New British champion Ojie Edoburun criticises Christian Coleman after surprise 100 metres win
The 23-year-old claimed a surprise victory in the 100 metres at the British Championships in Birmingham
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Your support makes all the difference.New British 100 metres champion Ojie Edoburun has criticised the conduct of American Christian Coleman after the sprinter was charged with a potential anti-doping rule violation.
Coleman has thrice missed drugs tests in the last year and will face an arbitration hearing next month ahead of the 2019 World Championships, which begin on 28 September in Doha.
And while Coleman is confident of being cleared to run in Doha, Edoburun suggested he should have had a better handle on his responsibilities as a world-class athlete.
“I just feel like missing three tests in a year is easily avoidable,” said Edoburun after taking a surprise victory at the British Championships.
“Just handle your responsibilities because at the end of the day the athletes are liable. I know that – so he should, too, if he is the fastest man in the world.”
Under the whereabouts system, athletes must inform officials about where they will be for one hour every day as well as providing details of overnight accommodation and training.
Three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period could lead to a one-year ban, according to the World Anti-Doping Code.
If found guilty, Coleman’s ban would also cause him to miss next summer’s Olympics in Tokyo. Coleman has recorded the fastest 100 metres time in the world this year and was widely considered the favourite for the event in Doha.
Edoburun pipped Adam Gemili and Zharnel Hughes to the British 100 metres crown in Birmingham on Saturday, winning a photo finish as all three recorded in 10.18 seconds.
The 23-year-old’s victory secured his spot on the team for the world championships. It will be his first major senior athletics meet.
And he has little sympathy for potential Doha rival Coleman.
“It’s not good in the sense that athletics gets the most attention when it comes to doping because there is so much other positive stuff to talk about,” he commented.
Elsewhere, Dina Asher-Smith lowered her own British Championship 100 metres record, finishing well clear of the rest of the field in continuing her fine form.
She will not run the 200 metres in Birmingham, and will instead look to secure qualification for the worlds over the longer distance in Zurich next week.
“It was well good, especially considering the headwinds,” said Asher-Smith, who finished more than 0.3 of a second ahead of second-placed Asha Philip.
“I am happy to get the business done and qualify for the world championships. There is no point talking about it unless you have qualified. I am really happy.”
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