Penarth Olympian Brett Morse apologises for Twitter comment - but is proved right in doping claim (From Penarth Times)

Penarth Olympian Brett Morse apologises for Twitter comment - but is proved right in doping claim

8:40am Friday 17th August 2012 in News By Robert James Owen

A PENARTH Olympian who caused a storm by making a doping allegation against a 2012 gold medal winner was proved right this week - although he admits that making the comment was 'stupid'.

Discus thrower Brett Morse suggested on Twitter that women's shot put champion Nadzeya Ostapchuk had cheated after she won the women's final on August 5.

He removed the comments and apologised after an online backlash, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped Ostapchuk of her gold on Monday (August 13), after banned substances were found in her urine samples.

However Morse, 23, has admitted that he shouldn't have made the comments.

"It was stupid of me to put it on there to be honest," said the former pupil of both Stanwell School and St Cyres.

"Morals are very high within Team GB and I realise now that it wasn't the best avenue to voice my opinion."

Ostapchuk, from Belarus, tested positive for the banned anabolic agent metenolone in two urine samples.

She was stripped of gold, which was given instead to title favourite Valerie Adams from New Zealand, who placed second after her rival's shock win.

Morse, who will compete in Austria on August 20 before concluding his season in Birmingham, added: "Although I did think she was using steroids, I didn't say it so that she would get caught, and it's not really a case of 'I told you so'.

"That said, I am glad that the standards of equality in sport remain so high and the gold went to Valerie Adams."

Morse made the allegation against Ostapchuk after missing out in a place in the men's discus final.

He also tweeted: "I've had a bad day but it could be worse, I could look like Ostapchuk."

He said this week: "Honestly it was nothing more than me trying to get a laugh out of my mates. But sometimes you forget just how many people have access to your Twitter acount.

"Either way I spoke to my agent Jamie Baulch, and he warned me off it.

"Twitter is a great way to interact with your followers and keep people updated and that's why I started using it in the first place.

"Of course people like to throw banter about and criticism at times, but that comes with the territory and you have to do your best to ignore it," he added.

"But I won't be making comments like that again."

Confirming Ostapchuk's disqualification on the official Olympic website, the IOC said: "The athlete was first requested to provide a urine sample for a doping control on 5 August. She competed the next day in the women's shot put event, where she placed first, and was asked to provide a sample straight after her competition.

"Both samples indicated the presence of metenolone, which is classified as anabolic agent under the 2012 Prohibited List."