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> News & Features Where is Bolt getting his spark? After eye-opening Olympic performance, Bolt and Jamaica deny doping is involved
By Joe Battaglia, NBCOlympics.com
Posted Saturday, August 23, 2008 9:59 AM ET
BEIJING -- Usain Bolt of Jamaica came into these Olympics as a world record holder.
Triple gold medalist Usain Bolt and Jamaican officials discus doping allegations at a press conference in Beijing. He will leave them as a legend.
But Bolt hasn't even boarded the plane home to his Caribbean island and there is speculation about whether his three gold medals, which came with a remarkable three world records in three races, would soon be on their way to IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Bolt's astounding achievements, coupled with the dominance of his Jamaican teammates in the other sprint races, has raised an eyebrow as to whether these performances have been artificially enhanced.
Jamaican officials have this to say, and they say it emphatically:
The Jamaicans are not doping.
"All the records that have broken and all of the medals that have been won by Jamaica the last two weeks have come after extensive testing of all of our athletes," Don Anderson, the chef de mission of the Jamaican team, said at a Puma press conference.
"Usain Bolt has been tested three times, Asafa Powell three times, Sherone Simpson three times, Veronica Campbell-Brown twice. All of the records that have been broken by Usain Bolt and all of the medals that have been won have come after extensive testing by the IOC, by WADA and all of the other bodies involved with testing. That, in my mind, is adequate proof."
But in this era of track and field, eyebrows are raised when race times fall significantly.
Such is the case when Bolt goes from being a good international sprinter to running the 100m in 9.69 seconds, a barrier no human has broken without the aid of wind, to running 19.30 seconds in the 200m and breaking the 12-year-old world record of Michael Johnson, and running the curve in the 4x100m in an ridiculous 8.9 seconds.
When Jamaica'a reigning world champion in the women's 100m, Campbell-Brown, is suddenly not good enough to make her own Olympic team and the three runners who beat her - Shelly-Ann FRAZER, Simpson and Kerron Stewart - sweep the medals at the Games, whispers begin.
When Jamaican sprinters go on to win gold and bronze - Campbell-Brown and Stewart - in the 200m and another, Melaine Walker, wins the 400m hurdles those whispers get louder.
Mike Fennell, president of the Jamaican Olympic Association, said doping speculation is a slap in the face to the country's Olympic tradition.
"What I think almost amuses us is why some people in the world don't fell that others can be that good," Fennell said. "We have been good for a very long time. We first participated in the Olympic Games in 1948, when we broke onto the international scene by winning the 400m in London. That was exceeded in Helsinki in 1952, and we haven't looked back since. The quality of the coaching and the quality of the talent we have showing up now is justifying our place as a leading athletic country in the world.
Videos
Bolt: 100m
Jamaica's Usain Bolt blows away the field, setting the world record at 9.69.
200m
4x100m relay
Bolting and bouncing to victory
Track: Bolt's 200m (alternate angles)
Track: Bolt in 200m semis
How Usain Bolt won the 100m in record time
Usain Bolt's 100m: From the ground up
Track: Men's 100m semifinals
"We have some marvelous talent here. I wouldn't want anyone to suggest that this isn't pure raw talent that has been properly trained, properly coached and properly presented and that we aren't reaping the rewards of all that hard work."
Bolt said his accomplishments are the byproduct of hard work, not performance-enhancing drugs.
"I worked hard all year for this. It may have looked easy, but it was hard," Bolt said. "Us Jamaicans, we're very proud. We work hard for what we want and we want to be on top. If you guys would just come to Jamaica once and see how hard we train, you'd be surprised. We have some serious coaches down there. They push us to be the best we can be."
Bolt didn't seem to mind fielding doping questions from reporters less than 24 hours after winning his third gold medal. He answered all of them matter-of-factly.
"We've been tested a lot here," Bolt said of his personal experience. "I was tested four times before I even started running. These guys took urine tests and blood tests. After every event final, I've been tested. I've been tested so many times out of competition, I've lost track."
But Bolt understands why it is done. And he approaches all of the doubters the way he does competitors on the track:
Bring it on.
"We're okay with it," Bolt said. "We train hard. We know we're good. We know we're clean. Anytime they want to test us, it's okay with us."
Copyright 2008 NBC Universal. All rights reserved. Any use, reproduction, modification, distribution, display or performance of this material without NBC Universal's prior written consent is prohibited.
Rating: 4.3
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complete tv listings
Olympics On TV
Plus get bonus local coverage from Olympic zone.
Inside this Sport
Basics
Olympic track and field is contested over 10 days with medals awarded in 26 running events, 3 walking events, 16 field events, the decathlon and heptathlon. The women's steeplechase will make its debut in Beijing.
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From the ease of Usain Bolt's record-smashing 100m to the sweep in the women's 100m, the world is learning what Jamaicans knew all along: This Caribbean nation is no joke when it comes to track and field.
ALL SPORTS
> News & Features Where is Bolt getting his spark? After eye-opening Olympic performance, Bolt and Jamaica deny doping is involved
By Joe Battaglia, NBCOlympics.com
Posted Saturday, August 23, 2008 9:59 AM ET
BEIJING -- Usain Bolt of Jamaica came into these Olympics as a world record holder.
Triple gold medalist Usain Bolt and Jamaican officials discus doping allegations at a press conference in Beijing. He will leave them as a legend.
But Bolt hasn't even boarded the plane home to his Caribbean island and there is speculation about whether his three gold medals, which came with a remarkable three world records in three races, would soon be on their way to IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Bolt's astounding achievements, coupled with the dominance of his Jamaican teammates in the other sprint races, has raised an eyebrow as to whether these performances have been artificially enhanced.
Jamaican officials have this to say, and they say it emphatically:
The Jamaicans are not doping.
"All the records that have broken and all of the medals that have been won by Jamaica the last two weeks have come after extensive testing of all of our athletes," Don Anderson, the chef de mission of the Jamaican team, said at a Puma press conference.
"Usain Bolt has been tested three times, Asafa Powell three times, Sherone Simpson three times, Veronica Campbell-Brown twice. All of the records that have been broken by Usain Bolt and all of the medals that have been won have come after extensive testing by the IOC, by WADA and all of the other bodies involved with testing. That, in my mind, is adequate proof."
But in this era of track and field, eyebrows are raised when race times fall significantly.
Such is the case when Bolt goes from being a good international sprinter to running the 100m in 9.69 seconds, a barrier no human has broken without the aid of wind, to running 19.30 seconds in the 200m and breaking the 12-year-old world record of Michael Johnson, and running the curve in the 4x100m in an ridiculous 8.9 seconds.
When Jamaica'a reigning world champion in the women's 100m, Campbell-Brown, is suddenly not good enough to make her own Olympic team and the three runners who beat her - Shelly-Ann FRAZER, Simpson and Kerron Stewart - sweep the medals at the Games, whispers begin.
When Jamaican sprinters go on to win gold and bronze - Campbell-Brown and Stewart - in the 200m and another, Melaine Walker, wins the 400m hurdles those whispers get louder.
Mike Fennell, president of the Jamaican Olympic Association, said doping speculation is a slap in the face to the country's Olympic tradition.
"What I think almost amuses us is why some people in the world don't fell that others can be that good," Fennell said. "We have been good for a very long time. We first participated in the Olympic Games in 1948, when we broke onto the international scene by winning the 400m in London. That was exceeded in Helsinki in 1952, and we haven't looked back since. The quality of the coaching and the quality of the talent we have showing up now is justifying our place as a leading athletic country in the world.
Videos
Bolt: 100m
Jamaica's Usain Bolt blows away the field, setting the world record at 9.69.
200m
4x100m relay
Bolting and bouncing to victory
Track: Bolt's 200m (alternate angles)
Track: Bolt in 200m semis
How Usain Bolt won the 100m in record time
Usain Bolt's 100m: From the ground up
Track: Men's 100m semifinals
"We have some marvelous talent here. I wouldn't want anyone to suggest that this isn't pure raw talent that has been properly trained, properly coached and properly presented and that we aren't reaping the rewards of all that hard work."
Bolt said his accomplishments are the byproduct of hard work, not performance-enhancing drugs.
"I worked hard all year for this. It may have looked easy, but it was hard," Bolt said. "Us Jamaicans, we're very proud. We work hard for what we want and we want to be on top. If you guys would just come to Jamaica once and see how hard we train, you'd be surprised. We have some serious coaches down there. They push us to be the best we can be."
Bolt didn't seem to mind fielding doping questions from reporters less than 24 hours after winning his third gold medal. He answered all of them matter-of-factly.
"We've been tested a lot here," Bolt said of his personal experience. "I was tested four times before I even started running. These guys took urine tests and blood tests. After every event final, I've been tested. I've been tested so many times out of competition, I've lost track."
But Bolt understands why it is done. And he approaches all of the doubters the way he does competitors on the track:
Bring it on.
"We're okay with it," Bolt said. "We train hard. We know we're good. We know we're clean. Anytime they want to test us, it's okay with us."
Copyright 2008 NBC Universal. All rights reserved. Any use, reproduction, modification, distribution, display or performance of this material without NBC Universal's prior written consent is prohibited.
Rating: 4.3
Print thisEmail thisAdd Widget RSS: News Photos Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Track & Field news
Where is Bolt getting his spark?
Hellebaut's highly surprising
WSU's Lagat in 5,000m final (SPOILER)
U.S. Track disappoints ... and boss knows it
Kenya's Langat wins women's 1500m
See all news >> Exclusive Track & Field Video
Men's pole vault: Aussie takes gold Jamaica wins gold in men's 4x100m relay American Bryan Clay wins decathlon Merritt beats Wariner in U.S. sweep of 400m Relay bobbles: Both U.S. 4x100m teams out Hammer throw: Emotional Devyatovskiy nails it LiveReplayHighlightsOlympics On TV
COMING UP: 7:00p ETPreview primetime Olympic coverage, and get the latest on your local Olympians competing in Beijing.
complete tv listings
Olympics On TV
Plus get bonus local coverage from Olympic zone.
Inside this Sport
Basics
Olympic track and field is contested over 10 days with medals awarded in 26 running events, 3 walking events, 16 field events, the decathlon and heptathlon. The women's steeplechase will make its debut in Beijing.
Basics Glossary History Qualification Equipment
Inside this Sport >> Images of the Games
<<Women's High Jump: Tia vs. Blanka>>1 of 10 Slideshows
See all photo galleries >> Track & Field Features
Sprinters: Jamaica's national treasure
From the ease of Usain Bolt's record-smashing 100m to the sweep in the women's 100m, the world is learning what Jamaicans knew all along: This Caribbean nation is no joke when it comes to track and field.