Sprinter: Hard drugs widely used

Press, 12 October 1988, Page 68

Sprinter: Hard drugs widely used

NZPA-AP Toronto Hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and LSD have been widely used by some Canadian runners in wild attempts to win their races, according to an Olympic sprinter, Angela Bailey. “Cocaine, heroin, LSD, whatever they can do to win, they’ll do it,” said Bailey, who ran in the 100 metres and 400 metre relay at the Seoul Olympics. Her claims to the “Toronto Star” are backed up by John Mumford, her former coach, who has closely followed the progress of what he calls a “squeaky clean” athlete since he left coaching three years ago. Mr Mumford said that he had seen athletes at recent competitions whose hyperventilation after a sprint points to “amphetamine and cocaine use.” Bailey was not surprised by Angella

Issajenko’s admission in an earlier “Toronto Star” story that she had taken steroids for years. In 1983, Bailey had accused Issajenko and Molly Killingbeck of using anabolic steroids. She said she knows of six other athletes, besides Ben Johnson and Issajenko, who use steroids. Issajenko had also accused Johnson of steroid use in a previous story. However, Issajenko, the Canadian 100 m and 200 m champion, has now issued denials that she and Johnson had both taken steroids. Johnson was stripped of his Olympic gold medal in the 100 m last month after he tested positive for a banned steroid. The Federal Government has appointed the Ontario Associate Chief Justice Charles Dubin to head a judicial inquiry into the Johnson affair and drug

use among Canadian athletes. Bailey said she had been ostracised by fellow athletes for her stand against drugs and, at one point, was threatened along with Mr Mumford by three top Canadian coaches. Gerard Mach, a top Canadian track and field coach, sprint co-ordinator Peter Manning and the Mazda team coach, Charlie Francis, told them in a hotelroom meeting in 1983 that “we should shut up and get on with business,” Mr Mumford said. “Here I am for 10 years I’ve been a clean athlete and I’m running behind an athlete that I know is dirty and they continually say I’m running in her shadow,” said Bailey, the first Canadian female to break the 11-second mark in the 100 m.