World Champion Sanya Richards on Jamaican success and Christine Ohurougu

Sanya Richards has come out in defence of Jamaican athletics during a world championships dominated by gold medal-winning sprinters from the Caribbean island, but a championships that were pre-empted by the news that five Jamaicans had failed drugs tests at their trials in Kingston in June.

The five, all withdrawn from the world championships in Berlin, tested positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine but were subsequently reprieved amid confusion over whether the substance was officially banned. Last week, however, the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) appealed against this decision, prompting the removal of the five, including two from the newly-formed Racers Track Club, for which the double world champion Usain Bolt also runs under the coaching guidance of Glen Mills.

In the past week Jamaica have been the talk of these championships and, with Bolt leading the way in the men's sprint relay final last night with six gold medals,  they lie second in the medals table, behind America , and in front of Russia and Germany. (Alternatively, for earlier edition, say as of yesterday morning they lay second in the medals table with 5 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronze medals, all won on the track and in no distance longer than 400 metres).

Richards, who finally won a global title on Tuesday night when she won the 400 metres ahead of the fifth placed Olympic and defending world champion, Christine Ohurougu, has come out in strong defence of the island she left as a 12-year-old in 2002 to become a US citizen.

"I know that there are some in athletics who believe that the Jamaicans are dirty but that's definitely not the case," Richards insisted. "It's got nothing to do with drugs, and everything to do with their system, and their desire. When I was seven years old I already had a national coach and was coached at a national level. There is a long and great history of sprinting in Jamaica and that's because if you get into the sport early enough you learn the right techniques and discipline at a very young age that stays with you for the whole of your career.

"I'm not in the slightest bit surprised that Jamaica has done so well at these championships. They've shown superb technique, training and mentality. You have to remember also that Jamaica is a small country and that sprinting is one of the main ways to get to the next level in life, or to get out. All the talk is very unfair on Jamaica and Jamaicans. They are tested extensively, just as I am, and I'm proud to be part of an era in which Jamaica has fared so well, even though I now run for the United States."

Her victory over Ohurougu, one year after the British star caught Richards down the home straight in dramatic fashion during the Olympic 400 metres final, has buried Richards' demons, but she still expects her nemesis to bounce back at the London 2012 Olympics.

"Becoming world champion has made a huge mental difference," she admitted. "I've had to carry the burden of losing major races for a while and it's made it harder to race because the mental anguish manifests itself into a physical weight. Now, when I go to a major meet, I'll be able to have good memories, rather than be haunted by memories of failure. I've finally erased the nigtmares of bad races I have on the night before a major final."

Some of those nightmares have been due to Ohurougu, the 2007 world champion, and 2008 Olympic gold medallist but, even though the below-par British star could only finish fifth, Richards hopes and expects their rivalry will continue to dominate their event right up to London. "I expect Christine to bounce back and chase me hard after this," Richards said. "I hope our rivalry will continue, and I'm sure it will. I want to win every race I enter, and Christine's the same. We have a great deal of respect for each other and with the Olympics being staged in her home town, I'm sure Christine will do everything she can to win that gold medal. "I'm happy Christine's a 400 metres runner. She's brought a lot of interest to the event and she's pushed me hard to help make me a better runner. But now that I finally have that global title under my belt I feel I'm going to be much the better for it."