Lewis Claims Some Medalists Using Illegal Drugs

In an interview that aired Friday night in Great Britain, Carl Lewis told Intervideo TV Production that some medalists in track and field’s World Championships have been using performance-enhancing drugs.

“There’s a strange air about these championships,” he said. “There are a lot of people coming out of nowhere. I don’t think they are doing it without drugs.

“It’s a definite aid to people who have already won in these championships. I could run 9.8 or faster (in the 100 meters). If I could jump into drugs, I’d do it right away.”

Lewis ran 9.93 in the 100 last Sunday, finishing second to Canadian Ben Johnson, who won in a world-record time of 9.83 seconds.

Lewis, who won the long jump Saturday, would not name anyone he suspected of using drugs that are banned by the International Olympic Committee, but he implicated Eastern Bloc athletes and competitors in throwing events.

“If I wanted something investigated, I’d go to Carl,” said American discus thrower John Powell, who won a silver medal Friday night. “Sherlock Lewis, isn’t that what they call him? I’m sure Carl has been down in the laboratory testing the samples.”

Dr. Leroy Walker, president of The Athletics Congress, said Lewis had “cast a cloud over the championships” without evidence.

The International Amateur Athletic Federation, which governs the World Championships, has not announced the results of drug tests at this competition. An Australian javelin thrower, Susan Howland, was prohibited from competing here after testing positive at another meet this summer.

The IAAF announced last week that it has increased penalties for those testing positive for drugs. For the first offense, an athlete will be suspended for two years. For the second offense, the athlete will be banned for life.

Asked to elaborate Saturday night on his television interview, Lewis said: “I’m not going to point fingers at anyone. That’s not fair. But we have to make an effort to clean up the sport.”