Williams defends Jamaican medallists

Oct 4 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

AMERICAN sprinter Lauryn Williams has defended the reputations of the three Jamaican sprinters who forced her into fourth place in the Olympic 100m final in Beijing last month, writes Luke Edwards.

Williams will bring her season to a close on Newcastle Quayside today when she competes against British rival and fellow Olympic finalist Jeanette Kwakye in the inaugural Bupa Great North Run Sprint event.

And, while the 24-year-old former world champion was devastated not to get her hands on an Olympic medal she refuses to contemplate the possibility that she was beaten by any athlete who had allegedly taken performance-enhancing drugs.

With Jamaica’s sprinters dominating in Beijing – Usain Bolt broke the world record in both the men’s 100 and 200m while the women claimed a 1-2-3in the 100m – the finger of suspicion has regrettably been pointed at them by some rivals.

“I think the slurs about Jamaican sprinters are unfair,” said Williams, who won the 100m at the Gateshead International meet last month. “I believe they are clean. I’m not really worrying about drug issues.

“Of course, we’re working hard to make sure every country has the same testing policies, but the Jamaicans have worked really hard for what they achieved. They have been in the mix for a long time, they haven’t suddenly appeared this year.

“It’s sad that athletics is constantly dragged back to that. Even athletes are using the drug thing as an excuse now when they get beaten.

That’s not fair either. You used to just lose fair and square, now people complain about it and claim their rivals are on drugs. It isn’t a healthy environment for the athletes. I just wish we could get rid of the whole cloud we’re under at the moment.”

Things are looking rather brighter for British sprinting following the emergence of Kwakye and Williams expects her to be one of her main rivals for a medal at the London Olympics.

She said: “The British sprinters definitely have a good chance in 2012. Jeanette (Kwakye) is the same age as me and if she keeps developing the way she has been then she will be one of the main contenders.

“Three of the people in the final in Beijing were over 30 and we’ll only be 28 in four years time.”

She added: “I love the way British are getting behind the sport at the moment.

“They are always thinking outside of the box and you can see that with the Great North Sprint event.”