British sprinter Zharnel Hughes says he wants the doping investigation into team-mate CJ Ujah to be allowed to take place “without prejudice” – but insists athletes need a clean sport.
Ujah has been provisionally suspended after a positive drugs test.
It came less than a week after he, Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake won 4x100m relay Olympic silver in Tokyo.
“Let the process run its course,” said 26-year-old Hughes.
In a post on social media, he said: “I’ve not posted since the Olympics because of a situation out of my control – one I am not involved in, but may be impacted by.
“It would be easier to say nothing, but I think it’s important to say that as athletes we need two things.
“First and foremost, a clean sport. The authorities are there to protect sport – something every athlete needs for fair competition.
“We also need to ensure that athletes finding themselves under the spotlight must have a fair hearing in their case, without prejudice.”
Ujah has denied wrongdoing and said he is “shocked and devastated” after a drugs test showed the “presence/use” of two prohibited substances – ostarine and S-23 – which help with building muscle.
If the case against him is proved, the British relay quartet are likely to be stripped of their silver medals.
BBC/Emmanuel Ukoh
