Bolt backs ban on Russians
Russia’s track and field team being banned from the Olympics sends a powerful message that should scare cheats, according to Usain Bolt.
Stretching out his left arm to show the small adhesive bandage covering the mark left by his latest doping test yesterday, Bolt decried the ‘‘really bad’’ doping problem in his sport.
The six-time Olympic champion was speaking in London shortly after the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected an appeal by 68 Russian athletes seeking to overturn a ban imposed by the IAAF, following allegations of state-sponsored doping.
‘‘It’s a good message to show that if you cheat or you go against the rules then we’re going to take serious action,’’ Bolt said. ‘‘This [ban on track and field athletes] will scare a lot of people, or send a strong message that the sport is serious, we want a clean sport.’’
Usually so confident on the track, Bolt was initially wary about discussing the ‘‘sideshows’’ of Olympic bans but the Jamaican sprinter found his stride at a news conference in London.
‘‘If you have the proof and you catch somebody I definitely feel you should take action,’’ the 29-year-old Bolt said. ‘‘And if you feel banning the whole team is the right action then I am all for it.
‘‘Rules are the rules and doping violations in track and field is getting really bad so if you feel like you need to make a statement then thumbs up.’’
Bolt will race his first 200m of the season at the London Diamond League meeting today. It will be Bolt’s first event since pulling out of the Jamaican Olympic trials earlier this month with a hamstring injury.
‘‘I’m good, I’m feeling good, been training good now,’’ Bolt said. ‘‘I went to see the doctor he worked his magic as always.’’