The world’s fastest man thought his days of given blood and urine to anti-doping officials was over
Usain Bolt, the multiple Olympic gold medalist and 100-meter world record holder, was a little pissed off when he forced to provide urine and blood samples for a doping control officer last month. Bolt apparently thought his drug testing days were behind him once he retired from track and field competition.
Bolt thought wrong. Little did Bolt know he would be tested during the pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. This has taken him to Australia where the retired sprinter is trying out for the Central Coast Mariners Football Club of Australia’s A-League. The A-Leauge is run by the Football Federation Australia (FFA).
This means that all A-League soccer players are subject to the FFA Anti-Doping Policy. The Anti-Doping Policy is compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and administered by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
“Bolt was taken by surprise when an ASADA doping control officer selected him for testing”
Bolt was taken by surprise when an ASADA doping control officer selected him for testing. Bolt expressed his displeasure with a short rant about it in a video he uploaded to Instagram.
“So guys I’ve retired from track and field looking to become a footballer but look at this,” Bolt said. “How am I going to get a drug test today? I’m not even a professional footballer yet. Seriously!
“So I asked the lady, ‘Why am I getting drug tested when I haven’t signed for a club yet?’ and she said they told her I’m an elite athlete so I have to get tested. Okay then.”
Bolt was roundly criticized for complaining about the drug tests by anti-doping crusaders around the world. If Bolt really supported efforts to rid sports of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), he would have gladly peed in a cup and parted with a few vials of his blood according to those crusaders. Bolt has since deleted the video.
As far as Bolt’s prospects as a professional soccer player are concerned, Bolt was offered a contract by the Central Coast Mariners after the end of his two-month trial period. The contract reportedly offered him $150,000 per year. This was far less than the $3 million he had hoped to earn.
Ricky Simms, the director of PACE Sports Management, believes that he can still land a professional soccer contract for Bolt elsewhere. Of course, Bolt will probably be asked for more blood and urine wherever he goes.
Anything is possible don’t think limits pic.twitter.com/bcLgxnBB8x
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) October 12, 2018