Lamont Marcell Jacobs, the surprise Italian winner of the men's 100m at the Olympic Games, claimed he "smiled" when he heard about CJ Ujah's probable doping violation and advised British sport to "look at your own situation first before criticising others."
After Ujah was disqualified for an alleged anti-doping violation less than a week after the Tokyo Olympics ended, Britain's 4x100m relay squad could lose their silver medals.
Italy won gold by 0.01 seconds, giving Jacobs his second gold medal of the Games after storming to victory in the sport's blue riband event.However, Jacobs' success was quickly questioned once it was revealed that his former sports nutritionist, Giacomo Spazzini, a professional bodybuilder, was the focus of a police investigation into the alleged usage of anabolic steroids to improve athletic performance.
Jacobs, who stunned the athletics world by winning sprint gold in Tokyo with a European record of 9.80 seconds, confirmed he had split with Spazzini earlier this year after learning of the investigation, with his agent Marcello Magnani telling Telegraph Sport: "I confirm you that Marcell stopped to work with Giacomo Spazzini in March, as soon as he knew about the investiture."
But, while speaking about the charges for the first time, he also took a shot at Britain, after the Athletics Integrity Unit claimed that Ujah tested positive for S-23 – Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs), which aid muscle building, and Ostarine, an anabolic steroid, during the Games.
"Doping allegations? "I know the sacrifices and pains I've gone through to get here, and instead I want to enjoy it 100 percent," Jacobs told Unomattina, an Italian TV breakfast show.
"After watching the inquiry into Ujah, I'd suggest that you examine your own circumstances before attacking others." The entire situation is smile.
Meanwhile, British Olympic Association chair Hugh Robertson called Ujah's alleged breach as "very unfortunate news," as Ujah and his teammates Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty, and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake faced the possibility of losing their medals.
"While the process is ongoing, the athlete, of course, is innocent until proven guilty, but it's a process that we at Team GB and indeed across sport must respect," Robertson told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.
"Unfortunately, the athlete has been provisionally suspended. That is obviously devastating news for him, as well as everyone else who is affected by it, including the other athletes in his relay team."Robertson lauded Team GB's operation at Tokyo 2020 as a "amazing success" earlier this week as the remaining British athletes returned home with 65 medals - but that figure will be lowered if Ujah is found guilty.
Robertson also revealed that his team has spoken with Ujah since the shocking news broke, but he wouldn't go into detail about what they said, emphasizing that "those conversations should very rightly remain personal."
"I am quite dissatisfied," he continued. When you've got a wonderful high like we've had with the Olympics, that's unavoidable. The staff did a fantastic job. Of course, this is just one example among many, but it illustrates the point."I believe we need to be honest about it, respect the process and the outcome, and then, if something has gone wrong - which we don't know yet - we need to do everything we can to correct it."
Ujah has the right to offer a "B" sample for further analysis under standards imposed by the International Testing Agency, which obtained the positive sample on August 6 after racing in the men's relay in Tokyo. "We'll see what happens," Robertson said. "As I've said, he's innocent until proven guilty, and then the process will run its course from there."
In the 4x100 relay final, Ujah, the reigning national champion in the 100m, raced the opening leg.Filippo Tortu of Italy chased down GB's anchor-leg runner, and Britain had to settle for silver.
"You feel tremendously awful for them," Robertson said when asked about the other three members of the British relay team. "But every single athlete who competes at an Olympic Games understands exactly what the rules are."
"We spend a lot of time and money educating athletes about the anti-doping ramifications. They are aware of the regulations and the repercussions if something goes wrong."
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