Christie won't carry Olympic flame
Linford Christie will not carry the Olympic flame when it passes through London in April, it has been announced. The former Olympic 100 metre champion, the only British athlete to have won the title, was reportedly set to carry the flame through the streets of London as it makes its way to Beijing for the 2008 games.
It had emerged on Thursday that Christie, who failed a drugs test after testing positive for using the banned substance nandrolone in 1999, had been invited by London Mayor Ken Livingstone to take part in the event
However, Livingstone's office has moved to distance themselves after the decision was met with condemnation by the International Olympic Committee, who said they were 'surprised and 'disappointed not to have been consulted over the decision.'
"The decision to invite Linford Christie to be a torchbearer was not taken by the Mayor," said a Greater London Authority spokesman.
"The Mayor only had the right to nominate five torchbearers and Christie was not one of them."
The GLA have also announced that three of the 80 torch bearers will be Kelly Holmes, newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald and actress Amara Khan.
However, Sue Barratt, agent for Christie, claimed to have proof that Livingstone had offered the opportunity to the former sprinter.
"I have a letter in front of me signed by Ken Livingstone," said Barrett.
"It says: 'I would be delighted if you would consider being one of our torch bearers, joining with us and up to 80 other well known personalities, who will each carry the torch for 250m.'"
Christie, 1992 Olympic 100m champion in Barcelona, is the only British athlete to win 100m gold medals at Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European Championships.
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