Bolt and company being let down by Jamaicans

Jamaican athletics has recently come under global pressure to revamp its under-fire drugs testing regime following a number of high-profile cases.

USADA chief executive Tygart believes the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s lack of action only serves to condemn stars like Bolt to doubts and scrutiny of his stunning sprint record.

Tygart has long since been lobbying the JAAA for change and warned Bolt will continue to suffer unfounded rumours and accusations until a robust testing policy is in place.

“Absolutely it lets him down,” said Tygart of Jamaica’s lacklustre anti-doping policy.

“It’s really unfair to question athletes’ performances just because of an inspiration story or whatever it may be; there’s a legal process for that.

“That said, it happens unfortunately, and I think it’s really unfair to those athletes that it does happen.”

Bolt’s 9.58secs world-record time over 100m and his 19.19secs 200m landmark set him apart for intense scrutiny around the world.

Tygart said athletes should not have to spend their entire careers batting away unsubstantiated accusations simply because of supreme performance.

That is why he has called for first-class anti-doping regulations to end such arguments once and for all.

Tygart criticised Jamaican athletics chiefs for failing to give Bolt and his team-mates the means with which to dispel question marks.

“Those athletes ought to be able to stand up, and in addition to being able to say they are clean, also have people believe that.

“They ought to be able to say, ‘I am held to the highest standard, so there’s some credibility and co-operation behind my statement that I am clean’.

“That’s where athletes are being let down by the Jamaican authorities. They deserve to have the right to be able to do that.”