Usain Bolt slams "attention-seeking" Carl Lewis over doping comments

This combo image shows at left Carl lewis of the U.S. and at right Jamaica's Usain Bolt in file photos. / IOPP POOL/OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) LONDON - Usain Bolt took a momentary break from basking in his historic Olympic sprinting double to fiercely criticize former U.S. athlete Carl Lewis.

Soon after winning gold in the 200 meters at the London Olympics for 100 and 200 titles at back-to-back games, Bolt said Thursday he had "lost all respect" for Lewis after the American was quoted as saying Jamaica's doping controls were not as strong as other countries.

While not making any direct accusations, former 100 and 200 Olympic champion Lewis has said in recent years that Jamaican drug testing procedures might need to be tightened.

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Usain Bolt

The comments brought a stern reaction from Bolt at Olympic Stadium, right after he roared to an unprecedented second 200-meter title at the games. No other athlete has won the 200 twice at the Olympics, although Lewis won the event in 1984 and finished second in the 1988 Games.

With the smile that had been a constant fixture throughout his press conference vanishing from his face, Bolt lashed out at nine-time gold-medal winner Lewis after being asked if he'd like to be compared with him or late sprinting great Jesse Owens.

"I'm going to say something controversial right now. Carl Lewis, I have no respect for him," Bolt said. "The things he says about the track athletes is really downgrading for another athlete to say something like that. I think he's just looking for attention, really, because nobody really talks much about him.

"That was really sad for me when I heard the other day what he was saying. It was upsetting. I've lost all respect for him. All respect."

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Asked which specific comments from Lewis made him angry, Bolt replied: "It was all about drugs. Talking about drugs. For me, an athlete out of the sport to be saying that. That was really upsetting for me. Really upsetting.

"To jump up and say something like that. As far as I'm concerned he's looking for attention. That's all."

Lewis, the former 100 and 200 Olympic champion, has raised questions in recent years about Jamaican drug testing procedures.

Following Bolt's performance in Beijing, Lewis told Sports Illustrated: "Countries like Jamaica do not have a random program, so they can go months without being tested. I'm not saying anyone is on anything, but everyone needs to be on a level playing field."

Bolt had already dealt with one question about doping when he was asked Thursday if he could guarantee that Jamaican sprinters - who swept the top three spots in the 200 - were clean.

"Without a doubt," Bolt said, sitting in between silver medalist Yohan Blake and bronze winner Warren Weir. "We train really hard."

Bolt later tweeted about his teammates:

Racers track club.3 athletes on the medal podium. Just epic. Congrats to Yohan & Warren on allowing me 2 share such moment with teammates

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) August 9, 2012

[goodsportsmanship]

How is it that every time America looses at something the other country is cheating? one of the comments above states that how is a country of 3 million people could sweep the 100 and 200 in an olympic and goes on to say that it surely can't be genetics. Wow this is unbelievable...... well I am from a country of just 350 thousand people and we have one an olympic gold in the women 4x1, womens 400m, mens 4x4 relays, women 200m (after Marion Jones was disqualified for doping) . And we have had an overall number 1 pick in an NBA draft ( Michael Thompson ). So i guess we must be doping as well. Academically we have produce several Rhodes scholars as well from a country of just 350 thouasnd people is there a dope for brains as well? Lets face it with hard work , good training and the right diet Gold medals could be won, world records could be set and academic excellence could be achieved.
So my big brothers to the North instead of teaching your children to do the harlem shake, show how to play a sport, instead of impressing hate on their mind....implant discipline, instead of buying them a violent video game.... buy them a book. Lets not judge smaller countries merely because of its size because we all are humans and with hard work and deligence anyone from anywhere could win (in true olympic spirit m)....
Ps. I AM FROM THE BAHAMAS.

[KikiMeister]

Usain Bolt is a cheater - only cheaters would have that strong of reaction to someone's questioning of doping controls. Also, why is he such close friends and hangs out with Angel Hernandez if he is clean? Angel Hernandez is one of the prominent Balco people and even now Victor Conte drops subliminal messages about Bolt seeming to to suggest that he's worked with him. Clean athletes don't hang out with doping masterminds and go bat-**** crazy when someone brings up questions on greater transparency and controls.

[bradz2010]

This is why America is the most hated country in the world!!!! And it is really sad because there are alot of nice American people but there are a few people who make America hated and Carl Lewis and the American olympic officials are apart of those few. People don't hate American's because of envy, it is just becuase of their NASTY traits and bad sportsmanship and jealousy is among these.

I happen to know Usain Bolt since he was a kid and he was always fast, he was breaking world records since his teenage years ( world junior championships world record for 400m). Carl Lewis knows he did not and will never measure up to Usain Bolt and the idea that he did this naturally is just hard for him to accepts becuase he just doesn't MEASURE UP!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are the reasons:

100m beijing 2008 world record time 9.69s GOLD
200M beijing 2008 world record time 19.32 GOLD
4X100M beijing 2008 world record time 37.10 GOLD
100M Berlin 2009(WC)world record time 9.58s GOLD
200M Berlin 2009(WC)world record time 19.19s GOLD
4X100M Berlin 2009(WC) GOLD
200M Daegu 2011(WC) GOLD
4X100M Daegu 2011(wc)world record time 37.04 GOLD
100M London 2012(wc)olympic record 9.63s GOLD
200M London 2012(wc) 19.32 GOLD
4X100 London 2012(wc)world record time 36.84 GOLD

Results: 11 golds, 7 world record ( this does not include the one he set as a teen in the world youths championship) and he has been undefeated since 2008, HE IS SECOND TO NO ONE!!!!!!!!

Accept it Carl! you don't measure up since your medals were gained while on drugs (tested positive for banned substance 3 times- Actual Proof).

Everytime an American is beaten by someone else the American olympic officials try to tear down the winner to make themselves feel better, that is not good sportmanship and these are not things people should have their kids witness. You cannot always win everything. You lost to Yu Shewen in swimming and the response from an American Olympic official is that her times look suspicious, you lose to Bolt and your response is he is on drugs. When it is not drugs, people ran in your lane. Get a grip America!!!!!!!! YOU WERE DEFEATED AND IT WAS HANDED TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! COME HARDER NEXT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This olympics America was struck by a lightening Bolt, attacked by a Beast and bitten by a weirwolf! Go team Jamaica and Big Up to bolt, blake and weir on their stunning performance 123 for Jamaica!!!!!!!!!1

[darrren12000]

I can say one thing: these posts are HILARIOUS! The best one is the one saying Jamaica is too poor to use performance-enhancing drugs! Great. Yet it can send teams to the Olympics. Did they swim to London?

On the flip side, people who are already certain that Bolt has used drugs - just by looking. Okie dokie. Let it rest. Certainly, the authorities will come checking on him. I do not doubt this.

Personally - I found his reaction a bit strong. For someone who had just swept the Olympics, he is in a clear position of power. He could have just decided "not to dignify Lewis's comments." Instead, he goes on a rampage (lost all respect). It does raise the eyebrow.

[ReppinSam]

If you were to consistently work at something hours everyday for years, while giving up: Advance Educational Opportunities, Time with Family and Friends, and going without physical injuries; all to achieve a dream you had that could end within the time frame of 4-6 years, I am pretty sure you would defend yourself against people who are jealous and don't wish you well.

How would you react after literally just proving some ability on the field to having to respond to those same people who would not even acknowledge your success?

You must be kidding me if you think he didn't handle it well. And you can take it to the bank that had someone criticize Lewis at the 1988 Olympics in the same way, he would of had to be restrained.

Simple rule of life: Accusations should be made when people have their facts straight.

[forevertj]

I have been a bodybuilder for well over 20 years and I know everything there is to know about "doping". I can tell by looking at Bolt's musculature that he is on steroids. Even if he is not on steroids then he most certainly is taking HGH. The man is not natural, and calling him out on it is perfectly acceptable. The man is cheating. Marion Jones found out the hard way that the olympic committee freezes the blood of the athletes and tests them many years after the events for drugs that are at the time, undetectable. 10 years or less from now, he will be found out as a cheater. His ego and his arrogance also reminds me of bodybuilders. The increased testosterone makes you act oddly.

It is a shame that he is being called the world's fastest man. *

Remember that *

If Barry Bonds gets one, so too does Bolt.

Innocent until proven guilty applies only to a court of law, mainly in the USA. In the court of public opinion, there is no such thing. He is guilty until he prooves otherwise.

[bradz2010]

JEALOUSY is the ugliest trait!!!!! This is why America is the most hated country in the world!!!! And it is really sad because there are alot of nice American people but there are a few people who make America hated and Carl Lewis and the American olympic officials are apart of those few. People don't hate American's because of envy, it is just becuase of their NASTY traits and bad sportsmanship and jealousy is among these.

I happen to know Usain Bolt since he was a kid and he was always fast, he was breaking world records since his teenage years ( world junior championships world record for 400m). Carl Lewis knows he did not and will never measure up to Usain Bolt and the idea that he did this naturally is just hard for him to accepts becuase he just doesn't MEASURE UP!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are the reasons:

100m beijing 2008 world record time 9.69s GOLD
200M beijing 2008 world record time 19.32 GOLD
4X100M beijing 2008 world record time 37.10 GOLD
100M Berlin 2009(WC)world record time 9.58s GOLD
200M Berlin 2009(WC)world record time 19.19s GOLD
4X100M Berlin 2009(WC) GOLD
200M Daegu 2011(WC) GOLD
4X100M Daegu 2011(wc)world record time 37.04 GOLD
100M London 2012(wc)olympic record 9.63s GOLD
200M London 2012(wc) 19.32 GOLD
4X100 London 2012(wc)world record time 36.84 GOLD

Results: 11 golds, 7 world record ( this does not include the one he set as a teen in the world youths championship) and he has been undefeated since 2008, HE IS SECOND TO NO ONE!!!!!!!!

Accept it Carl! you don't measure up since your medals were gained while on drugs (tested positive for banned substance 3 times- Actual Proof).

Everytime an American is beaten by someone else the American olympic officials try to tear down the winner to make themselves feel better, that is not good sportmanship and these are not things people should have their kids witness. You cannot always win everything. You lost to Yu Shewen in swimming and the response from an American Olympic official is that her times look suspicious, you lose to Bolt and your response is he is on drugs. When it is not drugs, people ran in your lane. Get a grip America!!!!!!!! YOU WERE DEFEATED AND IT WAS HANDED TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! COME HARDER NEXT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This olympics America was struck by a lightening Bolt, attacked by a Beast and bitten by a weirwolf! Go team Jamaica and Big Up to bolt, blake and weir on their stunning performance 123 for Jamaica!!!!!!!!!1

[mgunn89512]

He's projecting. We know what negative things we are capable of so we believe others must do it and take the hypocritical high-ground.

[CaribbeanGirl1]

Usain isn't on drugs. The man is fit. Jamaica has 3 main sports: cricket (English baseball), track and field & football (Soccer). Jamaicans live a healthier lifestyle in a healthy climate as compared to what Carl Lewis may be used to. Check out what the Jamaican diet consits of. The yellow stuff isn't scrambled eggs either. It's called Ackee: http://www.google.com/search?q=jamaican+breakfast&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YJ4lUIrQJMTW2gW424EI&sqi=2&ved=0CEwQsAQ&biw=1177&bih=592

Jamaican foods in their natural state. These foods are organic, & mostly harvested & eaten within a short period. They don't sit on the shelf for a long time as it would in colder climates. Maybe if Marion Jones or Justin Gatlin or even Carl Lewis were eating foods like these, they wouldn't need drugs to do well.
http://www.jamaicamix.com/Food/JamaicanFruitAndVegetablesPicturePage1.html

[karlkaselvis]

Ben Johnson is a Jamaican and the biggest doper of all time. Nice try slick.

[truebeastmode]

We will never know the truth until the team does a legitimate drug test. Just hope for the Jamaican team that they are not doping because all of their hard work will be erased.

[ugacrew]

What is so controversial about JEALOUSY?

[micmac666]

There certainly is no shortage of inarticulate rhetoric from these athletes OR fans. I'm relieved the games are almost over.

[jahwalks]

Carl Lewis, how low can one go. Remember Ben Johnson?. Remember your own issue with doping?. How dare you slur U.B., the U.S. lost to Jamaica. We've beaten your athletes even in the Penn relays, so beating them at the Worlds and the Olympics is just the expected, and we will continue to do so for years to come, so live with it Mr. lewis