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The shock Olympic 100 meter champion seemed to revel in a rival sprinter's doping probe, saying it 'makes me smile'

Aug 13, 2021, 19:00 IST
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Lamont Marcell Jacobs after his 100 meter win. David Ramos/Getty Images
  • The Tokyo 100 meter gold medalist Lamont Jacobs said a doping probe into a sprint rival made him "smile."
  • Jacobs' former nutritionist was embroiled in a steroid scandal last week, leading some to question his integrity.
  • News this week that British sprinter CJ Ujah failed a drugs test has turned attention away from Jacobs' former nutritionist.
  • "I would say that perhaps it is better to look into your own house first and then attack others," Jacobs said.
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A 100 meter sprinter who took a shock gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics has said seeing one of his rivals fail a drugs test makes him "smile."

Italy's Lamont Marcell Jacobs set a European record time of 9.80 seconds on his way to an Olympic gold, but his shock win was brought into question by some soon afterwards.

Last week, it was reported that bodybuilder Giacomo Spazzini, who worked with Jacobs as his nutritionist, was being investigated by Italian police for the use of steroids.

The 26-year-old sprinter's agent, Marcello Magnani, gave a statement confirming that his client had worked with Spazzini but terminated their "professional relationship" in March 2021 after he learned of the investigation.

There is no suggestion that Jacobs has been involved in doping and he has never failed a drugs test.

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Lamont Jacobs became the first man to win Olympic 100 meter gold in the post-Usain Bolt era. Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images
"Doping? The situation has not touched me so much. I know the sacrifices and the blows I went through to get here and instead I want to enjoy it 100 per cent," Jacobs told Italian media outlet Tuttosport.

As well as the individual 100 meters, Jacobs won 4x100 meter relay gold. He ran the second leg for his country as they pipped the British team to the title.

Britain's team included Chijindu "CJ" Ujah, who since the games has been provisionally suspended and is now under investigation by the Athletics Integrity Unit over a failed drug test.

The Brit tested positive for two muscle building substances, Ostarine and S-2. The former is not approved for human consumption in any country. If found guilty, Ujah faces a four-year ban and Team GB would be stripped of its silver medal from the Tokyo Games.

After suggestions that Jacobs could be involved in doping, the Italian athlete seemed to revel in seeing a rival embroiled in a drugs scandal, telling Tuttosport that the news had made him "smile."

"After seeing the Ujah investigation I would say that perhaps it is better to look into your own house first and then attack others. It makes me smile," Jacobs told Tuttosport.

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He was seemingly referring to media coverage that had brought into question the integrity of his win after the revelations about Spazzini.

"It makes me smile, thinking of those people who spoke without thinking about what they were saying, who must now look to their own home instead," he added in an interview with Rai, per Reuters.

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