Watch Michael Johnson and Steve Cram ripped into comments made by the agent of Justin Gatlin, Renaldo Nehemiah.
The former world-class athletes are now respective BBC track and field commentators and analyst, and they were not happy with the remarks made by Nehemiah, who singled out the correspondents during an interview with the BBC – claiming that the statements being made about Gatlin have been personal.
And while Cram took the time to explain his reasons for the remarks he made during the 100m when Usain Bolt defeated Gatlin to defend his world championships title, Johnson pulled no punches.
“He did harm to my sport, I don’t appreciate that,” Johnson said last week. “I’m not a Justin Gatlin fan at all. Never have been actually.”
Both Johnson and Cram believe that Gatlin has been harshly singled out by the media, but added that the American has provoked the situation somewhat by not taking the time to apologised to the sport in general and to those who have been running clean.
“I have to say that Justin Gatlin over the years has not done himself any favours,” Cram said.
“Renaldo has claimed that his new, but I have been to press conferences at Diamond League, etc, where he hasn’t done himself any favours.
I’ve never heard him apologized. Certainly not to the sport or to those of us who work in the sport.”
Gatlin went into the IAAF World Championships on fine form, after posting the top times over both the 100m and 200m.
He was supposed to win as Bolt had not been running well all season.
However, the Jamaican world record holder stepped up once again to win three more gold medals.
