Bolt & Iaaf President Blast Wada As Ridiculous !

[Islandman]

One of the side-effects of these Bolt comments is that it keeps the Jamaica-WADA story in the news.

[Mosiah]

The statements by Bolt, if true, are troubling. If he does not want to assume a leadership role on this issue, fine! I can accept that. Not everyone is an MLK or even Tommie Smith and John Carlos. But all this talk about losing millions of dollars makes him appear trivial and ignorant, at least in my eyes.


Bolt Will Not Strike ... But Doping Controversy May Cost Sprinter Millions

Published: Monday | November 18, 20133 CommentsUsain Bolt

André Lowe,*Senior Staff Reporter

MONTE CARLO, Monaco:

Usain Bolt is upset that the current tug o' war involving Jamaica and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) may cost him millions of dollars in potential sponsorship after suggestions that he could be barred from competing at the Rio Olympics in 2016 - a claim that has been made during a high-profile questioning of the country's anti-doping efforts.

However, as far as walking the picket line with compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and going on strike to force more action from Jamaican authorities is concerned, the legendary Jamaican sprinter warned: "Shelly, you're on your own with that. It's hard for me to strike because it's my job."

Fraser-Pryce threatened that she was prepared to not run if more support was not forthcoming from Jamaican authorities on WADA's position as well as other issues relating to infrastructure and the social well-being of athletes.

WADA has led a well-documented probe into the efficiency and integrity of Jamaica's drug-testing programme and had warned that athletes from the country - like Bolt - could be prevented from competing in Rio, if Jamaican authorities did not address their concerns.

The anti-doping agency has since visited the island and noted that there is compliance and that several recommendations have been made and agreed on.

Nevertheless, IAAF president Lamine Diack, in accusing WADA of leading a 'ridiculous campaign' against Jamaica and its athletics, rubbished the organisation's suggestion that Bolt and other Jamaicans could be banned from the Olympics and supported the integrity of the performances of Jamaica's top stars, who are among the most tested in the world by the IAAF.

"They (WADA) cannot ban anybody, stop this foolishness!" Diack blasted here just ahead of the IAAF's Gala during a press conference.

Still, this came after Bolt and his management had to be putting out fires during negotiations with a potential sponsor who was concerned that their would-be endorsee could be missing from the biggest stage on the planet.

That for Bolt is the real concern, and while he is not interested in committing to industrial action to prove a point, the iconic sprinter, who rakes in over US$20 million a year in endorsements alone according to*Forbes, is certainly bothered by the threat to his mega million-dollar commercial juggernaut.

'it's my job'

"It's really costing me money now, and I'm not too happy about that," Bolt said.

"Track and field is my job, that's the first thing. I know we've been going through a lot when it comes to drug-testing, WADA and the IAAF. There's been a lot going on," added Bolt, who was for the fifth time named the World Athlete of the Year on Saturday.

"This actually caused a lot of problems for me and my management. A sponsor came up to us and said 'we'd like to sponsor you'. They then used an agency that does background checks to figure out if it's viable (to sponsor) and it came back that WADA had said that I would not be eligible to run at the next Olympics. That information is not correct, so there are a lot of things that are going on with this drugs thing that I really feel they need to clarify because, for me, it's causing problems for me when it comes to making money from my sport," Bolt continued.

"For me, it's a big problem that they need to sort out immediately. It's not helping any athlete at all and it's really causing problems. We really need to get this out of the way and move past this, get the rules down, get everything straight ... because we need to move on. In every sport there are drug scandals and problems, but people get it down and move past it," underlined the six-time Olympic gold medallist.

[Willi]

What position Shelly put him in??

Sheely was speaking for herslef. She said nothing bout strike. SAhe said she would do a personal boycott.

But a wheddi...

[Exile]

Being a younger black millionaire is no excuse for selfishness and narrow mindedness.

[Mosiah]

True! Provided they were both quoted accurately!

[Karl]

The whole whutliss lot of them(Ja T&F administrators) need to resign and go find a job where they actually get paid to do something.

Bolt should not have let Shelly down like that. He could have 'understood' her frustration, 'apathetic' etc., but he should not have said it like that, 'you are on your own'.

I say Shelly got more balls than he does.

That WSJ story cannot just go like that. If the man feels he is being discredited, he needs to contact a good lawyer an dun di bway and the paper instead of the meek, 'OK you got me. Maybe i should resign'.

Shelly should not have put him in that position.
It is like family - Yuh bredda nuh fi tief...even if he has not respect for self...he has his parents and family to not put in that tuff spat of ack-ward-ness!

By suggesting the athletes were thinking of a strike Shelly did not think through before opening her mouth.

...in the same breath; Bolt should not have left her to hang out to dry like that. Both failed the 'family'.

[Willi]

Tru dat still...

[Sir X]

True , I read an article that highlighted Bolt and nothing on Diack comments.

Yuh right brethren

[Jangle]

Before we start blasting Bolt for the mis-statements we first need to look who is reporting. These British papers are notorious for twisting "quotes " to make eye-catching headlines. This is an easy fix by Bolt and his team.

[Mosiah]

Yes, Islandman! He has been saying all the right things thus far, so this came as a surprise. Hopefully, he and his team will correct this misstatement.

[Willi]

Fair enuff X.

Cant really disagree with what you say here.

It just would be nice to know that Bolt has not changed much and that his heart is still full of empathy. That is how he used to be...

[Sir X]

Blake ? thats where the media comes in , why arent they putting pressure on the BLakes , Elliots , Fennels etc as per their PR response ?

The media is just as culpable, they seem to be with the pile on mentality , until recently , its a slow turn but a turn , as for the quack , this MD needs to be drilled this moron needs to be ,asked, where did he get info that test or info can be gotten up at UWI, why his belief of the tip of the ice berg ? given his position in T&F circles isnt his utterances malicious and unprofessional ? If he has proof of any wrong doing by anyone , where is his proof , isnt it his professional responsibility to bring it forth ?

What we have here is a dinosour with a political mentality, that sufferers cant be dealt with anyway,spoken to , about and implicated without any regard of the consequences and a media that is complicit with it...cc : X Kick off of Sickko Face about Ottey !


Regardless of Bolt verbal errors , his PR team will deal with it in a sec ,He isnt different from any young black millionare, ignorant and if willing to learn, he will for the better, if not , then a suh !


Such is Ja.

[Willi]

It more a refelection of what is inside, rather than mechanical responses that can be drilled in.

He should have realized that ALL Jakan athletes are suffereing and used his large profile to protect the weak, even while bolstering his own case.

He could have easily said he understood/admired his colleague's fervor, but thought that there is a more effective way to handle the situation than a boycott.

His instinct should have told him that ditching Shelly is a BAD idea, especially as I know that at least up till 2010 they got on VERY well. Sheely said the the Dr Wrong comments hurt he badly and I am sure she is not the only Jakan athlete to feel that way. Where is Warren Fake in all this? Not a word uttered, while our athletes have been dragged over the coals for NOTHING!!!!!

[Sir X]

Bolt can afford a few PR slip ups , his team will rectify the nonsense he uttered in a min , he is a young man prone to mistakes , thank the lord it isnt much at his age , that said Team T &F Jamaica cant afford to and hasnt a clue how to rectify the assault.

[Exile]

I agree with you. $$ greed is a hard thing to change. I respect Shelly for coming out the blocks first and using her podium as Olympic and World Champion to backing all Jamaican athletes...instead Bolt with a higher profile studying his earnings...