Cuba hurdler Robles criticizes training conditions

HAVANA (AP) - Cuba's best-known Olympic athlete, Dayron Robles, complained Tuesday about terrible training conditions as he prepares to defend his gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles this summer in London.

"The Olympic games are already there and we don't have even half of what you need to train well,'' Robles said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Conditions are terrible. There's no stimulus.''

Robles, who holds the world record in the 110-meter hurdles at 12.87 seconds, did not give specifics but said he and other athletes are banding together for mutual support.

"They don't give you the necessary things for training so you're always upset, and what's worst is that people generally don't know anything about it and will judge me by the results,'' Robles said. "Nobody comes around to ask about anything, but they do come to demand results.''

He said he's still training hard and will do his best to bring home a gold medal.

Robles' coach, Santiago Antunez, said the 25-year-old hurdler is in "excellent form'' and gunning for a new 60-meter record in upcoming events.

He plans to race Feb. 10 in Dusseldorf, Germany, Feb. 18 in Birmingham, England, and Feb. 23 in Stockholm, Sweden, in the run-up to the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul from March 9-11.

Robles said 60-meter races "are very important because they help you work on the first part of the 110-meter race and on the start.''

He added that his mental state is good and he's not dwelling on his disqualification for obstruction at the August 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

"I'm continuing to prepare very well because I have my responsibility and my (pride) as a man and an athlete,'' Robles said. "So I'm going to do everything possible to keep my name and my country's at the top.''