sport news 'Heartbroken' Richard Kilty on mission to replace lost Olympic medal following ... trends now
It was only two years ago that a heartbroken Richard Kilty declared that he would never forgive CJ Ujah.
The Teesside sprinter had just received confirmation that he would lose the Olympic silver medal he had won in Tokyo because of Ujah’s failed drugs test.
And while the other two members of Great Britain’s second-placed 4x100metres relay quartet, Zharnel Hughes and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, refused to criticise their team-mate, Kilty could not hide his anger, describing Ujah as ‘sloppy and reckless’.
Back then, in February 2022, it seemed unlikely that Kilty and Ujah would ever speak again, never mind be part of the same squad once more.
And yet here we are, less than three months out from another Olympics, and the pair are back together representing their country at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas this weekend.
Teesside sprinter Richard Kilty (above) is on mission to replace his lost Olympic medal
So how does Kilty feel about his unexpected reunion with Ujah? ‘It is strictly business,’ the 34-year-old tells Mail Sport from Britain’s team hotel in Nassau ahead of Saturday night’s 4x100m heats.
‘I am always a very honest person and the things that I’ve said are out there for the public. But I am trying not to focus on that at the moment.
‘Whoever I am in that starting line-up with, I just have to do my part for the team, regardless of friendships, personalities, any previous history.
‘Out here, it is not personal, we are just here to all go out there and do our best to qualify for the Olympics.
‘Whatever is required for me to be the best team player, I will do. I am not going to try and burn the team. I just want to be the best team-mate I can given these circumstances.
‘Everyone is out here trying to focus on the future and what we can potentially achieve instead of living in the past.
‘Obviously a lot has gone on since 2021, but this is business. We have all got our own missions and routes of redemption but the way we do that is by being a team.’
CJ Ujah on track to return to Great Britain's 4x100metre relay team after serving ban
Ujah, who was cleared of intentionally doping having unknowingly taken a contaminated substance he bought off Amazon, returned from his backdated 22-month ban last June. But it was still a huge surprise when it was announced last month that the 30-year-old would be in Britain’s eight-man 4x100m squad for the World Relays, which act as qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.
Prior to the team being released, Kilty held talks with relay coach Darren Campbell about the uneasy situation. And he agreed to put any grievances to one side in his bid to win an Olympic medal, which he will hopefully get to keep this time.
‘That is the only thing that’s on my mind at the moment,’ admits the former 60m world indoor champion. ‘I am not going to
