Diamond League Herculis (Monaco) 2013

Carmelita Jeter walks out of Monaco Press Conference after doping question

Carmelita Jeter walks out of Monaco Press Conference after doping question

Jul 18, 2013 by Christopher Chavez
Carmelita Jeter walks out of Monaco Press Conference after doping question
Ahead of Friday’s Herculis Monacao (Diamond League Meeting), several athletes met at the Fairmont Monte Carlo hotel to answer questions from the media. Doping questions were not just addressed to sprinters as high jumper Brigetta Barrett, triple jumper Christian Taylor and hurdler Sally Pearson expressed their feelings about the recent performance enhancing drug news surfacing in track and field.

Before the floor opened up to questions for sprinters Carmelita Jeter (U.S.A) and Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica), the press officer announced the athletes would not answer any questions about doping. The request was made by each athletes' manager.

Simon Hart of the Daily Telegraph attempted to phrase a question to get around the restriction put on the media. His question was directed at Fraser-Pryce about the atmosphere at the Jamaican camp in Lignano and how the athletes who didn’t test positive are handling the news.

He would not get his answer. The press officer reaffirmed the rules set for questioning, which resulted in several journalists asking “Why?”

Jeter responded by taking the microphone, saying “Thank you” and walking out. A few moments later, Fraser-Pryce would follow her out.




Jeter is known to dismiss questions not pertaining to her at press conferences. In Lausanne, Jeter was asked what talent of Usain Bolt would she like to translate into her own skill set. She asked for questions to only be directed about her or Kimberlyn Duncan, who shared the press conference.

Jeter's response in Monaco is not foreign to the atmosphere in Europe. Several sprinters were in Lignano for the International Meeting of Sports Solidarity. Many refused to comment on the recent doping news due to their state of shock and disbelief. Gay's training partner Jacques Harvey agreed to share his thoughts

Sprinter Justin Gatlin was just second sprinter to speak about doping with Flotrack. He took the stage after Jeter and talked about his own comeback from his positive test in 2006 and the state of United States sprints going forward. 

2013 Flotrack Europe Correspondent is on hand in Monaco for all the action surrounding the Herculis Monaco meeting. Follow @Flotrack and @Chris_J_Chavez for all the latest updates.