Lewis not surprised by lack of handshake for Games 200m champion Hodge

Australian sprinter Torrie Lewis stated she was unsurprised by the lack of congratulations for Commonwealth Games 200m champion Adaejah Hodge, hinting at past doping controversies surrounding the British Virgin Islands athlete. Lewis, who finished sixth in the 200m final after a surprise bronze in the 100m, suggested that competitors' reactions were predictable given Hodge's history.

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Let's just say I'm not surprised no-one shook her hand and I'm not supposed to say any more than that.

Lewis, who was instructed not to comment further, implied that the context was widely understood. Hodge, from the British Virgin Islands, previously tested positive for the banned substance GW1516 at the 2024 under-20 world championships. She was initially banned for two years, but her ban was reduced by seven months due to her cooperation with the investigation. This reduction allowed her to compete in the Glasgow Games, having resumed competition in January.

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I've been told not to say anything. I would love to say some words, but I'm not allowed to.

Hodge won the 200m final with a Games record time of 22.07 seconds. She had previously won her semifinal in 22.01, while Lewis won her semifinal in 22.64. This race marked their first rematch since the 2024 championships in Peru, where Hodge had also finished ahead of Lewis. Hodge stated that she had put her past behind her and was focused on proving her capabilities without performance-enhancing substances.

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I think everyone knows what I would like to say, but just fill in the blank yourself.

When asked about the absence of customary post-race camaraderie, Hodge remained unfazed. "It's competition. Everybody's goal out here is to win. I don't really know what to say about that," she commented. "It's about competing."

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I've put all that behind me. I just wanted [to] move forward and work extra hard to show I didn't need it. I never will need it.