Aussie cyclists defend gold haul amid drug slurs
9 minutes ago
ATHENS (AFP) - Australian cyclists said their unprecedented six gold medal
success at the Athens Olympics was wholly on merit amid residual doping
suspicions.
The Australian cyclists came to Athens hounded by drug accusations, bans,
sackings, appeals and bitter internal feuds.
But they will leave the Olympics with a record haul of six golds, two silver
and two bronze - twice the tally of nearest rivals Russia.
The Australian cycling program was tainted in the months before Athens by
drug-taking allegations and months of being dragged through the mud by
police, judicial and customs investigations.
Former world sprint cyclist Jobie Dajka was forced out of the Australian
team's training camp just a few weeks before the Games after admitting lying
to an official doping inquiry and junior world track champion Mark French
was banned for two years and from the Olympics for life after syringes and
traces of equine steroids were found in his room.
But the triumphant Australian team said they had undergone multiple doping
tests while competing in Athens and were clean.
"I've had four (drug tests) in the past five days," said dual gold medallist
Ryan Bayley at a press conference on Thursday.
"He (the Olympic drug tester) was going to write my name on the chair
because I was there every day."
Four-time Olympian Shane Kelly, cleared by a drugs investigator after being
one of five riders named by the now-banned French, said cyclists were among
the most tested of all Olympians.
"We've had inquiries, we've been cleared of everything," Kelly said.
"If there is still doubt, what can we do?" asked Kelly, who said he had
undergone six tests in the past month. "All we can do is get on the track
and win medals."
Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates stressed at the press
conference that Dajka had been cut from the Olympic team for being
untruthful to two inquiries rather than for taking banned drugs.
Australian track coach Martin Barras, asked after Wednesday's final night's
competition if some of the Australian public were bound to remain sceptical
over the team's outstanding results, said:
"You can't help it, I'm not bothered with that."
His message to the detractors was "give us a fair go."
Head coach Shayne Bannan said he hoped Australians would get behind the
cyclists now after it felt like the country was against them over the last
few months.
"I think so, I hope so," Bannan said. "When we get on the track, it's for
Australia. I think they would.
"For some of them it was a pretty hard time, they wondered why are we doing
this sport, Australia actually seems to be against us. I think that really
pulled everybody together."
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