Pubdate: Fri, 20 Oct 2006
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Rick Matsumoto, Sports Reporter

CLEMONS ASSAILS POUND REMARKS

Argonaut head coach Mike Clemons has accused World Anti-Doping Agency 
chairman Dick Pound of reducing all CFL players to a common 
denominator to suit his own agenda.

Pound, who was in London, Ont., for a book signing, slammed the CFL 
for its lack of a drug-testing policy.

He was quoted as saying the CFL was "where you spend your jail time 
if you get caught (using drugs)."

Initially, Clemons was reluctant to respond to Pound's comments, but 
after a few minutes he changed his mind.

He said the Montreal-born Pound was off-base.

"I suggest he use a different platform. Don't reduce what means so 
much to me to simply a breeding ground for those who have had 
trouble," said Clemons.

"I'm an American by birth but I'm a Canadian by choice, and I'm very 
proud of being a Canadian, very proud of being a Torontonian, I'm 
very proud of being part of the Canadian Football League."

The drug czar's "jail time" comment was a not-so-subtle reference to 
Argo running back Ricky Williams, who is on loan from the Miami 
Dolphins after he was suspended for failing the NFL's substance abuse policy.

"I have no idea what he said and I'm not going to comment on them 
because I didn't hear them," said Williams after the Argonauts 
practice yesterday.

"And I don't want to hear them so don't tell me what he said."

The CFL has never tested its players for drugs but continues to work 
with the players' association on developing a policy.

With files from Canadian Press

- -- The river I step in is not the river I stand in.
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