My last blog mentioned Nesta Carter as testing positive, let
me retract that forthwith and apologise profusely to this athlete for such a
blunder on my part.
Sensationalism is key when reporting anything, and if we
understand that, then we understand why the media sees it as necessary to throw Tyson Gay, Asafa, Sherone, Smikle and others under the bus.
I berated Asafa for years because he did not run through the
tape and finish strongly in his races. As I said in my previous blog, all the
athletes take something, whether it is banned or not is a different matter. I
honestly think the only thing Asafa has ever been guilty of is not finishing
his races strongly…….full stop. I don’t see him as someone who would indulge in
doping; none of our athletes for that matter (yes, call me naïve if so be the
case).
A positive test for a banned substance creates such a long
shadow it is almost impossible to redeem yourself. Ohurugu and Justin Gatlin
have somehow found a way to remove that shadow. These athletes have come back
from bans and woven themselves back into the athletics fabric, so there is
still a way possible to seek redemption from a positive test and even a ban.
Steve Mullings, sorry things never worked out how they should have, big up what
you did for Jamaica same way.
I read where Asafa’s new trainer says they are looking for a
scapegoat and threw him (the trainer) under the bus. Now the only new addition
to the equation is this...............for want of a better word, person,
although I could find other words that start with p that would be apt. I am
giving Asafa the benefit of the doubt on this one. I understand Franno’s
stance, however, distancing himself from the issue so quickly is quite
distasteful, due to his longstanding relationship with Asafa, but hey, Franno
will always be Franno.
This new episode just highlights our lack of support for
each other and speaks volumes of us as a nation in my view. I hear David
Rudder’s song ‘Rally roun’ the West Indies’ and it so galvanises things even
when West Indies cricketers are doing ‘not so good’. Who will be rallying
around Asafa? Sherone? Smikle? I think that should be us.
The line from the movie Training Day ‘it is not what you know, it is what you can prove’ has Asafa and
the others in a vice grip. What was proven is that a banned substance was found
in their system, and I believe they did not willingly consume the components to
provide a positive drug test. But the facts are the facts right now.
I think my co-workers now understand why I berate anyone
that does not give their all when performing for Jamaica. The entire country
has plunged into depression with the positive tests by our athletes.
When athletes perform their best and lose the country still
celebrates, when they don’t give their all and lose, the country is upset. The
athletes are like our children, friends, spouse, brother, sister, all rolled
into one, which is why I really don’t understand how we can turn our backs on
them so quickly.
In a utopian reality I would just wake up tomorrow from a
dream and none of this ever happened.
© 2013 Antonio Bell. All rights
reserved
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Disclaimer
All the commentary posted in this
publication are my personal view(s) and do not reflect the view(s) of any
Association, Federation or Governing Body.
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