Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / ATHLETICS
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Athletics Contents:  Skills | Get Involved

Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 07:53 GMT 08:53 UK

Campbell has no regrets over row

Darren Campbell (L), Marlon Devonish, Mark Lewis-Francis and Dwain Chambers Darren Campbell says he stands by his decision to boycott a lap of honour at the European Championships.

Campbell refused to join his 4x100m relay team-mates as they celebrated their gold in Gothenburg on Sunday.

The 32-year-old was unhappy at the inclusion of Dwain Chambers in the team following his two-year ban for taking the steroid THG.

"I will not regret doing that. At times you have to stand up for what you believe," Campbell told BBC Breakfast.

"The whole situation turned into a farce.

"Every athlete goes out and trains very hard and when you win a medal you want the lap of honour but I could not do it."

"Until we know exactly what happened with Dwain then it is hard to just let it go"
Darren Campbell

Campbell said that he had spoken to Chambers and GB team management about his views and considered not running in the race.

"It was one of those situations where I was caught up in what was the right thing to do," he said.

"Do I not run and lose the medal, or do I take part and help the team win a gold - which they needed?

"A lot of youngsters had gone out there and worked extremely hard and I felt that if we could wrap it off with a gold then that was important. The rest of the younger guys can aspire to achieve great things."

Campbell lost his 2002 European relay gold and 2003 world silver after team-mate Chambers was banned for using performance-enhancing drugs.

And Campbell says those recent memories led to his decision to celebrate away from his team-mates.

FIVE LIVE VIEW
" "
SP

"I have had two laps of honours over the last four years and subsequently lost those medals for doing them," Campbell added.

"It is nothing personal towards Dwain Chambers, Mark Lewis-Francis and Marlon Devonish - they are tremendous athletes - but until we know exactly what happened with Dwain then it is hard to just let it go.

"My biggest fear is that another youngster may get embroiled in a similar situation and we are not able to stop it.

"I cannot stand by and watch maybe another youngster end up in that situation. That would be wrong."

Campbell will make an announcement on his future after the World Junior Championships in Beijing this week, where he will be helping some of Britain's rising stars.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Campbell angry at losing medals (14 Aug 06 |  Athletics )
Campbell row clouds GB relay gold (13 Aug 06 |  Athletics )
Relay men lead British medal rush (13 Aug 06 |  Athletics )
Campbell backs 'wrecked' Chambers (07 Nov 05 |  Athletics )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
European Championships
International Athletics
UK Athletics
How to get involved in athletics
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Athletics Contents:  Skills | Get Involved

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©