Backatya - I will also add the steroids 'caught' in Linfords case were steroids natural to the body where in some cases can come from many many sources - it's just like the food we eat, if you really knew what was in them you' see how easy it would be to fail a drugs test. I remember Linford used to do the Lucozade adverts - I wouldn't be surprised if today there are substances which are now on the banned list which were not there ten years ago which mean drinking Lucozade is now an athletic crime.

When I mention the time over which Linfords career has spanned, this also includes the reality that in athletics what is legal today can be illegal tomorrow so from athletes trying evolve with the times (legally) to those set in their regime/regimen my benefit of the doubt for Linford also stems from this perspective....you can take a substance simply because it isn't on the list, it's no different to a new remedy for hayfever coming out tomorrow.

Admittedly I can see how easy it would be for an athlete to play the game but in this case benefit of the doubt it is. Unlike mummys boy Colin Jackson, Linford was alienated from and by the press, he was never in their good books, from stories about his babymammas to his lunchbox, he has been the target of a witch hunt for years.

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