Cram questions Christie's appointment
Sunday, 6 August 2006 15:57Steve Cram has questioned the decision to appoint Linford Christie as a mentor to young UK athletes.
UK Athletics have chosen medal-winning Olympians for the roles in the build-up to the 2012 London Olympics, meaning two-times decathlon champion Daley Thompson is joined by 1992 100 metres champion Christie, and there are also roles for Steve Backley and Katharine Merry.
However, middle-distance legend Cram believes the decision is flawed because Christie's involvement in Beijing in 2008 will be restricted following his positive test for nandrolone in 1999 while in semi-retirement.
'It's a difficult one,' Cram told BBC Radio.
'We had all the Dwain Chambers stories - if athletes are allowed to come back and compete, as the rules say, we've got to be very careful about looking at coaches, the type of people and the examples they set and methods they use.
'The biggest issue surrounding Linford at the moment is as far as the BOA (British Olympic Association) are concerned he cannot be involved in Beijing.
'So it begs the question if he does end up with some strong relationships with our sprinters, then what is the point if somewhere in the future, particularly 2008, he isn't going to be able to be involved?
'It's a very difficult one in terms of moral stance on drugs.'
