Marcell Jacobs, controversy erupts: ‘Unprotected and betrayed’

Marcell Jacobs coach Camossi: “The technical management made a mistake.”

The Azzurri’s European Athletics Championships are closing with a poisonous tail. Marcell Jacobs’ coach, Paolo Camossi, criticized the technical direction of the Italian national team for the way it handled the Olympic champion, who forfeited for the semifinal of the 4×100 relay, then eliminated.

“The technical direction made a mistake,” Camossi told Gazzetta dello Sport: he asked Marcell to run without thinking of alternative plans, and especially without taking into account the opinion of the health sector, taking advantage of the fact that the boy is generous, and would do anything for the team. He doesn’t know how to say no, if he is told ‘without you we won’t go to the finals,’ he will always try.”

“But he was not protected, because the doctors, after an MRI on his left calf, had prescribed 24-36 hours of rest. He was to be used only in the finals. And that it is now being said that after the pain felt in the warm-up, he was stopped as a precaution, is a jarring note.”

“I’m not pointing the finger at anyone,” Camossi specified, “I’m quoting the technical direction, from which after the outcome of the MRI I asked for a meeting together with the medical staff. It never took place. I live trusting and this is the second time I have been betrayed, it will take a while to clarify, my goal remains to run Jacobs as fast as possible.”