Asafa Powell: Jamaica Olympians Over Tested

Jamaican track star Asafa Powell has claimed that he and other Jamaican competitors at the Beijing Olympics are being over tested for drugs.

The athlete, who until May held the world record for the fastest 100 metres, said he feared loss of blood from testing could affect his performance.
 
“About two days ago, I got pretty upset because since I’ve been here, they have tested me four times, and took blood, a lot of blood,” Powell said during a meeting with reporters as Nike’s downtown headquarters in Beijing. “They are taking so much blood that we are going to be very weak for the finals of the 100 metres.”
 
Participants in the 2008 Olympics will be the most tested in history, particularly the sprinters. This is the result of a slew of doping revelations that saw several top athletes being stripped of their medals.
 
“They’re saying they’re doing about 4,000 tests,” said Powell. “It’s just very difficult to catch everyone, but I hope they can do it and make this Olympics clean.”

Olympic drug-testing includes the examination of blood and urine.
 
But according to the Associated Press, Powell is one of about 10 track and field athletes participating in a previously unreported voluntary anti-doping programme, hence the numerous tests.
 
Powell and fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt on Monday checked into the Olympics Village ahead of their 100-metre heats on Friday. The two are set to face off in the highly anticipated race, while America’s Tyson Gay is being touted by the United States media as the spoiler.

Source – Caribbean 360.com

Congratulations Bradley Ally

   Bradley Alley swimming in his semifinal 200 IM Medley in Beijing Thursday placed 4th in Heat 2 today. Bradley clocked a time of 1.59.53 a few secs slower than his previous mark of 1.58.51. Critical secs that stopped him from qualifying for the finals. 

His time of 1.59.53 saw him placing ninth overall narrowly missing out of the top eight for the finals. Nevertheless with a new national record and going where no Caribbean swimmer has gone before we say thank you. 

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In other related news

Caribbean eyes are focused on Jamaica taking the title of the world’s fastest man. As a matter of fact let me be so bold to say 1+ 2. That is gold & silver. So when a friend told me he heard [Asafa] Powell on the radio [interview] stating he had 4 blood tests and there are still more to be taken I say Wuh? Powell went on to say words to the effect that with all these blood tests that are being taken from him he will be too weak to run a race. Hmmm. Do I hear conspiracy?

• YES! Bradley Ally Qualify 200m IM Semifinals Beats Michael Phelps