Powell weakened by blood tests
Jamaican sprint star Asafa Powell has claimed he has given so much blood to the drugs testers he will not be at his best for the 100 metres final.
Powell, who twice broke the 100m world record, says he has been tested four times since arriving in Beijing two weeks ago and expects to be tested again tomorrow.
As a result, he is worried about the effect on himself and his team-mates.
“Two days ago, I got pretty upset because since I’ve been here they’ve tested me four times,” he said.
“They take blood. I’m saying that they’re taking so much blood, we’re going to be very weak before the final of the 100m.
“I’m almost sure I might be tested tomorrow. I don’t know about anyone else but they’re really doing it in my case and with my team-mates Michael Frater and Usain Bolt.”
Athletes at Beijing will be the most tested in history and the authorities are likely to pay particular attention to the sprinters as the last two 100m Olympic champions have been exposed as drugs cheats.
Athens winner Justin Gatlin is serving a four-year ban for doping offences while Tim Montgomery, Sydney winner, was a client of BALCO, the San Francisco laboratory which produced the designer steroid THG.
Powell added: “They’re saying they’re doing about 4,000 tests.
“It’s just very difficult to catch everyone but I hope they can do it and make this Olympics clean.”
