Drug storm sprinter ‘to be sued’
THE sprinter at the centre of the biggest doping scandal in British athletics in recent years now also faces being sued by a team-mate.
As Sportsmail revealed on Friday, double Olympian Nigel Levine has tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol. But he could also now face legal action by James Ellington following their motorcycle crash in January.
Both sprinters suffered careerthreatening injuries when they collided with a car during a training camp in Tenerife.
Ellington, who is fighting to save his career, was riding as the passenger on the bike with Levine driving.
THE sprinter at the centre of the biggest doping scandal in British athletics in more than a decade is also facing the threat of legal action from a team-mate.
As Sportsmail revealed on Friday, double Olympian and world and European medallist Nigel Levine has tested positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol. He now awaits the result of a test on his B sample early in the New Year.
But this newspaper understands Levine could also now be the subject of legal action by James Ellington following the motorcycle accident the two athletes were involved in 11 months ago.
Both sprinters suffered careerthreatening injuries when their motorbike collided with an oncoming car during a UK Athletics training camp in Tenerife. Levine suffered a fractured pelvis while
Ellington suffered the same injury as well as a double leg fracture.
Prior to the accident they were both members of Linford Christie’s training group at Brunel University but Ellington, who was riding as the passenger on the motorcycle with Levine driving, is looking at suing for damages. There is no guarantee that he will make a full recovery.
Levine is back in training but both athletes have already missed the 2017 season and, at 32, time is not on Ellington’s side.
Nuff Respect, the management company part-owned by Christie, claim to no longer represent either athlete. However, a source close to both British track stars said that Ellington may be forced to sue Levine because a police report in Tenerife concluded that the driver of the car was not at fault.
Yesterday both athletes were unavailable for comment and UK Athletics also declined to comment on any potential legal action.
And the governing body also insisted that they would not comment on Levine’s positive test because it is not their policy to comment on ongoing cases.
News of Levine’s failed drugs test had started to spread through the British athletics ranks earlier this week, not least among Christie’s training group. It is understood that the former Olympic 100m champion is no longer Levine’s lead coach, but the 28-year-old 400m runner has been training back at Brunel.
Indeed one source suggested that Ellington was referring to Levine when he posted something on Twitter earlier this week.
First came a post that said ‘woooow’, with a serious face emoji and no further explanation. Then he said: ‘Do things properly and don’t cut corners, that’s the key to longevity.’ And then a third tweet said: ‘No shortcuts to true success.’
Clenbuterol has a history of abuse in sport and is principally known as a weight loss drug that helps to burn fat and build muscle, and as a result improve athletic performance.