'Psychic' Greene slams false-start rule

“I am a psychic,” Greene joked during a chat with Deccan Herald and went on to slam the false-start rule that accounted for defending champion Usain Bolt in dramatic fashion at the Daegu stadium.

“I have always said it is a stupid rule,” said the former world and Olympic champion. “But now, people are talking about it only because of one man. Because Usain did it, they are talking about it and asking it to be changed.

“It happened with others also here – like Dwain Chambers in the 100 metres and Christine Ohuruogu in the 400 metres. But since Usain is a super star and nobody saw him run, people are talking about it.

“It wasn’t a good rule in the first place but that is the rule and you can’t do anything about it -- other people make the rules; athletes have to follow it. I prefer the old rule where everyone was allowed one false start but if I have to make a compromise, I will go with the rule that allowed one false start per race,” he said. “I hope they change it, but not because one man did it.”

Greene said Bolt or no Bolt, Blake was destined to win on Sunday. “He was the man in form and he would have won it anyway. God wanted it to be like that.

“Even if Usain was there, Blake would have given him problems. Usain knew that -- that was why he was trying to be aggressive at the start and that is why he false-started,” reasoned Greene. “All season long, he has had problems with the start, hasn’t he?”
Greene said he expected Bolt to bounce back with a vengeance in the 200 metres. “Don’t be surprised if he runs it in 18 seconds,” said Greene. “He is a competitor, his pride is hurt.”