Darren Campbell would not Encourage his Kids to Run Track

On a recent BBC 5 Live Radio show (link to radio show archive and MP3 below), Darren Campbell says he would not encourage his three children to follow him into athletics, as the recent doping claims have made him lose faith in the sport.

(If you don’t know who England’s Darren Campbell is, read about his diet compared to 10.29 Peter Radford, or you can here his commentary on Christophe Lemaitre, or even his reflections on winning the 4X100m Relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics against the heavily favoured USA.)

On the radio show, Darren, who is currently the sprint coach at Cardiff City F.C., quoted:

“I wouldn’t encourage my kids to do athletics. Every time there’s an allegation of systematic doping, it is very difficult to keep believing in the sport.”

“At that highest level, do we believe that the athletes are doing what they are doing clean?”

“It takes me back to the rumours that I heard when I was 17 or 18, that certain athletes were protected.”

I’ll save my commentary and opinions for another article.

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Download the BBC Radio 5 live Special – Can we believe in athletics anymore?