Carl Lewis broke his silence on allegations that he was the beneficiary of a drugs cover-up, admitting he had tested positive for banned substances but claimed that he was just one of “hundreds” of American athletes who were allowed to escape bans.
The article was written by Duncan Mackay in The Guardian several years ago, but there are many who continue to have a problem with the comments made by the U.S. legend, whose international career ran from 1979 to 1997.
“There were hundreds of people getting off,” he was quoted as saying in the Guardian at the time. “Everyone was treated the same.”
Lewis was heavily criticized by several members of the track and field community for his statements and further comments he made, questioning Jamaica’s doping controls when Usain Bolt was dominating. Usain Bolt Blasts Olympic Legend Carl Lewis
The U.S. sprinter acknowledged at the time of the report that he failed three tests during the 1988 US Olympic trials, which under international rules at the time should have prevented him from competing in the Seoul games two months later.
“The climate was different then,” said Lewis. “Over the years a lot of people will sit around and debate that [the drug] does something. There really is no pure evidence to show that it does something. It does nothing.” Read more about Bolt vs Lewis: Carl Lewis former coach says the American shades Usain Bolt
During his very fruitful international career, Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals, including four in the long jump, while winning eight world championships titles to go along with a couple of major championships silver medals, and a bronze medal.
Currently, Lewis is conveying his years of competitive experience to the teaching aspect of track and field. He is now a member of the University of Houston men’s and women’s track and field coaching staff, which also includes fellow American sprint great Leroy Burrell.
Haha..Mr. Lewis always talking about people…You should have been banned, but America covered it up and you went away Ben Johnson..I am not surprised..Now you need to shut you mouth, all those medals you won ain’t worth s#&t…You are a drug cheat…Usain Bolt is the boss..
I was startled by Mr Carl Lewis, based on his comments after Veronica Campbell, failed to make the 100m for Jamaica’s Olympic team last year.
Is he really saying ” Who cares I failed drug test?”
A lot of athletes that were beaten by (your) chemicals, do care when they know they were competing clean and natural against you.
The athletes that you now try to put in “SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES” care about your attempts questioning their credibility.
This statement has erased you as a champion and has also deleted your credibility
Well, well, well. If what is reported here is true, then Carl should be treated like Marion Jones. He should be stripped of his medals and all his records, certainly in the year he tested positive.
You know the saying: the best form of defense is to attack…I guess that’s what he has been doing to distract the world from his offense.
I just read the full story and Carl is still suffering from delusion of grandeur. Ben Johnson is saying he should be stripped and he is behaving like he was never on drugs. Poor Carl still suffering from denial even when he admits he was caught.
what about the rest of the guys, it would be nice if they came forward, then we could wipe the slate clean, give mr. lewis some credit for his confession.
sad
Piece O.S. Carl Lewis everybody knows you wern’t for real. You should take those medals you won and hang yourself….
I’M A PROUD BLACK AMERICAN, BUT I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LISTEN TO THIS LOSER? JUST BECAUSE ONE IS OUTSPOKEN, DOES NOT MEAN ONE IS RIGHT! HE HASN’T WANTED ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SPORT FOR YEARS. WHY? BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WAS BETTER!!! HE IS COMPLETELY JEALOUS OF EVERY AMERICAN SPRINTER WHO HAS HAD THEIR DAY IN THE SUN. HE HAS BEEN A FAILURE AT EVERYTHING HE HAS TRIED TO DO SINCE HIS TRACK CAREER ENDED, INCLUDING THE FACT HE IS A TACKY AND VERY UNATTRACTIVE QUEEN! PLEASE PEOPLE, DON’T GIVE THIS CLOWN GET YOUR ATTENTION. JUST IGNORE, COVER YOUR EYES AND EARS, “IT” DOESN’T EXIST.
I alway’s knew that ‘king carl’ WAS STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I say Bolt is on a drug that is not tested or cannot be tested for; maybe ecstasy?
Everyone knows Ben Johnson was the sacrificial lamb in the whole drug saga.
I must say I haven’t heard CL saying anything NICE about ANYONE. He’s so different from the likes of Michael Johnson, who,after twice predicting Usain Bolt would not break the 200m record, was humble enough to acknowledge Bolt’s talent when he proved him wrong.
Roy
What are you smoking or snorting? You gotta be flying high to make such an asinine comment!!
Blasted drug cheat you robbed hard working runners of their medals.
Carl Lewis is a blasted cheater like all those East German athletes. He should be ashamed of himself robbing all those hard working CLEAN athletes of their medals.
U all can just leave him alone.If we were in his same spot,we may have done the same thing.I have been an athlete for year’s ,and have thought of maybe doing the same thing also.All anyone want’s to do is win and be the very best.No matter what you say,he was a great athlete all around for us(USA) and himself.
Well, what can I say, My Best ever athlete has crashed to the ground. That is what drugs do to you. Serves him wright. Anyway why was he punnished and not anybody else.
Carl Lewis is annoying, but he’s no more of a cheater that those Jamaican’s caught this year!!!
mickey, you are wrong. Carl is much more a cheater because he was caught cheating repeatedly. Three times in 1988 alone, prior to the olympics.
When you are a repeat offender you can’t claim that it was unintentional. As a matter of fact there were over 50 failed drug tests by US athletes in 1984, prior to the LA Olympics. All tests were covered up by the very US officials that were responsible for catching cheaters. There were over a hundred failed tests between then and 1988. all covered up by us officials. How many of those failed tests do you suppose belonged to Carl Lewis, Flo-Jo or Evelyn Ashford Jackie Joyner Kersee or even Edwin Moses. face it the legacy that you try to so valiantly defend is tainted. very little credibility. For anyone that think i’m being mean spirited or anti American just check the facts for yourselves. the truth is all over the Net. check this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN–95c5bxw&feature=related. there are many other links that support this.
i care carl lewis because u were pointing fingers @ ben johnson & using the clear & then have a nerve 2b fasting with usain u annoying son of bitch
The USA Track And Field Motto is, BY ANY MEANS NESSECARY. thank you mr, carl lewis and the rest of the 1984 US olympic track and field team, you have made that quite clear.
the jamaican athletes should no doubt be the most decorated and celebrated on the track, if you would just reflect back on there achievements when they were juniors. at high school championships, carifta games, the penn relays and the world youth and junior games, they have distinguished themselves with very high level of preformances over the years, clocking superior times over there rivals. but as soon as they becomes professionals and it’s time to get pay and to take home there golds, they are always ambush and robed by some very very large band of STEROID MONKEYS. but now that the IAAF is trying to catch and eradicate them, [THE STEROID MONKEYS] it as bean a little bit better, as you can see from the result of the beijing olympics and the berlin world championship. every now and again you will see one and two of them [THE STEROID MONKEYS] come out to play, but they play very careful because they are awear that… A TRAP HAS BEAN SET FOR THEM.
If drugs doing nothing and there is no proof of it then give ben johnson his gold medal back because he beat you in 1988 fair and square (because remember drugs don’t do anything) -Your words not mine
Hold your horses everyone. Lewis did not test positive for steroids, but rather for a drug stimulant commonly found in cold medication. How do we know he didn’t have a cold? And, how much of an improvement does a stimulant have? Steroids is a much bigger deal, allowingvthe athlete to train more and recover faster, along with allowing for greater muscle development – both much more important in athletics than a stimulant.