BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - The following is a statement issued by former World Champion sprinter Kim Collins on his recent exit from the 2012 Olympics.
A lot of incorrect assumptions have been made about me and the actions I have taken recently. I would like to set the record straight, once and for all, so that people may know the truth.
INCORRECT ASSUMPTION #1: I WENT TO THE HOTEL TO STAY WITH MY WIFE BECAUSE I WANTED SEX.
It is not sex that I was seeking when I made the decision to stay with my wife (who is also my coach) for a few days.
I don’t understand why some people are attempting to make this whole thing about sex. I guess it is just a lewd attempt to sensationalize the story. I was seeking peace and quiet.
After the poor handling by SKNOC of the Tameka Williams situation, the environment in the St.Kitts camp was toxic, to say the least.
Furthermore, SKNOC does not create the type of environment that is conducive to the well-being and positive state of mind of the athletes.
One has only to listen to the aggressive and arrogant display by the SKNOC officials during their recent press conference to understand how difficult it is for athletes to be around them on a daily basis.
Their attitude towards the athletes is generally one of condescension. They attempt to dominate the athletes, and if the athletes “disobey” them or stand up to them, they punish them by denying them the opportunity to compete.
That is their modus operandi, and it has been this way for many years. It is just that this situation has now placed their behavior out in the open for everyone to see.
INCORRECT ASSUMPTION#2: I DID NOT WANT TO RUN
THE TRUTH: Are you kidding me? This was supposed to be one of the biggest moments of my life—my final Olympics!
I desperately wanted to compete. The ONLY reason why I didn’t compete is because my accreditation was withdrawn by SKNOC.
They would like to have you believe that their hands were tied and that they had no other choice, but that is not true.
Denying me the ability to compete was their way of punishing me for opposing them, plain and simple; please don’t let them deceive you on this matter.
INCORRECT ASSUMPTION# 3: I AM NO LONGER PATRIOTIC
I love my country andits people, and I have tried to be the best ambassador I could be for my country.
I don’t have a track record of bad behavior; I have a track record of representing my country with an attitude of humility and pride.
I have always conducted myself in a professional and respectful manner. The reason why I declared that I would no longer compete for St. Kitts and Nevis is because the entities that manage athletics here in St. Kitts and Nevis, (SKNOC and SKNAAA) have no respect for the athletes and continually mistreat them.
What they did to me in London is only but one glaring example. It is out of protest of SKNOC’s and SKNAAA’s mistreatment of myself and so many other athletes that I have declared that I won’t be running for St. Kitts and Nevis anymore.
I can no longer sit back and accept their chokehold on the athletes and athletics; for me, that would be condoning their bad behavior.
Someone has to stand up to them, and I am prepared to suffer the consequences of doing so. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" (Edmund Burke).
Kim Collins
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