing to the choir about doping.
...Speaking before last night's International Association of Athletics Federations gala, where he was presented with the newly introduced Hero of Athletics Award, Lewis, 46, set the world to rights as only he knows how.
"We have to bring the sport back to prominence, not through getting a star - that's not how it is. It is about credibility and it starts with people's perception. People need to understand that most athletes are hard-working and dedicated. The public in many places thinks that everyone is on drugs and that's not the case."
Lewis, it seems, is on a mission to help the sport claw back its self-respect along with those fans, parents and sponsors around the world who have been lost because of the spectre of doping. There was, typically, no false modesty from the former athlete whose post-race press conferences were always major events in themselves. He wants to clean up athletics and make sure that everyone can see what is happening.
"I have a unique opportunity to do what others can't," Lewis proclaimed. "When I speak, people listen because I've been through this sport at every level. What the sport really needs now is accountability, all the way from athletes to coaches and manager.
"We have to bring the sport back to prominence, not through getting a star - that's not how it is. It is about credibility and it starts with people's perception. People need to understand that most athletes are hard-working and dedicated. The public in many places thinks that everyone is on drugs and that's not the case."
It appears Lewis is speaking to the culture of a sport. For instance, the culture of the NBA does not support doping; there are almost no examples of PEDs in pro basketball. However, the cultures of track, cycling, football, and baseball....well everyone knows the stories.
Lewis's solution is to get to young athletes before they have even thought of using drugs. He said drug testing and bans of any length were nowhere near as important as preventing doping becoming a problem at all.
"Too many people pass the buck when someone tests positive," he continued, barely pausing for breath. "Everyone points to someone else and no one says, 'It's our fault'."...
He added: "We are at a crisis point and instead of sitting around, saying, 'Oh my God, I hope no one tests positive', I'm going out there and saying, 'None of my people will'. I stand for accountability. If I see something funny going on, I'm going to tell."
Lewis is ready to get tough on doping:
The Lewis manifesto also includes suing convicted drug cheats for the return of prize money and the wiping of an entire career's worth of performances if an athlete is proved to have used drugs at any time.
He has, he said, the ear of Lamine Diack, the president of the IAAF, which will spend £1.5 million and employ a full-time staff of 11 on next year's anti-doping programme. Whether it is ready to adopt the Lewis approach remains to be seen.
The Lewis approach is what we call 'crushing the dopers': a no tolerance approach that says if you're caught doping, you jeopardize your career. A complete change of the sporting culture that supports doping and cheating.
Is the sporting world really ready to eliminate doping and steroids?
Is someone seriously suggesting PED use is not extremely common in the NBA? Huh? Since when does a lack of positive tests due to a laughable testing program = a lack of USE?
Seriously, crack is wack, my friend.
Posted by: Daniel Kirsner | 11/26/2007 at 01:00
As for King Carl speaking on doping that is laughable as he has already admitted to doping and was caught using amphetamines at the US Trails in 1988. If he hadn't been let off he wouldn't have even been there to be beaten by Johnson!
Too many people who got rich on doping are now preaching and hypocrisy is startling.
Posted by: Me | 11/26/2007 at 04:31
I agree with Me's comments. There is so much hypocrisy from former ped users who now blast everyone else after they have made their money!! ESPN is full of these people!!! Carl Lewis has been a whiner for years, move on Carl!
Posted by: keith | 11/26/2007 at 15:29