Australia’s Lewis muzzled from talking about doper as star snubbed
Australia’s sprint queen Torrie Lewis claims she was muzzled from talking about formerly banned rival Adaejah Hodge after the British Virgin Islands star won Commonwealth Games gold on Saturday (AEST).
Hodge won the women’s 200-metre final in Glasgow in 22.07 seconds – and was then snubbed by all of her rivals, according to reporters at Scotstoun Stadium.
Adaejah Hodge (centre) winning the 200m final. Torrie Lewis finished sixth. Francois Nel/Getty Images.
Lewis, the 21-year-old Queenslander who earlier in the week snared bronze in the 100m and lowered her national record, finished sixth in the 200m in 22.88 seconds.
Lewis and Hodge have history.
Hodge won gold in the 200m at the 2024 world athletics under-20 championships in Lima, Peru, ahead of the second-placed Lewis.
In March this year, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced Hodge had received a two-year ban for failing a drugs test during the world under-20 championships.
Seven months of the two-year ban were suspended, allowing Hodge to return to competition in January this year, prior to her failed drugs test being made public.
Hodge was stripped of her gold medal, Lewis was upgraded from silver to gold, and Australia’s Jess Milat was elevated from fourth to bronze.
Reports suggest none of Hodge’s rivals in the 200m final in Glasgow, including Lewis, embraced the controversial star with a handshake or a hug after her win.
The Australian was asked about the snub after walking off the track.
“Let’s just say I’m not surprised no one shook her hand, and I’m not supposed to say any more than that,” Lewis said.
“I’ve been told not to say anything about that. I would love to say some words but I’m not allowed to.”
She was asked who had gagged her from talking about Hodge, but declined to reveal.
“I think everyone knows what I would like to say, but yeah, just fill in the blanks yourself,” Lewis said.
At the time that Hodge’s failed drugs test was made public, Lewis had stinging words.
“Anyone who has a drug charge against them will always have a taint to their name and some suspicion that come with that,” Lewis said in March.
“They did get the [physical performance] benefits while using drugs.
Earlier in the week, Torrie Lewis won bronze in the 100m and lowered her national record. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images.
“I didn’t get to stand at the top of the podium and hear the national anthem being played. All the photos I have are of me standing on the podium with someone else [wearing gold] and with a silver medal around my neck.
“But now I also know I was the fastest clean athlete that day and am the world junior champion, so it’s mixed feelings.”
Hodge was asked in the media zone how she’d navigated the rocky period in her career.
“It hasn’t been stressful. I put all that behind me. It is what it is. Things happen, and I just wanted to move forward and see what I can do, work extra hard and show that I didn’t need it [performance-enhancing drugs]. I never will need it,” Hodge said.
“I knew I had to put in extra work to prove to the haters that I am Adaejah Hodge.”
Hodge (22.07) was joined on the podium by Trinidad and Tobago’s Shaniqua Bascombe (22.35) and Jamaica’s Alana Reid (22.56).
Asked about being shunned by her rivals, Hodge said: “It’s competition. Our goal out here is to win. I don’t really know what to say about that. It’s about competing.
“If you want to shake my hand, shake my hand. If you don’t, don’t.
“I’m gonna be a good sport and tell everybody good job.”
Hodge tested positive to metabolites of the banned drug GW501516.
But in a “case resolution agreement”, the AIU and the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) determined she had ingested it unintentionally.
From left: silver medallist Shaniqua Bascombe, gold medallist Adaejah Hodge and bronze medallist Alana Reid after the 200m final. Michael Steele/Getty Images.
In March last year, the AIU suspended Gerald Phiri after three athletes coached by him, including Hodge, had tested positive to a banned substance within a 13-month window.
The AIU said Phiri, a former Olympic sprinter for Zambia, had been in possession of a banned substance during his time as an athlete and as an athlete support person in 2024, the year Hodge won gold at the world under-20 championships.
The AIU also said Phiri, who was a licensed coach with USA Track and Field (USATF), had failed to co-operate with the investigation by providing false information.
Seven months of Hodge’s two-year ban were suspended because she had provided “substantial assistance” in the investigation, the AIU said.
