Mumbai, Jan 14 (IANS) The United States’ track and field legend Edwin Moses on Thursday took a dig at athletes who were involved in doping scandals recently, saying that he is someone who represents clean athletes.
Moses, 60, won gold medals in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Between 1977 and 1987, he won 107 consecutive finals (122 consecutive races) and set the world record in his event four times.
In addition to his running, Moses was also an innovative reformer in the areas of Olympic eligibility and drug testing. In 2000, he was elected the first chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, an international service organisation of world class athletes.
“I am the chairman of the US anti-doping agency. Going back to the 70s and 80s I was one of the athletes who believed in true sports. I never took medical supplements but believed in diet and exercising. I could always say I represented the clean athletes. I don’t want to see anyone in any sport use drugs, it’s disgusting,” Moses said at a press conference here.
Moses has been named as the international event ambassador of the 13th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, to be held here on January 17.
“It’s been my philosophy that I don’t want my daughter or your daughter to be in a sport, it can be gymnastics or basketball — it doesn’t matter, where they have to use drugs to be competitive. That will always be my philosophy,” he said.
Asia’s richest marathon with a prize money of $3,77,000, Mumbai marathon will witness an array of Indian and international athletes participating for the top honour.
A total of 40,285 runners will participate from different corners of the world.
Leading the international pack will be record holders, Uganda’s Jackson Kiprop (men) and Kenyan Valentine Kipketer (women).
Among the Indians, the trio of O.P. Jaisha, Lalita Babar and Sudha Singh will lead the race.
The 60-year-old also hit out at athletics’ governing body, without naming it.
“I think the federation has let the athletes down. Athletes deserve a federation to be accountable. Federation owes a lot to the athletes. I think it’s a travesty what’s happened,” the Ohio-born said.
“From an athlete’s point of view it’s disgusting. We have to make sure anybody and everybody — athletes, coaches, federation — is accountable. Everyone has to have the same amount of accountability,” Moses concluded.