t-and-f: US on trial; Oly cheats face exposure
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4-339164,00.html June 27, 2002 US sport on trial as Olympic cheats face exposure by Owen Slot, Chief Sports Reporter THE allegations that John McEnroe used steroids when he was a professional tennis player may seem shocking, they may raise questions over his achievements and they may, of course, be completely untrue. However, their timing is unfortunate. Never before have attitudes in the United States to the use of drugs in sport been so heavily questioned. The suggestion that there is a culture of compliance and cover-up is now openly voiced and latest revelations suggest that medals may have been won in the past three summer Olympics by Americans who had tested positive for drugs but, nevertheless, been allowed to compete. Baseball has also been rocked by accounts that steroid abuse is widespread. Last month Sports Illustrated published an investigation in which Ken Caminiti, the former National League Most Valuable Player, admitted to taking steroids throughout his career and said that up to 50 per cent of the leagues players did the same. Jose Canseco, a one-time Major League player, claimed that 85 per cent of big-league stars use steroids. Such stories are becoming common and while it is an offence to take performance-enhancing drugs, it has been alleged that the drug-testers in the United States have been contentedly overlooking it. This is what Wade Exum, the former head of the United States Olympic Committees (USOC) drug-testing programme, has been saying for two years since he left the organisation. Exum has been portrayed by the USOC as a disgruntled employee whose job was in jeopardy, but this weekend he is to make public the fine details behind his comments. In an interview with The Times, Exum explained how only 50 per cent of those who tested positive for drugs received the requisite ban and that this was down, in his last couple of years, to one in seven. I felt resistance (from his employers) all along, he said. Their anti-doping programme is largely PR. Exum made his initial accusation through his lawyer in June 2000, asserting that the USOC was deliberately encouraging the doping of athletes without considering the consequences to their health. Lawsuits were subsequently filed, but Exum claims that he found these hard to fight because the USOC lawyers pilfered all his evidence. The USOC had naturally wanted to see the evidence and, in the autumn of 2000, were granted permission to make copies of the relevant documents. My lawyers had told them that they could come in and make copies, Exum said. But what happened is they came in, took the boxes and kept them. Exum alleges that the USOC made further efforts to quieten him. The USOC lawyer never did negotiate with me, he said. But he met with my lawyers and asked what would it take for me to just go away. The USOC, meanwhile, kept Exums evidence some 20 boxes of it claiming that the information was confidential and it was only after a separate court case last month that this position changed. The case was not fought by Exum, but a number of American news organisations CNN, CBS, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune and many others on the grounds that the USOC was illegally guarding public information. The victory of the news organisations handed the initiative back to Exum; it would now be his decision whether and when to tell all. To suggest that the whole of the American media has been salivating at the prospect of the biggest drugs-in-sport story of all time would, however, be misleading. The question is whether Exum is willing to put his money where his mouth is, Thomas Kelly, the lawyer representing CNN et al, said. He was making some fairly strong claims. Now we have some opportunities to see if they stand up. We will see this weekend because on Saturday Exum is promising to make public these 20 boxes of damning information. Are there gold medal-winners to be exposed? Yes, he said. I went to the 1992 Olympics with a list of people in my pocket who had prior positive tests. There were ten or 12 names there. And did they win medals? I believe so. And were there medal-winners from the 1996 Olympics who tested positive? Yup. I recall particularly some cases of some track and field athletes. I think a lot of people know about what went on. Very few of them spoke up. The USOC operated on a model where whenever an athlete had a positive test, rather than enforce it, theyd take on the role of advocating for the athlete not being sanctioned and letting the IOC or the IAAF or whatever international federation be the bad guy. Exums revelations are not the only ones that will shortly come to light. While he gives accounts of malpractice in the 1992 and 1996 United States Olympic teams, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests there may have been an athlete in the American track and field team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics who
Re: t-and-f: US on trial; Oly cheats face exposure
Aw well!! Do you really think that athletes from other countries who live here are testing regularly? Or let's take Russian athletes who now live in Israel. Go figure. I know a case whereby a foreign athlete who has actually represent his particular country in Oly Games and World Champs and does not even use his own identity. His birth certificate is nowhere to be found in his war torn country. Yes, we Americans are a big sophisticated country but are other countries really handing over their non existent doping results. I think not! In a message dated 6/27/2002 10:36:25 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The list keeps growingnow the IAAF claims 5 members of the US track field team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games competed, even though they tested postive earlier in the year. What are the odds USATF will even address these new allegations? I'm guessing slim to none. Masback, if he even addresses it, will probably do the same spin and deflect bblame routine filled with lots of legal sound and fury, and ultimately signifying nothing.
Re: t-and-f: US on trial; Oly cheats face exposure
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Aw well!! Do you really think that athletes from other countries who live here are testing regularly? Or let's take Russian athletes who now live in Israel. Go figure. I know a case whereby a foreign athlete who has actually represent his particular country in Oly Games and World Champs and does not even use his own identity. His birth certificate is nowhere to be found in his war torn country. Yes, we Americans are a big sophisticated country but are other countries really handing over their non existent doping results. I think not! What are you actually trying to say here? That it is OK for USATF to cover up positive drug tests, because other countries do it or don't test at all? Then why bother to test at all? __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
Re: t-and-f: US on trial; Oly cheats face exposure
Yep! several federations never test at all. It's not a fair game In a message dated 6/27/2002 11:01:03 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Then why bother to test at all?
Re: t-and-f: US on trial; Oly cheats face exposure
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Aw well!! Do you really think that athletes from other countries who live here are testing regularly? Or let's take Russian athletes who now live in Israel. Go figure. I know a case whereby a foreign athlete who has actually represent his particular country in Oly Games and World Champs and does not even use his own identity. His birth certificate is nowhere to be found in his war torn country. Yes, we Americans are a big sophisticated country but are other countries really handing over their non existent doping results. I think not! What are you actually trying to say here? That it is OK for USATF to cover up positive drug tests, because other countries do it or don't test at all? Then why bother to test at all? I think what he's saying is that if the IAAF and IOC spent even a fraction of the energy it spends on attacking the U.S. on enforcing its own rules in the other 100+ countries that have no program or woefully inadequate programs, the drug problem would be better served. Of course there is some blame to go around in the U.S. Perhaps it is even a conspiracy. But we get awfully sick of watching dozens of countries with far inferior programs get off the hook. Many of those countries do so few tests that there is little chance of a positive and therefore little chance of adverse publicity. The IAAF should immediately suspend every nation that doesn't have rigorous, independently audited, out-of competition and in-competition testing programs. If they do that, they might have a little currency to deal with the problems in the U.S. Otherwise, it is impossible to take any allegations seriously, because it is clearly just political maneuvering. - Ed Parrot
Re: t-and-f: US on trial; Oly cheats face exposure
Thank you Ed Parrott In a message dated 6/27/2002 11:42:40 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: think what he's saying is that if the IAAF and IOC spent even a fraction of the energy it spends on attacking the U.S. on enforcing its own rules inthe other 100+ countries that have no program or woefully inadequate programs, the drug problem would be better served. Of course there is some blame to go around in the U.S. Perhaps it is even a conspiracy. But we get awfully sick of watching dozens of countries with far inferior programs get off the hook. Many of those countries do so few tests that there is little chance of a positive and therefore little chance of adverse publicity. The IAAF should immediately suspend every nation that doesn't have rigorous, independently audited, out-of competition and in-competition testing programs. If they do that, they might have a little currency to deal with the problems in the U.S. Otherwise, it is impossible to take any allegations seriously, because it is clearly just political maneuvering. - Ed Parrot
Re: t-and-f: US on trial; Oly cheats face exposure
The IAAF should immediately suspend every nation that doesn't have rigorous, independently audited, out-of competition and in-competition testing programs. - Ed Parro I'm for it. The USATF goes down first. malmo
Re: t-and-f: US on trial; Oly cheats face exposure
The IAAF should immediately suspend every nation that doesn't have rigorous, independently audited, out-of competition and in-competition testing programs. If they do that, they might have a little currency to deal with the problems in the U.S. Otherwise, it is impossible to take any allegations seriously, because it is clearly just political maneuvering. Definitely agree it's political maneuvering. However, there is little PR value for the powers-that-be at the IAAF and IOC to take down the Botswanas and Myanmars of the world. That's where their power base lies - in smaller, developing countries. Better to take down the arrogant US of A to make a statement so they can build up more support to continue their cushy, all-expenses paid, blue blazer-wearing lifestyles. Did anyone follow the recent FIFA saga where Blatter got re-elected primarliy due to the power base he built up in Africa and Asia over the years? There was tons of evidence regarding corruption and ineptitude in his regime, but it didn't matter because the federations from those areas knew who was paying their bills. The IAAF and the IOC are different animals but same story. Read the book Lords of the Rings by journalist Andrew Jennings for more outrageous stories regarding the Olympic Movement. With that said, USATF still needs to get its act in gear. Right now it's all empty talk and posturing. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
Re: t-and-f: US on trial; Oly cheats face exposure
Definitely agree it's political maneuvering. However, there is little PR value for the powers-that-be at the IAAF and IOC to take down the Botswanas and Myanmars of the world. That's where their power base lies - in smaller, developing countries. Better to take down the arrogant US of A to make a statement so they can build up more support to continue their cushy, all-expenses paid, blue blazer-wearing lifestyles. It's not just the Botswanas and the Myanmars of the world. I don't have enough specific knowledge to cite countries but there are countries that regular win WC and OG track field medals who's testing programs are completely unacceptable. But certainly it is largely a PR thing. With that said, USATF still needs to get its act in gear. Right now it's all empty talk and posturing. As far as I know, USATF has not had a problem since USADA took over the testing. Should they release the names of the one or more athletes from before that who's names have still not been given to the IAAF? Perhaps. But they would be opening themselves to years of litigation, because their rules at the time prohibited them from divulging the names of those who were later exonerated. If you're Craig Masback and you're faced with the choice between looking like you are covering up (very damaging to the image of the organization) or risking financial ruin, what are you going to do? It's certainly not an easy choice. Perhaps if the USOC and the IAAF were willing to agree to pay for any legal costs arising from the release of the names, it might make sense. And let's not forget, the rule about keeping the names secret - the one that triggered the USOC threat to suspend USATF (among other things)? In the 1990's, the USOC required USATF to put that rule in their drug testing procedures. It's essentially a USOC rule!! And now they're telling USATF not to follow the rule that they ordered USATF to pass. Craig must have more patience than I do. I don't know how I'd deal with the obnoxious,whining morons who are responsible for this situation without machine gunning the lot of them. Personally, I'd love to see the name of the athletes who tested positive. I think it would be good for the sport to make as much as possible public. But I don't see why USATF should be forced to face bankrupting legal threats just so the IAAF and the USOC can be seen as doing something about drugs. If they really want to do something about drugs, all it will take is a lot of money - I think bi-weekly testing of all athletes in the world top 25 would be a good start. - Ed Parrot
