The long journey of Christine Ohuruogu, once suspended by the UK for missing unscheduled dope tests (note the "unscheduled), ends in an Olympics gold medal as she overcame the American favorite Sanya Richards in the womens 400M. Christine ran a 49.62 for the gold. (AFP)
Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain produced a stunning race here on Tuesday to add Olympic gold to the world aMnd Commonwealth crowns she already owns, winning in a time of 49.62seconds.
The 24-year-old, who served a one year ban until August last year for missing three dope tests, beat home Shericka Williams of Jamaica (49.69sec) while favourite Sanya Richa
Ohuruogu, who won her world title in Osaka just over three weeks after serving her ban, gave herself a large pat on the back.
Richards lost to a woman she really didn't think belonged here after missing the doping tests. Some see the Ohuruogu situation as a serious error, and others as an error, but understandable. To be clear, she has never failed a doping test.
Ohuruogu, who challenged and won her case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the BOA by-law which bans athletes who served suspensions for doping infringements, looked out of it rounding the bend and with 100 metres to go.
Richards, who had said last week that she thought the Briton was fortunate to be
competing here, looked at that point set fair for the gold she believed was her due after a miserable year suffering from a rare illness in 2007 as she had a clear lead.
However, down the straight the Jamaican-born naturalised American started to tie up and Ohuruogu's more measured and controlled race paid off as she passed two Russians and then the final prize of 23-year-old Richards.
Ohuruogu crossed the line just ahead of the fast-finishing Williams, who had passed a tiring Richards.
Meanwhile, Christine Ohuruogu, doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks...she has the gold.
Christine Ohuruogu said she could not care less what people thought about her tainted record after winning the women's 400 metres Olympic gold medal on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Briton stormed to the gold in 49.62 seconds, an Olympic dream that once looked impossible when the British Olympic Association (BOA) banned her for life for missing three out-of-competition drug tests.
Ohuruogu received a mandatory one-year ban from the International Association of
Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 2006 under their strict three strikes policy.
She completed her ban in 2007, winning the gold medal at last year's world championships in Osaka less than a month after her return, but the BOA imposed an automatic life ban from the Olympics.
Ohuruogu fought a long and expensive legal battle to have the Olympic ban overturned and was eventually cleared to compete after an independent panel decided there were "significant mitigating circumstances" surrounding her missed tests.
The athlete, who has always denied using drugs, said she no longer worried what people thought or said about her.
"I don't really care what people say. All I'm concered about is that I am here and I've won the gold medal," she said.
en
I wonder how many US athletes would miss tests if they had the same British testers after them? Serious question, are the protocols for contacting an athlete for a random the same in the US compared to the UK?
Posted by: Chris | 08/28/2008 at 01:10