AN emotional Darren Campbell has admitted he considered pulling out of Britain's European Championship gold medal-winning sprint relay squad.
And the Moss Side-born Olympic silver medallist has revealed for the first time to M.E.N. Sport that he was opposed to the inclusion of drugs cheat Dwain Chambers in the squad.
Campbell shocked the athletics world in Gothenburg by shunning his team-mates on their lap of honour after they claimed gold on the final day of the championships.
After running the second leg of the 4x100m final, he didn't join Chambers, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis on their lap of honour at the Ullevi Stadium.
The 32-year-old Sale Harriers Manchester star refused to elaborate on his bizarre protest immediately after the race, leading to criticism from American sprint legend Michael Johnson.
But Campbell later revealed to M.E.N. Sport his reasons for his protest, which tarnished what almost certainly will be his last gold medal.
"Someone had to make a stand for the sport," said Campbell, who was stripped of his 2002 European Championship relay gold and 2003 World Championship silver after team-mate Chambers tested positive.
"I did make my feelings clear about running with Dwain. And I did consider not running. I am a human being with human being emotions. I love running for my country and I've never let them down. I stuck by Dwain, but Dwain didn't stand by the sport by exposing the cheats.
Visit
"I've done my bit and I can be proud of myself for that."
Campbell makes a flying visit to the World Junior Championships in China this week which will give him time to think about his future in the sport.
Johnson, who has clashed with Campbell before, said: "The fact Darren came over to get an interview rather than go on the lap of honour means he wants to be the one guy by himself."
UK Athletics Performance Director Dave Collins admitted Campbell was not happy with Chambersé selection. But headded: éHe (Campbell) said éokay, letés get on with it.éé
Chambers, whose two-year ban for taking steroids ended last February, said he had apologised to the squad for his actions.
éIf Darren is upset with me, he hasnét said anything personally,é explained Chambers.
Lewis-Francis brought the team home in 38.91 seconds to give Britain its only gold of the championship. It was one of five medals on the last day for Britain, boosting the overall tally to 11.
Mo Farah won a 5000m silver and Sam Ellis an 800m bronze.
There was a silver for the menés 4x400m relay squad and bronze for the womenés sprint team.
Leigh Harrier Peter Riley dropped out of the marathon with stomach problems, while Ethiopian-born Tomas Abyu, making his British debut, came 24th.
Wigan Harrier Jenny Meadows was dropped from the 4x400m final team after running in the semi-finals.
What do you think? Have your say.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Crass comments by Campbell souring the championships. Dwain Chambers has done his time, give him a chance. Personally, I wouldn't have included Campbell as his form has been poor this year, scarcely breaking 10.5, and he was blown away by Pognon on his relay leg. I would have preferred to see one of the youngsters like Ricky Fitton compete instead.
Totally agree with Campbell on this. Imagine how you would feel to have medals you have earnt stripped away by the stupidity of someone else and then be asked to trust him again. Chambers shouldn't be allowed near the sport again, let alone running for medals with team members depending on him. They did it once and he let them down. Whats to stop him doing so again?
Have to agree with Darren on this one. What he has achieved in his chosen sport he has done so by honest toil, hardwork and effort. His reward for his honesty was to have hard earned medals taken away by the selfish cheating actions of a lesser man. Drug cheats in sport are let of too lightly in my opinion and Chambers wouldent have got near a GB vest again if i had my way. Head up Darren, your honesty is to be applauded
Happy Harry didnt we think that about Linford Christie? And look what happened to him?
good on you darren campbell. I think it is disgraceful that chambers is allowed to compete without giving the information to help prevent this cheating .Either he beleives in drug free sport or he doesn't .We all have our suspicions -he could at least help us to dismiss them.
Outstanding protest by Darren Campbell.Micheal Johnson ought to do a little research first before he judges the athlete's reasons for not participating in the "victory lap".God bless Darren Campbell,and God save the Queen !
Darren has since expanded on his reasons for the snubbing of a lap of honour. So far Chambers has not indicated to anyone who helped him along the route of cheating and until he does this and assists the anti-doping team then he has still not shown true contrition. This still bothers Darren and he has spoken out about it. The choice of Linford Christie as his coach however doesent help Darrens cause and could be deemed hypocritical and only Darren can explain that. At athletics core is the olympian ideal. Anyone who has cheated by the use of drugs has metaphorically spat all over those ideals. I would much rather our athletes tried and failed cleanly than succeeded by cheating.
I commend Darren Campbell on his actions, he is making a stand against drugs and has every right, his stance is rightful because, due to no fault of his own, he has lost medals and those wrong-doers, issuing illegal drugs should be exposed and punished because they are spoiling the sport!
I don¿¿<sup>TM</sup>t think Darren Campbell¿¿<sup>TM</sup>s behaviour marred the 4x100 metre relay teams achievement at all. I think Darren has every right to be unhappy with the situation.
Dwain Chambers was banned after failing a drugs test in 2003 and, as a consequence, not only did Great Britain forfeit their Silver medals for 4x100 metres at the World Championships in Paris that year, but a later admission by Chambers, that he had also been taking drugs in 2002, led to the annulment of their European Championship victory in Munich. Of which, Darren and his fellow team mates Marlon Devonish and Christian Malcolm lost their European gold medals they won in the 4x100m relay in 2002, due to Chambers drug taking.
Although Dwain has been banned for life from competing at the Olympics, he is allowed to compete in the European and World Championships. Personally I think it is absurd, Dwain and any other sports competitor that is caught cheating by taking drugs should be banned from competing at any level, let alone for their country. It is totally unfair to expect any CLEAN Athlete to train towards their ultimate goal of a Gold medal, whether it be for team or individual success, for it to be ruined by a drug cheat, through their own selfishness and stupidity.
Too be honest I¿¿<sup>TM</sup>m more surprised that Marlon Devonish did not join Darren, as he has lost just as much as Darren.
Good luck Darren and thanks for being a true and honest sportsman.