Edwin Moses hits out at doping in athletics

Image
Press Trust of India Mumbai
Last Updated : Jan 14 2016 | 7:13 PM IST
American track legend Edwin Moses says what has happened in athletics, which has been hit hard by corruption and doping scandals, was a travesty of justice.
"I am the chairman of the US anti-doping agency. Going back to the 70s and 80s I was one of the athletes who believed in true sports. I never took medical supplements but believed in diet and exercising. I could always say I represented the clean athletes," said the two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion.
Moses, who was unbeaten in the low hurdles for 122 consecutive races, including 107 finals, was addressing the media ahead of Sunday's Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon for which he's the Event Ambassador.
"It's been my philosophy that I don't want my daughter or your daughter to be in a sport, it can be gymnastics or basketball - it doesn't matter, where they have to use drugs to be competitive. That will always be my philosophy," he said.
The 60-year-old Ohio-born former athlete, who won the gold medal in 400m hurdles in 1976 as a 20-year-old with a world record time and then regained it eight years later in Los Angeles, also hit out at the athletics governing body without naming it, for the sport's current plight.
"I think the federation has let the athletes down. Athletes deserve a federation to be accountable. Federation owes a lot to the athletes. I think it's a travesty what's happened," he said in a hard-hitting statement after appearing to be reluctant to talk on the subject initially.
"From an athlete's point of view its disgusting. We have to make sure anybody and everybody - athletes, coaches, federation - is accountable. Everyone has to have the same amount of accountability," added Moses who also won two world championships and was unbeatable from 1977 to 1987.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jan 14 2016 | 7:13 PM IST

Next Story