28 November 2007
Sports Dispute Resolutions Panel bottle it!
Read John Inverdales article at
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/28/soinve128.xml
Ollie says: I am starting to think that all this attention on Christine will do little for the next sportsperson who has a missed drugs test for what ever reason.
Christine Ohuruogu has probably made the grey waters of missed drugs testing even murkier by her actions and comments. The rules of athletic has been overturned, may be because she is one of the few in British track and field that can win some kind of medal in Beijing, may be not. But the fact remains, rules that were in place and agreed to by the National Governing bodies and the athletes have been have been overruled as it was probably the case that the athlete in question made it harder on herself by selecting possible test times away from the family home because it would inconvenience her large family. I can see that but in her actions, (or inactions if you like) she has inconvenienced British athletics, other athletes and us, the British public, who through the Lottery funding scheme paid for her living and training costs. Her bravado talk of moving sporting allegiance to Nigeria if UK Athletics wouldn’t let her play should have been taken into account in her appeal but I think it was overlooked and put in the naïve part of her file, a part that seems to have grown bit by bit.
I want to be reasonable to an athlete who has fallen foul of stringent procedures but she is a professional, it IS her responsibility to be available to testers, to be at a prearranged place for one hour a day and she had the chance of changing that place up to the hour of this. She didn’t, she got caught out, she was banned and still she carried on as if it was not her fault. I have yet to hear an apology from her, how ever insincere it may have sounded (see Marion Jones). She has yet to put herself at the forefront as an athletics spokesperson for a fairer drugs testing system. At least David Millar (cycling) has made serious efforts to make up for his sins of using EPO.
I see the punishment was just, she could return to professional competitive athletics, she could run in National, European and International events but she should be banned from competing at the Olympics.
It’s the fair price to pay for not playing by the rules, however harsh those rules are.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/28/soinve128.xml
Ollie says: I am starting to think that all this attention on Christine will do little for the next sportsperson who has a missed drugs test for what ever reason.
Christine Ohuruogu has probably made the grey waters of missed drugs testing even murkier by her actions and comments. The rules of athletic has been overturned, may be because she is one of the few in British track and field that can win some kind of medal in Beijing, may be not. But the fact remains, rules that were in place and agreed to by the National Governing bodies and the athletes have been have been overruled as it was probably the case that the athlete in question made it harder on herself by selecting possible test times away from the family home because it would inconvenience her large family. I can see that but in her actions, (or inactions if you like) she has inconvenienced British athletics, other athletes and us, the British public, who through the Lottery funding scheme paid for her living and training costs. Her bravado talk of moving sporting allegiance to Nigeria if UK Athletics wouldn’t let her play should have been taken into account in her appeal but I think it was overlooked and put in the naïve part of her file, a part that seems to have grown bit by bit.
I want to be reasonable to an athlete who has fallen foul of stringent procedures but she is a professional, it IS her responsibility to be available to testers, to be at a prearranged place for one hour a day and she had the chance of changing that place up to the hour of this. She didn’t, she got caught out, she was banned and still she carried on as if it was not her fault. I have yet to hear an apology from her, how ever insincere it may have sounded (see Marion Jones). She has yet to put herself at the forefront as an athletics spokesperson for a fairer drugs testing system. At least David Millar (cycling) has made serious efforts to make up for his sins of using EPO.
I see the punishment was just, she could return to professional competitive athletics, she could run in National, European and International events but she should be banned from competing at the Olympics.
It’s the fair price to pay for not playing by the rules, however harsh those rules are.
05 November 2007
Chapeau Alex!
In his first marathon on a handcycle, Alex Zanrdi posted a time of 1hr 33.17 and came in fourth. Lets hope he sticks with the motorsports for a little longer and gives us all some time to put in some much needed training and a weight loss programme.
(pictures are on his website)
(pictures are on his website)
02 November 2007
Alex Zanardi to compete NYC Marathon in handcycle.
Former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi, who had both his legs amputated after a crash in 2001, has announced he will compete in the New York City marathon. He not only plans to finish the race, but hopefully set a record. Along the way he also hopes to fight a bear, rescue a princess and try out for Strictly Come Dancing, and don't think I'm doubting his resolve to do it.If you thought your last bike ride was hard?
Take a look at the report from Cyclingnews.com about stage 10 of the Crocodile Trophy in Australia and the immense effort of Marc Herremans and the honour given to him by the other competitors at the finish line.
