by Larry EderInteresting news in the drug wars…a recent report on the Inside2012 site noted that a new test for HGH will be available in Beijing at the end of the summer. Justin Gatlin will have his day in arbitration with the IAAF at the end of May, but his chances must be considered as slim to compete in the next two years.
My concerns over drug testing are as serious as my concerns over drug use in sports. I am concerned that WADA and USADA use methods that can be replicated and that can hold up in a court of law. Some common sense does have to play in testing, so that, once a test is in place, and the athlete does test positive, that their sanctions can be held up to help younger athletes consider the effects of cheating in sports.
As much as the bars around major track meets abound with which athlete or coach is considered a cheat, the truth is, we just do not know. It is my considered opinion, that drug testing is missing about two to three percent of the cheaters, those who spend the most money and stay one step, or two ahead of the folks at USADA and WADA.
There will always be someone who considers themselves above the law. That is the lesson we have learnt over the past few weeks with not just one, but two governors in one large state on the Eastern seaboard, I believe. And, I am not going to be Diognenes, searching around the streets of Eugene, with a lamp, for clean athletes.
Athletes know who is cheating and who is not. Coaches know, and so do, for the most part, the agents. Or, we have suspicions….
EME NEWS (APR 1, 2008)
IAAF COUNCIL NEWS (1st day, LONDON)
HEARINGS OF GATLIN AND PISTORIUS SET
A hearing dates of Court of Arbitration in Sport were set in two highly observed cases. Olympic winner and world champion Justin Gatlin hearing will be on May 28-29 and Oscar Pistorius even one month earlier (April 28-29). Gatlin is trying to reducing his doping ban and Pistorius as paralympian is fighting for the possibility to compete during IAAF competitions. IAAF also said it is supporting WADA in its appeal against low sanction to US sprinter Latasha Jenkins which was imposed by USADA.
MELIZ FOR SPAIN
In latest group of transfers of allegiance former Cuban Luis Felipe Meliz (843 in 2000) is allowed to represent Spain at the end of 2008. Triple Jumper Allen Simms (17.26) switched back to USA (he was originally representing USA, then from March 2005 went to compete for Puerto Rico) since July 30, 2008. Former British marathon runner Jon Brown (2:09:31) is allowed to compete for Canada internationally starting on January 21, 2008 and so could represent his new country also at Olympic Games in Beijing.
18 MONTHS FOR 3 MISSED TESTS
The final version of the new WADA Code has only been posted on the website in mid-March and related work on international standards continues. IAAF rule adoption needs to wait for that process to be completed. Nonetheless, the IAAF recommends in case of penalties, that the World Code provision for more severe penalties in the case of “aggravating” circumstances be incorporated into IAAF Rules as soon as possible. Imposing longer penalties will require not only rule changes but adjudication processes as the circumstances of each case where longer penalties are proposed will require review. In case of missed tests, it is proposed that the IAAF adopt the international standard of “three missed tests in 18 months.”
COMPETITION DATES
The final of this year’s IAAF Race Walking Challenge will take place on Sep 20-21 2008 in Murcia, Spain. First final last year was held in Saransk, Russia. IAAF agreed that the 24th edition of the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, will take place on May 8-9, 2010.
NOT ALL EVENTS AT YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES, ONLY ONE ATHLETE PER EVENT AND COUNTRY
Not all events from World Youth Championships will be held at 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. It is because the quota from IOC for athletics was set at 640 athletes, that also means that each country will be allowed to have only one athlete per event. From classic events not held will be 200 m, 1500 m, Pole Vault, Hammer Throw and combined events.
JONES MEDALS
Despite agency informations there is no official statement from Council Meeting about the revised results from Sydney Olympic Games in relation to participation of Marion Jones (gold medals at 100 m and 200 m, 4×400 m and bronze medals in Long Jump and at 4×100 m).
OTHER NEWS
SEBRLE OPENED HIS SPORTS CENTER
PRAHA (CZE): Decathlon world champion Roman Sebrle today officially opened his Sports Center in Prague´s sixth district. It was build for total cost of 40 millions Czech Crowns (around 2 millions USD) in one and half year and will offer for its clients golf simulation, tennis, relaxation, massages and many other issues for daily sporting acitivities. “I was normally training in recent months, but all my free time was devoted to build this center. Now I m passing the work to the employees and will come only as a client and fully concentrate on my Olympic preparation. Fortunately I m ok after my hamstring injury from Valencia and already started with my training,” said Sebrle. President of the country Mr. Vaclav Klaus was special guest at the official opening. Sebrle is heading already on Wednesday for his usual one month training camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa. His only aim for this season is to try to defend his Olympic title from Athens 2004.
MORIMOTO FOR VIENNA
WIEN (AUT): Female marathon runner Tomo Morimoto after failing to qualify for Japan’s Olympic team is concentrating on regaining her Vienna City Marathon title at the end of the month, writes David Martin. Morimoto improved her personal best by over three minutes with a world class time of 2:24:33. In Osaka Marathon in January she achieved 2:25:34, but was not named. Morimoto will face defending champion Luminita Talpos of Romania in the Austrian capital on April 27 in a race which already has attracted 25,000 entries. A victory she believes will be justification she should have been given the ticket to Beijing and not just the reserve role and is planning an attack on the eight-year-old course record of 2:23:47. Another strong contender for Vienna glory will be Aki Fujikawa. The Japanese has a personal best of 2:27:08 with which she placed third in Nagoya in 2004. This year she was eighth in the Osaka Marathon in 2:28:06.
B. JACKSON OPENS AT FLORIDA RELAYS
GAINESVILLE (USA): This weekend´s Florida Relays will see also the first race of the year at 400 m Hurdles by 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson. The relay world champion from Osaka wants to made for disappointment in Japanese city last summer when he did not advance to finals. Last year he opened with 48.75 at Kansas Relays.
ADDITIONS TO WEEKEND
AUCKLAND (NZL): World Indoor and Outdoor Shot Put champion Valerie Vili won her eighth national title with exactly 20 metres. Another top marks by Kimberly Smith 15:19.61 at 5000 m and Nick Willis who won the 1500 m clocking 3:44.46. 1997 discus world champion Beatrice Faumuina got her 15th national title achieving 61.73 m.
VENLO (NED): At 3rd ING Venloop Half-Marathon Kenyan Boniface Biwott improved his PB to 1:02:02. Only six seconds behind was Samson Chebii (1:02:08). Best European was the Belgian Tom van Hooste (1:03:23). Flomena Chepchirchir (1:11:24) fo Kenya and Martha Markos (1:11:35) for Ethiopia were the best women. Belgian Fatiha Baouf finished fourth as best European (1:13:45).
CORRECTION
Please correct from the weekend the winners name of Atlanta Marathon, it was Russian Oleg Marusin (2:18:50) and not Michael Godeny (2:17:11) who was initially listed as winner at results website.
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Used with permission of publisher, Alfons Juck.
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