Christie claims racism in Britain

Former Olympic champion Linford Christie has claimed there is institutionalised racism in Britain.



Christie, who won 100 metres gold at the 1992 Olympics, is adamant he should have carried the Olympic torch on its way through London in April.



The British Olympic Association banned Christie for life in 1999 after he failed a routine drugs test.



That test came following an indoor meet in Germany at a time when he was in semi-retirement from racing, but he has always denied intentionally taking performance-enhancing drugs.



The Jamaican-born Londoner, however, had already been cleared of an earlier offence when he tested positive for pseudoephedrine at the 1988 Olympics.



The International Olympic Committee voted by an 11-10 margin to accept his explanation that the substance had come from a legal ginseng drink.



Christie believes the doping controversy has led to him failing to get the recognition he feels he deserves.