I actually agree with Edwards. IF Szabo or Radcliffe were accused of doping
and then cleared would they sit out?
I've actually never seen the IAAF clear someone so quickly (think Reynolds,
Slaney, Ottey, Richardson, Sotomayor, Mitchell). They usually drag things
out even when there's compelling evidence that the offense may not have
actually occured or that there were inaccuracies or problems with the
testing.
So, for them to clear her in a matter of days leads me to believe that she
either wasn't guilty or that there were serious problems with the testing
protocol.
The other problem i had with the whole thing is even if she was positive
there were people running in the meet that everyone "knows" are using and no
one says a word.
Kebba Tolbert ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
=================
Men's and Women's Jumps & Multis Coach
Syracuse University Track & Field
>From: "Eamonn Condon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: "Eamonn Condon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "\"Athletics\"" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: t-and-f: Edwards slams treatment of Yegorova
>Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 15:34:44 -0700
>
>The Irish Times
>Tuesday, August 14, 2001
>
>
>
>
>Britain's Jonathan Edwards has attacked the double-standards in athletics
>which resulted in the persecution of women's 5,000m champion Olga Yegorova,
>labelled a drug cheat at the World Championships in Canada.
>
>The gold medal-winning triple jumper said the Russian, who tested positive
>for the banned substance EPO but was subsequently 'cleared' on a
>technicality, was an easy target and he questioned whether the treatment
>would have been as harsh had it been another nation involved.
>
>He even suggested that had it been a British athlete, a campaign would have
>been launched declaring their innocence.
>
>His opinion is in stark contrast to Great Britain women's team captain
>Paula
>Radcliffe, who made a very public trackside protest in Edmonton with a
>banner stating 'EPO cheats out'.
>
>But Edwards, in his column in The Times, said: "I wonder what the reaction
>would have been if she was a Canadian or, heaven forbid, a British athlete.
>
>"Would the poster have then read 'John Smith is innocent?'
>
>"She (Yegorova) cannot speak English, and is an athletic nobody without
>powerful allies to lobby on her behalf.
>
>"But perhaps the real nail in her coffin is her nationality. She has
>suffered from guilt by association, linked in our minds to the systematic
>doping by the Soviet Union."
>
>The International Association of Athletics Federation allowed the Russian
>to
>run in Edmonton after it was discovered her drugs test was not carried out
>properly, rendering the findings invalid.
>
>It prompted a backlash from both competitors and the general public.
>Yegorova's winning finish in the 5,000m was accompanied by jeers and the
>athlete immediately departed the track afterwards, shunning a lap of
>honour.
>
>"I actually felt sorry for her," added Edwards.
>
>"I feel she has been harshly and unfairly treated and there has been little
>dispassionate debate on the issue because nobody wishes to be appear to be
>giving tacit approval to drug-taking.
>
>"It goes without saying that this is not what I am doing but the knee-jerk
>demonisation of the Russian athlete has left a sour taste in my mouth.
>
>"Whatever our gut feeling, I do not believe we can make an objective
>judgement on Yegorova's guilt or otherwise."
>
>Eamonn Condon
>www.RunnersGoal.com
>
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