Olympic champion Wells criticises new doping allegations

Olympic champion Allan Wells has hit out at fresh allegations made by the BBC that he took performance-enhancing drugs.

Edinburgh-born Wells, who won gold in the 100 metres at the 1980 Moscow Games, reacted furiously after receiving a letter from BBC Scotland.

The letter alleged Wells and six other athletes were supplied with the banned steroid Stromba by James Ledingham, who was doctor to British Olympic sprinters at the Moscow Olympics.

Drew McMaster and David Jenkins, who together with Wells were members of the Scotland team that won 4x100m relay gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, have previously admitted taking banned substances.

McMaster repeated to the BBC allegations he first made in the 1990s that both Wells and Cameron Sharp, the other member of the quartet, had taken drugs.

Both Wells and Sharp have always vigorously denied the claims.

Wells said in quotes carried by Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Once again I find myself having to deny these false and malicious rumours regarding doping that threaten to do untold damage to my reputation.

"I strenuously denied any involvement in doping at that time and I will continue to do so."

The BBC have yet to broadcast their allegations and Wells, now 63, said: "It is sad that these assertions continue to be made and given credence by BBC Scotland, especially since neither Dr Ledingham nor Cameron (Sharp) are able to address them in the manner I am able to."

Ledingham is no longer alive, while Sharp was left mentally and physically disabled by a car accident in 1991.

Wells' wife Margot, a renowned sprint coach who has worked with a number of leading athletes and rugby players, said the improvement in her husband's performance which saw him win gold in Moscow -- in a Games boycotted by US athletes because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan -- was down to late improvement and intensive training.

"Allan did improve very quickly," said Margot Wells.

"He went from not being a sprinter to being a top class sprinter. Why? Because he worked harder than anyone else. He didn't get it on ability alone, he got it through sheer hard work."
Source: AFP