I think my disgust with Mr. Lewis was because I simply felt he was “hating” on the Jamaicans (specifically Usain Bolt) and the great performances by the Jamaican track team at this year’s 2012 Summer Olympics. Thank you readers for putting me in my place.
The 2012 Summer Olympics has come to an end and Usain Bolt dominated Men’s Track & Field.
At a press conference the usual upbeat and happy Bolt had a break in character when he stated that he “lost all respect” for Carl Lewis. Lewis has in so many words accused Bolt and the Jamaican Track & Field Program of doping. The same accusations were made by Lewis in 2008 when Bolt broke the records at the Beijing Olympics.
Lewis told Sports Illustrated: “Countries like Jamaica do not have a random program, so they can go months without being tested. I’m not saying anyone is on anything, but everyone needs to be on a level playing field.”
When Carl Lewis first lost to Ben Johnson of Canada at the World Championship race in 1987. Lewis attempted to explain away his defeat.
He first claimed that Johnson had false-started. He then alluded to a stomach virus which had weakened him and finally, without naming names, said “there are a lot of people coming out of nowhere. I don’t think they are doing it without drugs. I could run 9.8 or faster in the 100 meters if I could jump into drugs right away.”
This was the start of Lewis’ calling on the sport of track and field to eliminate the illegal use of performance enhancing drugs. Many noted that the problem had been in the sport for many years, and it only became a cause of concern for Lewis once he was actually defeated. In response to the accusations, Ben Johnson replied “When Carl Lewis was winning everything, I never said a word against him. And when the next guy comes along and beats me, I won’t complain about that either”.
I agree. It seems when ever the US Men’s team doesn’t do well in track, Lewis has always let his messy accusations fly of the non-US winning teams.
Flash back to the Summer Olympics, September 24 1988. Lewis just had his ass handed to him by Ben Johnson of Canada in the 100 meter final. Johnson set a new world record at 9.79 seconds.
However, Johnson’s urine samples were found to contain stanozolol (a banned substance), and he was disqualified three days later after winning. Due to the disqualification, the gold went to Lewis.
This doping scandal resulted in a media circus. In the court hearings and media blitz, Ben Johnson was demonized all over the airwaves, while Lewis got praise and glory.
Fast forward to the 2008 documentary “Bigger, Stronger, Faster” (The Side Effects of Being an American).
In a segment with Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson, Director Christopher Bell talks directly with Lewis about the 1988 Summer Olympics doping scandal and gets Lewis to admit he also failed drug tests! The video interview is below.
It turns out that Lewis’ test results also showed evidence of banned substances along with six other Americans. So why wasn’t this discussed in the US news media and why was this disclosed over 15 years after the fact? The director of the film asserts that this was covered up by the media to protect America’s pride. Or maybe it was because the US and its companies were pouring millions of dollars into the Olympics and could lose endorsements. You be the judge. I did notice that this documentary is missing from Carl Lewis’ Wikipedia page under his “film and television” credits…hmmm?
As Lewis continues to make comments about the world of track & field, doping, and the Jamaicans, only one phrase comes to mind. Carl Lewis, SHUT THE FUCK UP!
