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Campbell stands firm over celebration boycott

14/08/2006

Darren Campbell has explained he felt it inappropriate to celebrate Great Britain's 4x100m relay gold at the European Championships in Gothenburg because of the inclusion in the team of drugs cheat Dwain Chambers.

The 32-year-old sprinter chose not to complete a lap of honour with team-mates Chambers, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis after their win yesterday and refused to acknowledge them on the podium when collecting their medals.

Speaking today, he revealed that he felt cheated by Chambers, who has admitted to using designer steroid THG, because his subsequent drugs ban cost Campbell his 2002 European relay gold and his 2003 world relay silver medal.

"I just felt that the fact that I have lost two medals because of what occurred with Dwain, I just didn't feel it was appropriate to do the lap of honour," he told radio station LBC News 1152.

"I made my feelings clear to the management and I didn't feel it was appropriate. I don't really want to discuss it too much further. For me it is more a case I stood by Dwain with regard to not feeling that he was solely accountable."

Campbell also urged Chambers to "expose the people" that introduced him to taking the steroids "so we can protect another youngster from getting into that situation".

The Manchester sprinter's comments and actions have been met largely with criticism. John Regis, the former European 200m champion, told BBC Radio Five Live he felt Campbell was wrong to make a public statement about his discontent.

"I'm disappointed with Darren. He should have aired his concerns in private and not in public," Regis said. "If he felt so strongly against the situation with Dwain, then he had the choice of standing aside and letting someone else take his place.

"Darren doesn't pick the team. The team officials made the decision but Darren had the chance not to run. He has been a great ambassador for British athletics and he is one of the best athletes this country has seen but I think he has got it wrong and his actions have taken away the sheen of the team winning European gold."

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