Scotland’s legendary runner, Liz McColgan, has urged international athletics to introduce tougher sanctions against drug cheats ahead of the Rio Olympics.
McColgan, who surged to the world 10,000m title in Tokyo in 1991, said there was “no excuse” for athletes, coaches and countries not to be aware of the regulations laid down by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
And she claimed yesterday that the sport had to take the toughest-possible action to avoid a spate of negative headlines at the Games in Brazil in August.
McColgan said: “I’m a firm believer in imposing life bans for athletes who dope, their coaches should also be banned, and their agents and governing bodies fined. Our sport will not be clean until we stand united and enforce the rules.
“Any countries which do not follow WADA’s rules for testing should not be allowed to compete in international competition. And if any athletes from these countries set world records or personal bests, they should not be ratified.
“The fact is that, in this day and age, there is absolutely no excuse for countries not following the rules and adhering to the regulations.”
It’s 25 years since the Dundonian stormed to gold on the global stage, but she has lost none of her enthusiasm for track and field and was delighted when the Scottish marathon trio, Callum and Derek Hawkins and Tsegai Tewelde booked their places in the Team GB squad for the Olympics last week.
She said: “When I was chair of Scottishathletics, we created the Liz McColgan endurance squad.
“I identified promising athletes and it is amazing to see so many of them doing well and getting included in Team GB.
“My passion is still with endurance running and that is where we are strongest just now, which is brilliant.
“I’m based in Doha now [where McColgan’s daughter, Eilish, will take part in Friday’s Diamond League event], but I still think it’s very important we keep getting Scottish youngsters involved in athletics.
“It’s not all about winning medals, but so many kids are inactive these days, playing computer games or on their IPads or whatever. We need to get them doing exercise and our clubs are the best way to drive that process forward.
“So we require investment in our club system and we need to encourage coaches to help inspire the next generation of Scots.”
McColgan’s daughter has been forced to combat a series of injuries as she attempts to secure an Olympic berth, but she has the full support of her mother in that quest.
“I am very proud of her and she is putting in a lot of hard work at the moment,” said McColgan.
“She has shown a lot of character with the injuries she has had, but she is in great shape at the moment, so fingers crossed that she can make the team for Rio.”
