Major surprise at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka as Britain takes gold and silver in the women’s 400 metres final.
The gold medallist, Christine Ohuruogu, has only just returned to competition after serving a one-year ban for repeatedly missing dope tests.
“And that,” boomed Steve Cram as the winner embarked on her lap of honour, “will be a massive injection in the arm for British athletics.”
“Right”, I thought, “enough is enough.” But the Minister’s mind works quicker than mine.
I currently have Sky News on in the background, and they are running the story about Ohuruogu, and started it with the words, “After her year of hell…” Sorry? Did I miss something? She missed fucking drugs tests. The BOC said this was down to forgetfullness (no, honest – they’ve just read it verbatim). To forget one is unfortunate, two is careless, but three?
In contrast (and this is a rare concession to ManUre) Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has had to retire because he has not been able to play properly for the better part of four years. Now that is a year of hell. After all, I’m guessing his injuries didn’t occur because he forgot to turn up for training.
Worse still they are saying how Tim Don didn’t really mean to forget his drugs tests either.
No-one wants to be a party pooper, and no-one suggests that she was actually taking drugs, but hasn’t anyone thought to ask the question, “Where the fuck were you? Pissing your National Lottery money up the wall?”
And I can’t help but think back a few short weeks to the Tour de France. Clearly this is something beyond the ability of hacks, because then the issue of people missing drugs testing was a matter that cast shame upon a whole sport and called in to question whether the whole shooting match should be wrapped in. But perhaps this change in attitude can best be explained if I re-wrote that last sentence saying that the issue of “foreigners” missing drugs testing, etc etc…
It’s all a fucking bunch of cunt.
I watched in on French telly. I’ve never heard such mealy-mouthed commentating: “we have to be careful what we say”; “both ladies have absolutely exploded their own personal best times in this frankly quite astonishing final”; “we don’t want to sound ungracious” etc.
Oh for fuck’s sake just SAY IT. She shouldn’t have been there. End of.