The Drugs Don’t Bloody Work
‘AT least Ben Johnson won the Olympic 100m and set a world record in the process before getting banned for taking drugs.
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| Just say ‘Not Out’ |
British drugs cheats have been a singularly unsuccessful bunch. Skier Alain Baxter managed an Olympic bronze medal before he was told to give it back.
Sprinter Dwain Chambers may have won a European championship, but he too has never got more than bronze at a world event.
And now we hear that Greg Rusedskis career is in tatters after he admitted that he failed a drugs test.
If found guilty, says the Telegraph, he faces a maximum two-year ban and the probable end of his career.
But, guilty or not, it is not as if the British No.2s career has been one long success story anyway.
In 1997, he became the first Brit for more than 60 years to reach a Grand Slam final when he lost to Pat Rafter in the US Open but he has never regained those heights since.
As recently as Wednesday, Rusedski was laughing off rumours that he had failed a drugs test.
I have never heard such a load of rubbish in my life, he told the Guardian, and anyone else who asks will get the same answer.
However, last night he had changed his tune and admitted that he had tested positive for nandrolone in a random test at a tournament in Indianapolis in July.
Rusedskis position, however, is complicated by the fact that the ATP admitted last May that seven players had tested positive for the same drug, six of whom escaped a ban.
In his statement, Rusedski says he also expects to be cleared at a hearing in Montreal on February 9.
In the meantime, rather like Rio Ferdinand, he will be free to play in the Australian Open – if he can handle the obvious abuse he will get.
Even if he does get cleared, hes going to have a hard time in the locker room, his former coach, Pat Cash, tells the Telegraph. It puts a great doubt in everybodys mind.
One sport that has so far been free of drugs, at least of the illegal variety, is darts.
And the news in the Independent is that Raymond Barney Barneveld last night broke the record for the highest three-dart average in the BDO World Professional Championship at Lakeside during his 5-1 win over John Walton.
The Dutchman averaged 103.83 over the course of the match, beating the previous record of 102.63 set by Dennis The Menace Priestley during a 1993 match against Jocky Wilson.
As we all know, there is only one word for that…magic darts.’
Posted: 9th, January 2004 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
