Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Dwight Thomas ... on the move after disappointing season. - File

FORMER NATIONAL sprint champion Dwight Thomas has been forced to sever all ties with controversial track and field coach Trevor Graham.

Thomas was forced to make the move because Graham, who is currently under investigation for doping violations, has been barred from U.S. Olympic Committee training sites because at least half a dozen of the athletes he has coached have returned positive tests.

Last month, officials of the final Golden League meet in Berlin barred any athletes linked to Graham from their event. Graham has denied providing banned substances to his athletes, but it reached the stage where Thomas had to make a decision, especially since training facilities were taken away.

Thomas, the 1998 World Junior 100m bronze medallist, said he was presently training on his own, but would soon join a new camp. "I have found a home already," Thomas said this week.

New coach

"I have found a coach I really like but there are certain things to work out before I disclose who the person is," he told The Gleaner. Thomas, who also helped Jamaica to the gold in the sprint relay at the same World Junior champs, said his new coach had a good track record of coaching fast athletes. "This person coaches athletes who are running fast, athletes who ran fast last year and the previous seasons," he said.

The 1999 Pan American Junior Championships sprint double champion said he was very disappointed with what happened this season.

Thomas' teammate and joint 100m world record holder, Justin Gatlin, tested positive which sparked debate as to the coach's involvement.

The former Calabar student said the latest drug scandal had set him back big time.

"I purchased a home in Raleigh, North Carolina, because I was really looking to settle here. I had a long-term goal of staying here, but now it's not going to work out," he said, while adding plans were now in progress to sell the house.

Additionally, the sprinter said he was also disappointed with his season, which will end at the IAAF World Cup in Athens next weekend.

He said the fact that he hadn't gone under 10 seconds was disappointing, especially considering the fact that there were no major championships.

"Probably I was not focussed," he said. "Next year is a serious thing."