Michelle Jenneke and Dani Samuels back Mack Horton’s stance on drug cheats

AUSTRALIA’s athletics team have strongly backed their swimmers drug crusade, branding it a bold step forward for sport.

AUSTRALIA’s athletics team have strongly backed their swimmers drug crusade, branding it a bold step forward for sport.

The majority of Australia’s athletics team landed in Rio today and discus star Dani Samuel and glamour girl hurdler Michelle Jenneke spoke out in defence of swimmer Mack Horton’s stance on drug users in sport.

If anything, the track and field team have even more reason to feel strongly about the issue than the swimmers for the athletics world has been among the most tarnished.

Samuels’ sport of discuss a perennial concern.

She has previously spoke out about the need for drug users to be banned for life and you could almost sense her joy that others has joined the crusade.

“I think it is a fantastic thing that athletes are speaking out against drug cheats and countries that have had doping programs,’’ Samuels said.

“We are all trying to compete on a level playing field.

“It is almost even taboo to even say that with everything that has happened with Russian athletes being banned from the Games and the Paralympics. It is a good step forward for clean sport. It gives Australians a better chance. We like to compete clean.

“I have people in my sport who have tested positive in my event in which I have competed against for the last few years. I fully support what people have said.’’

Michelle Jenneke has backed Mack Horton’s vocal stance on drug cheats. Picture: Adam Head

Discus thrower Dani Samuels just wants a level playing field.

Jenneke, whose face has been plastered around Rio on giant billboards as part of a Coke advertising campaign, agreed.

“I think it is good that people are speaking out about the drug problem we do have in sports throughout the world,’’ Jenneke said.

“I am fully against drug cheats and if we can promote clean sports we should. Speaking out is one of the ways.

“You never really know in a race what they are doing. All I know is that when I one up for a race I am clean and I am going to race as fast as I can.

Jenneke said she enjoyed being one of the faces of the Games.

“I am so excited to be in Rio. It is pretty cool getting so much exposure but I will try and block that out and just concentrate on getting over those hurdles as fast as I can.

“All the media exposure is pretty exciting for me. It is so exciting to be part of the coke campaign surround the Olympics. They are such a universal brand.’’

“I will probably do my jig because it really sets me up well for races. I don’t really think about it. It just happens.”

Originally published as Michelle Jenneke and Dani Samuels back Mack Horton’s stance on drug cheats