Lewis abandons links with Arbeit

Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis has parted company with controversial coach Dr Ekkart Arbeit, and again linked up with her former mentor Charles van Commenee.

Van Commenee guided her to the gold medal in Sydney three years ago and the Dutchman announced this afternoon he will take charge of Lewis’ preparations in her build-up to retaining the title in Athens next year.

Lewis’ decision means she has terminated all contact with German coach Arbeit, who took over her training programme in November 2002.

Lewis attracted massive criticism for joining forces with the man who controlled the athletics programme of East Germany before reunification and who publicly admitted involvement in the drugs enhancing programme.

But Lewis, now living again in her home city of Birmingham, disregarded the criticisms levelled at her and in her first season back at the heptathlon, finished fifth in this year’s World Championships.