Three former Chelsea stars have branded a pair of French doctors as "deeply racist" after they suggested using African people to test potential coronavirus vaccines live on TV.
Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba have all used their social media platforms to criticise the doctors, Dr Jean Paul Mira and Dr Camille Locht, for their comments on the LCI station.
Mira, who is the head of resuscitation services at Cochin Hospital in Paris, said: “This may be controversial, but shouldn't we do a study in Africa where they do not have masks, treatments or resuscitation?
“A little of this is done in AIDS studies where they use prostitutes to test some things because they know that they are highly exposed and do not protect themselves."
Locht, director of research at the French Institute of Health and Medical research replied: "You are right, we are thinking of a parallel study in Africa ... I think there is a request for a proposal."
In response, Drogba posted on Twitter that African people must not be viewed as guinea pigs.
“It is totally inconceivable we keep on cautioning this," the Chelsea legend said. "Africa isn’t a testing lab. I would like to vividly denounce those demeaning, false and most of all deeply racist words. Help us save Africa with the current ongoing covid-19 and flatten the curve.
"Let us save ourselves from this crazy virus that is plummeting the world economy and ravaging populations health worldwide. Do not take African people as human guinea pigs! It’s absolutely disgusting.
"African leaders have a responsibility to protect their populations from those horrendous conspiracies. May god protect us!"
The Senegal international Ba, who spent a little more than a season at Stamford Bridge, went one step further and wrote: “Welcome to the West, where white people believe themselves to be so superior that racism and stupidity have become commonplace. TIME TO RISE.
Eto’o’s response was more succinct. The Cameroon forward who spend the 2013-14 with Chelsea wrote: “You are just s***. Africa isn't yours to play with.”
