Furious John Steffensen is still undecided as to whether he will run in this weekend’s national athletics titles in Perth – claiming again he has no support from those in charge of Australian athletics in his battle against injury.
The Perth-born former Commonwealth champion has been left furious in the build up to the championships at Perth’s new athletics stadium, after being overlooked for an injury exemption meaning he has to run to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.
Just 12 weeks since having an operation to cure a longstanding back injury, Steffensen says he is an 80 per cent chance to run – but the missing 20 per cent was the element that would make him competitive.
And in a blistering attack on Australia’s high performance manager Eric Hollingsworth, Steffensen questioned his credentials as a coach and administrator.
“I read Eric’s comments in the Telegraph, and I did not expect anything else from him – I don’t know Eric much as a coach so I don’t think he would understand my position,” Steffensen said.
"I love running, but unfortunately we had surgery 12 weeks ago and we ran out of time, the nationals have come in the way.
"We tried our best and we have not really made a decision whether we will run or not, we will wait until the day.
“I am about 80 per cent – but that 20 per cent is what makes you perform well, which is the sprint side of things.”
In another stand-off between the former Commonwealth champion and Australian athletics chiefs, Hollingsworth said in interviews over the weekend that the 27-year old needed to prove himself again
“John is looking at the world through those glasses of the 2006 Commonwealth Games when he was the man,” Hollingsworth said.
“That was four years ago. He must establish himself again.”
But Steffensen said not only was that an attack on him, but also his coach John Smith, who worked with Maurice Greene in his golden era and currently has the world’s fastest woman Carmelita Jeter under his wing.
“If you keep pushing me with this back injury what type of performance do you think you are going to get out of me?” Steffensen said.
"It is about having some understanding and treating me with some respect and giving me some support knowing that I had back surgery.
"My coach believes – and he has got the fastest woman in the world at the moment – and if he didn’t he would not call me every morning at 11am from America.
“What (Eric) did say is questioning John Smith … and that is a big call from a coach that has done nothing.”
The 400m heats at the national titles will be run on Friday night.