What started as a charge that Carl Lewis had taken banned substances before the 1988 Olympics and the US Olympic Committee had covered it up has turned into a turf war between the World Anti-Doping Agency and the various national and international federations. The first shot was fired by Wade Exum, former USOC Director for Drug Control, who released classified documents detailing how more than 100 US athletes had tested positive from 1988 to 2000 and were allowed to continue competing (19 won Olympic medals). The fallout:Exum: The papers show that athletes such as Carl Lewis and Mary-Joe Fernandes tested positive, but were allowed by the USOC to compete (in the ’88 Games) anywayDick Pound (WADA chief): It’s what many people suspected about the USOC, that it was being covered up. There were lots of rumours around.Frank Marshall (USOC Vice-President): I find it ironic that Dr Exum was actually running the programme he claims was so flawed.The controversy then shifted to Carl Lewis’ status as an athletic icon, and excuses that his was a case of ‘‘inadvertent use’’ were rife.Pound: At the time this happened, Lewis already had four gold medals from the Olympics. You know perfectly well you’ve got to be very careful of what you take. The more we know the better it is.IAAF chief Lamine Diack: It is not WADA’s problem. It is not for WADA to call for an investigation.The scene then shifts to control over anti-doping measuresRune Andersen (WADA Director): Federations must take responsibility. If it turns out that more than one athlete violated the rules, there is something wrong with the system, the federation should face a penalty.Diack: I will not have WADA telling us what to do. WADA is supposed to be a service provider, not the world’s policeman for doping. We have been at the forefront of fighting drug cheats, we don’t need any lessons from WADA.The wheel turns full circle as, on Saturday, it was revealed that the IAAF had cleared Lewis and other athletes back in 1988, before the Games. The baton now passes to Exum, WADA and anyone who cares to pick it up
