Doping: Michael Johnson devolve medalha

Michael Johnson anunciou que vai devolver a última medalha de ouro que ganhou nos Jogos Olímpicos, na estafeta de 4x400 metros, em Sydney 2000, por concordar que ela foi ganha de forma injusta - um dos seus companheiros, Antonio Pettigrew, confessou estar dopado.
Num artigo no seu site pessoal e hoje publicado no Daily Telegraph, de Londres, Michael Johnson desfere um violento ataque ao seu antigo companheiro e amigo e, num gesto sem precedentes, anuncia que vai devolver, voluntariamente, a última das suas cinco medalhas de ouro ganhas em Jogos Olímpicos.
Alguns extractos:
«The news that Antonio was expected to testify to having taken performance-enhancing drugs shocked me like no other drug-related story. Having received news over the past few years of many other athletes having cheated, I had reached a point of no longer being shocked. But this one was different.
He was someone I considered a friend. We both arrived on the international and professional track scene around the same time and while we sometimes competed against one another in the same event, we developed a friendship early on and always had mutual respect for one another.
Because Antonio has admitted to taking banned substances from 1997 to 2001 there is a good chance that the United States' 4 x 400 relay records and medals won during that time period will come into question. I competed on the 2000 Olympic 4 x 400 relay with Antonio and we also set the 4 x 400 world record together in 1998.» (...)

«I have vigorously defended this sport over the past six or so years since the drug scandals started. I have pointed out how athletics tests its athletes more than any other sport and how it has a zero-tolerance policy and how it is unfair that, because of holding itself to a higher standard, it has become a victim of that.» (...)

«I also said in the past that I don't buy the excuse that coaches are pressuring athletes to use drugs and used myself as an example that in my four years as a junior and 11 years as a professional no one ever approached me about using drugs. Now I realise that when I chose Clyde Hart, the only coach I ever had, because of his reputation for honesty and integrity, I would be shielded from the dirty and dishonest side of the sport and that everyone wasn't as fortunate to have a coach with such a solid reputation, conscience, and righteous moral compass.» (...)

«I am deeply disappointed in Antonio and in the sport of athletics. I now realise that there have been a significant number of athletes and coaches in this sport who have cheated and taken the short cut, and many of them knew who else was cheating. But I will not give up on this sport and the current group of young athletes like Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, Tyson Gay, Christine Ohuruogu, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell. I will continue to support them but the difference is that now I can certainly understand why some fans may be hesitant to do so themselves.» (...)

«As for the gold medal I won with Antonio, and Alvin and Calvin Harrison, who have all admitted to or have tested positive for drugs since 2000 when we won the medal, I'm sure that there will be calls for us to give it back. I'm not sure what will happen with that effort, but I know that the medal was not fairly won and that it is dirty, and so I have moved it from the location where I have always kept my medals because it doesn't belong there. And it doesn't belong to me.
So, as difficult as it is, I will be returning it to the International Olympic Committee because I don't want it. I feel cheated, betrayed and let down.»