Olympics 2016: Sally Pearson resigned to fact doping will be part of Rio Games

SALLY Pearson knows drug cheats will always be on the starting lines of world sport, with the hurdler sadly resigned to the fact doping will be part of Rio Games.

Sally Pearson at the Australian Olympic Committee press conference marking one year to go until the Rio Olympics. Picture. Phil Hillyard

SALLY Pearson knows drug cheats will always be on Olympic starting lines, including in Rio next year.

The Aussie champion just can’t figure out how those dopers live with themselves at the finish.

“I can’t imagine going out, into the stadium and onto the track, knowing that I have taken performance enhancing drugs and feeling good about myself when I cross the finishing line,” Pearson said.

Pearson made her comment on Wednesday as the one year mark to the Rio 2016 Games ticked by at the same time a drugs saga is rocking athletics.

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Reports in Europe this week suggested widespread doping based on “abnormal” results in a leaked database of 12,000 blood tests from 5000 competitors, dating back to 2000.

The International Association of Athletics Federations shot back at the reports, labelling them sensationalist and a “declaration of war”. But Pearson is sadly resigned to the fact doping will be part of the 2016 Olympics.

“Unfortunately it’s going to be there,” Pearson said.

“I don’t know how confident I am about how clean it’s going to be in Rio.”

Pearson said her response to news of positive drugs tests were always mixed — part disappointment and part relief a cheat has been caught.

And while she believes she hasn’t yet been robbed of any result by a cheat, she sympathises with Aussie teammates like walker Jarred Tallent, who was beaten into silver by Russian drug cheat Sergey Kirdyapkin in the 50km race in 2012.

Sally Pearson (L), Mark Knowles, Madonna Blyth and Joe Ingles. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“If I was one of those athletes where I had an experience taken away from me, then I would probably feel differently. My blood would be boiling, like Jared’s,” Pearson said.

“We had a fifth-place getter in London, she was a drug cheat from Turkey. I am glad she didn’t get a medal but at the same time she made a final and took that away from someone.

“Fortunately at this time I haven’t been affected by it at a major championships, or I hope I haven’t. I can’t imagine what Jarred feels.”

Australian Olympic team chef de mission Kitty Chiller said the Australian team would have a zero tolerance to doping in Rio.

“If you dope, or to be blunt if you cheat, and you’re a member of the Australian Olympic team, we will name, shame and put you on a plane,” she said

Originally published as Olympics 2016: Sally Pearson resigned to fact doping will be part of Rio Games