Olympic champion dame kelly holmes opens canning town sport project

By Simon Hayes on February 27, 2008 12:49 PM |

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“ANY athlete who has taken drugs should not be allowed to run again.”

Dame Kelly Holmes pulled no punches as she addressed the issue of drug taking in athletics when she visited east London last week.

She said: “If you take drugs you are cheating the fans, other competitors, the system and yourself. It’s wrong and it sets a bad example for youngsters wanting to get into sport.”

Dame Kelly was critical of self-confessed drug cheat Dwain Chambers, whose successful recent comeback to the sport has embarrassed athletics authorities and drawn widespread condemnation from those who want to see the sport cleaned up.

She said: “He got caught out but he’s also said you have to take drugs to win medals, which just isn’t right. He served his two-year ban but he shouldn’t really be back.”But Dame Kelly, who won the 800m and 1500m at the Athens Olympics in 2004, wanted to be more positive about the future as she helped launch the HEARTS container project in Canning Town on Friday, February 22.

The initiative provides sports equipment for one of the most underprivileged areas in London and Dame Kelly was pleased to lend her support.

“It’s a fantastic idea,” she said. “It’s important to have the equipment to inspire youngsters. You have to start at the grassroots level to encourage young people to participate in sport, because it develops a lot of values like self-esteem, leadership and communication as well as looking after yourself.”

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk