Bolt apologises for dope comments

Eurosport - Tue, 14 Apr 15:03:00 2009

Jamaican Olympic sprint hero Usain Bolt has apologised over his comments on youthful marijuana use as reported in a German newspaper.

ATHLETICS Usain Bolt portrait - 0

"I want to apologise to the Jamaican people if at anytime it may have come across that all young people roll a joint,'" Bolt said in a statement issued through his manager Norman Peart.

"I would also like to urge the upcoming stars to stay away from any kind of drugs, as it is not of any value to them or the sport you participate in."

Bolt, who stormed to three sprint golds in world record times at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was quoted by the Bild tabloid as saying "When you're a child in Jamaica, you learn how to roll a joint."

The statement noted that Bolt, "although admitting to trying marijuana as a child, has never used it as a competitor."

The Bild story sparked a storm of criticism in Jamaica, and Bolt called the situation "unfortunate."

The Bild article noted that Bolt said marijuana was not part of his lifestyle.

"Nobody in my family or those close to me smoke, and I don't hang out with people who smoke," the 22-year-old said.

AFP

Comment 29 - 48 of 48

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  1. weed is life for many ...for fun ,for sickness ,for­ addiction

    From Dareton, on Thu 16 Apr 5:16PM

  2. i am a jamaican i dont smoke weed now but the truth is­ when i was young i use to roll it and smoke it like­ the great bob marley..he is right but he have to watch­ is mouth cause the world is watching to see something­ wrong

    From Dareton, on Thu 16 Apr 5:14PM

  3. It's apity that Usain has to apologize for simply­ stating a fact. You know, as well as I do, that­ Jamaicans favorite lollie (or call it whatever) is the­ Joint. However, if you are a proffession sport man, his­ advice came in handy. Usain, didn't have to­ aplolgise.

    From kaw, on Tue 14 Apr 7:15PM

  4. Its true its true what Usain Bolt said.All Jamaican­ kids are stoned most of the time.

    From kenneth, on Tue 14 Apr 7:09PM

  5. Never apologise.

    From humphreylees, on Tue 14 Apr 7:08PM

  6. i wud say same with our kids in uk and its not just on­ council estates either every1 smokes it!!!

    From nugent360, on Tue 14 Apr 6:41PM

  7. Its not every child touch a joint of what ever slags­ are now used..... so im glad he apologies for this­ statement...

    From sexyukangel, on Tue 14 Apr 6:32PM

  8. Its not every child touch a joint of what ever slags­ are now used..... so im glad he apologies for this­ statement...

    From sexyukangel, on Tue 14 Apr 6:31PM

  9. Who cares I would say80% of the living world has tried­ a joint who gives a F&*^

    From tippersbob, on Tue 14 Apr 6:31PM

  10. whatever happened to no comment?

    From Tiffanyisthelaw, on Tue 14 Apr 6:29PM

  11. I'm not going to defend or support what Usain Bolt­ said however, If a person makes a statement about a­ subject that was put to him/her, (drugs for example)­ are they to be condemned or supported? If what was said­ taken out of context then, that's down to the­ media. Also, it's down to the person(s) to make­ sure they censor what they say to the media.

    From , on Tue 14 Apr 6:23PM

  12. You can fully understand why all sports people just­ give bland, boring stock statements their whole careers­ when these jackals with laptops swarm like locusts over­ anything remotely interesting they may say. It is­ pathetic.

    From pete c, on Tue 14 Apr 6:13PM

  13. Bolt should be ashamed of himself for saying such a­ thing about his own country - which is horribly­ untrue

    I am Jamaican born and bred and I know

    From Tiffanyisthelaw, on Tue 14 Apr 6:10PM

  14. The Idiot ill informed press pack strike again, making­ him state over and over that it is not part of his­ 'lifestyle'!!?? Oh yeah, you want to be the­ worlds best sprinter so you smoke dope!!!!!! ­ That's when you are not encasing your feet in­ concrete or eating 20 Big Macs a day to also aid your­ performance!!!!

    The moronic insinuation is that,­ Athlete runs 9.69 for 100m so maybe he is smoking dope?­ AGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

    The media today ..or­ maybe always.......treats everyone like........they are­ smoking dope I suppose! ;o)

    From pete c, on Tue 14 Apr 6:10PM

  15. I AM APPALLED - not just as Bolt's comments which­ are untrue but also the comments on this artice.

    I was­ born and raised in Jamaica Kingston, same as Bolt and I­ NEVER learnt to roll a joint and NEVER smoked weed or­ anything at all, for that matter.

    It's horrible­ and shameful that his comments are bringing an entire­ nation down and creating horrible impressions to the­ international community.

    And to the IGNORANT persons­ who have the audacity to diss my country and my people,­ shame on you. Do not speak of things of which you do­ not know.

    If you believe Bolt's careless comments­ you are foolish and gullible - sorry no other words for­ it.

    Bolt is a brilliant athlete but that is ALL he is­ - he is not the sole reprentation of my country - this­ is precisely why i wish athletes would shut the hell up­ - they sometimes have NO SENSE at all.

    Tiffany L

    From Tiffanyisthelaw, on Tue 14 Apr 6:09PM

  16. who said it was drug? the goverment, its a plant

    From markngaz, on Tue 14 Apr 6:02PM

  17. who cares, get a life

    From markngaz, on Tue 14 Apr 6:01PM

  18. If a white english person made these comments it would­ be deemed racist. I am not saying he is racist because­ he isnt as far as i know. The point to be made is that­ if you say something about a group of people or a­ nation, it can be right without being racist. If you­ are stating the facts, they should come before someone­ being a racist. From what I heard Bolt smokes raw-heads­ anyway.

    From KarlB, on Tue 14 Apr 4:58PM

  19. USAIN BOLT NAH LINGER!!!

    From GullyGang, on Tue 14 Apr 4:56PM

  20. fsousalobo - I 100% agree with your comment. It's­ shameless deceipt and trickery - for what purpose?­ I'm so sick of this rubbish. And I thought things­ might improve after the Jade Goody saga.

    From murray, on Tue 14 Apr 4:55PM
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