 Holmes says more needs to be done to stop drugs cheats |
Kelly Holmes believes that Regina Jacobs should be stripped of her world indoor 1500m gold medal after testing positive for the banned steroid THG. Jacobs failed a drugs test just three months after taking the world title in Birmingham last year ahead of Holmes.
"If somebody gets done within a year, whatever they have achieved in that year should be scratched," said Holmes.
"That's because there is no proof that they were or weren't on drugs before or after the event."
Jacobs, who is disputing the doping charge, had already caused a stir when she smashed the world indoor 1500m record last February.
The 40-year-old was one of four American athletes who failed drugs tests at the US national championships last June.
Under International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) rules, action is taken against an athlete, starting with suspension, from the day of the failed drugs test.
That means that Jacobs' world record and world title still stand - even if the postive THG test has cast those performances under suspicion.
Holmes, who has competed at the top level for 12 years, admits she gets disheartened when the achievements of clean athletes are undermined by drugs cheats. "Athletes like myself put 100% commitment and emotion into the sport," the world silver 800m medallist told BBC Sport.
"So you do get disillusioned when you hear a positive test. It could be someone you ran against and then it's unfair.
"But it's no good standing on the line speculating, because unless the proof is there, there is nothing you can do about it.
"The fact is Regina Jacobs had a positive test in the summer season and the argument is that there was no proof that she was cheating when she competed in the world indoors.
"So as far as I'm concerned, I won silver fair and square."
Holmes is now focused on turning that silver into gold at the World Indoor Championship in Budapest next week. The Commonwealth 1500m champion is competing in just her second season on the indoor circuit - a move encouraged by her American coach Margo Jennings.
 |  I'm by no means the favourite going into the worlds but I'm in good shape |
Holmes has made an impressive start to the season, recording a new European 1000m record at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham. "Everything is going in the right direction for me and I know I'm in good shape," she said.
"But I'm by no means the favourite going into the race [in Budapest] and I'm expecting a few people from the outdoor circuit who have not competed indoors yet to turn up."
The four US athletes who have tested positive for THG have appealed to the American Arbitration Association (AAA). As well as Jacobs, they are US shot put champion Kevin Toth, hammer thrower John McEwen, and US hammer champion Melissa Price.
All four tested positive at last year's US Championships.
The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said hearings for one or all of them might already have happened, but any details would have to come from the athletes.
MMIX
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