Bolt v drug cheats in the most tainted race of all

IT IS billed as the battle of good against evil.

When Usain Bolt steps on to his blocks for the 100m final tomorrow, he will not only be representing Jamaica and the Olympic movement but also the hopes of tens of millions watching around the world.

The defending Olympic champion is the ‘good’ in the much anticipated showdown in Rio while the ‘bad’ are some of those expected to be lining up against him for the title of the world’s fastest man.

At least three of the likely finalists have served a drug ban and many believe they should not be allowed to run.

Chief among those tainted is American sprinter Justin Gatlin who has twice served bans for failing drugs tests, and is among the favourites to take Bolt’s title. Gatlin, who won gold in Athens in 2004, has set the fastest time this year.

Also on the starting blocks on Sunday night should be Nigerian-born Femi Ogunode, who competes for Qatar and is the fastest man in Asia. He once served a two-year ban. Another, Jamaican Yohan Blake, was given a threemonth ban after admitting taking a banned substance.

In an Olympics overshadowed by revelations of a statesponsored doping programme in Russia, an East African sprint coach sent home in doping disgrace and two positive tests for drugs among Rio athletes, a win for Gatlin would be a huge blow to the reputation of the Olympic movement. But 11 of the 15 fastest times in history for the 100m have been run by athletes banned for substance abuse.

And for a double drugs cheat to win over the sport’s most famous and charismatic athlete would be deemed a disaster for those who tune in to what will be Rio’s most watched race on the track.

Already, many are questioning if all those taking part are ‘clean’. Bolt, who won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at both Beijing and London – and could bring his tally to nine in Rio – admits: ‘I know the sport needs me to win.’

He added: ‘I think we are going in the right direction. We are weeding out the bad ones, and in a few years the sport should be clean.’

Gatlin’s presence at the Games has been questioned after the International Olympic Committee prevented some Russian athletes from competing. Alexander Zhukov, head of the Russian Olympic committee, accused the IOC of double standards.

The 100m has been under a shadow since the final at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 which has been described as the dirtiest race in history.

Canada’s Ben Johnson won but was later stripped of his crown for doping. Five of the seven other athletes in the race were subsequently found to have been involved in doping violations at some point.