Drug rumours killing athletics, says Drummond
NEW ORLEANS: Outspoken American sprinter Jon Drummond has said that rumours of drug use by athletes was killing the sport in the United States.``Every time a sprinter runs fast there is always that question of, `Is he clean?,' '' said Drummond, who pulled out of the US Championships with an enflamed groin after running 9.94 seconds in the quarter-finals of the men's 100 metres on Friday.``Our sport is dying,'' Drummond yesterday said angrily. ``We have a drug cloud over it.
``This stadium holds about 20,000 people, and we don't have near half of what it should have in here because everybody that's in the sport has got crap to say about the sport.
``We're trying to weed out those people,'' Drummond said, without identifying to whom he was referring.
While no one accused Drummond of cheating, he appeared to be defending himself anyway when he referred to himself as ``the most drug-tested athlete in the world.''
Rafter wins
DEN BOSCH:Patrick Rafter issued a warning ahead of Wimbledon that his game was back in order after beating Czech Martin Damm in straight sets to win the Heineken Trophy Tennis Tournament on Sunday.
The Australian top seed, who has been struggling to rediscover last year's form which saw him rise to No 2 in the world rankings, picked up his fourth career title with a 7-6, 6-2 victory in the final of the $ 500,000 grass-court tournament.
Rafter said he needed the win to build up some self esteem ahead of Wimbledon which starts on Monday.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
