Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081119/article_381187.htm
Liu coach offered bribe for tell-all tale
Created: 2008-11-19 1:30:31
Author:Yang Lifei
THE first coach of Liu Xiang told a Beijing newspaper that foreign journalists offered him 100,000 euros (US$126,440) to reveal that the star hurdler used performance-enhancing drugs.
The coach, Gu Baogang, denied that Shanghai native Liu had ever used drugs, rejecting an offer by a group of journalists from seven countries, including France, Italy, Sweden and Germany. They met on an undisclosed day in 2007 when Gu was training some of his athletes at the Yichuan Middle School in Shanghai's Putuo District, The First reported yesterday. Accompanied by Chinese foreign affairs officials, the journalists, who were not identified, interviewed Gu at the track.
"Their first question was whether Liu had ever taken dope," Gu told The First. "I replied through a female interpreter that it was a silly question as they should ask the World Anti-Doping Agency, which has the authority to give such information."
The journalists continued asking similar questions until one took out a check and said Gu could receive an interview fee of 100,000 euros.
"They told me the sum could be raised," Gu was quoted as saying. "I replied that it was no use increasing the sum because Liu had never taken dope."
Liu became a national hero when he won a gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Two years later he set a world record in the event with a time of 12.88 seconds, which has since been beaten by Cuba's Dayron Robbles. On August 31, 2007, Liu became world champion in the 110m hurdles. He was forced to pull out of Beijing Olympics in August due to an Achilles injury.
The coach, Gu Baogang, denied that Shanghai native Liu had ever used drugs, rejecting an offer by a group of journalists from seven countries, including France, Italy, Sweden and Germany. They met on an undisclosed day in 2007 when Gu was training some of his athletes at the Yichuan Middle School in Shanghai's Putuo District, The First reported yesterday. Accompanied by Chinese foreign affairs officials, the journalists, who were not identified, interviewed Gu at the track.
"Their first question was whether Liu had ever taken dope," Gu told The First. "I replied through a female interpreter that it was a silly question as they should ask the World Anti-Doping Agency, which has the authority to give such information."
The journalists continued asking similar questions until one took out a check and said Gu could receive an interview fee of 100,000 euros.
"They told me the sum could be raised," Gu was quoted as saying. "I replied that it was no use increasing the sum because Liu had never taken dope."
Liu became a national hero when he won a gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Two years later he set a world record in the event with a time of 12.88 seconds, which has since been beaten by Cuba's Dayron Robbles. On August 31, 2007, Liu became world champion in the 110m hurdles. He was forced to pull out of Beijing Olympics in August due to an Achilles injury.
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