Armstrong and USMS - Swimming world article

Coming soon, the debut album, Beautiful Stroke, from King Frog and the Disenfranchised Breaststrokers - sure to be #1 on iTunes! :dj_dance: I would be happy to croak out a few lines as King Frog's back-up croaker! :banana:

Well, the American Swimming Association has banned Lance for life and has reversed his SwimStrong team wins. swimswam.com/.../

Well, the American Swimming Association has banned Lance for life and has reversed his SwimStrong team wins. swimswam.com/.../ Well, that's interesting, since I can't imagine they did drug testing at those events. Did you read the comments below the press release? Does anybody know why Bill Volckening is so critical of USMS? What the $@*&? :bitching: P.S. Debaru, I love your signature! :banana:

I don't think Bill V is being critical. I think he believes the Bell's are being "harsh". I found a post about the "ASA" and the Bell's from Feb. 2002 to explain what the ASA is. It is my understanding that the Bell's were disgruntled and split off from usms. I know Sandy is a former Olympian and I think her husband was her coach, and also is a swimmer. I saw her early in my masters swim career at a meet on deck. She was wearing her Olympic jacket with patches all over it, I believe. I thought, "Oh boy...."

Well, that's interesting, since I can't imagine they did drug testing at those events. Did you read the comments below the press release? Does anybody know why Bill Volckening is so critical of USMS? What the $@*&? :bitching: P.S. Debaru, I love your signature! :banana: LOL! I typically don't read comments in news articles for this very reason. But, I was wondering why the ASA exists when there is USMS. However, I did think it was a bit odd that the ASA chose to oust Lance and his team. If he can be believed, Lance did say in the interview that he hasn't doped since 2005, which was long before he started participating in sanctioned swimming events. I guess they have their reasons, but I'm wondering if the ASA is going to be challenged in court. It really isn't fair to the other swimmers to be considered "guilty by association."

The posting with the history of the ASA is from Philip Arcuni, February 4th, 2002

Did you read the comments below the press release? Does anybody know why Bill Volckening is so critical of USMS? What the $@*&? :bitching: It looks like him and the Bells are anti-rules. Some of their philosophy... Save trees and tears. ASA rules yield few disqualifications. Don't make it a production. ASA rules require fewer officials. Promote integrity. ASA self-disqualification rules keep races in perspective... A quick glance of their rules...one hand touches on turns are legal in fly and ***.

One hash ???? Even age group little kids are D Q ed for that !!!

The posting with the history of the ASA is from Philip Arcuni, February 4th, 2002 I met Keith Bell at my very first Masters meet in 1974.I thought he was a nice guy and a really good swimmer.I don't know why he/they got upset with USMS.I was in Oregon by the founding and so we didn't have local meets together.When I read about ASA it seemed silly,simplify the stroke rules to the point of meaninglessness and have WRs for every year(41 is a different age group from 42 etc.) and have WRs held by people whose main qualification is to be within driving distance of Austin.I think their banning Lance Armstrong is the most publicity they have ever gotten.

If I remember correctly one of the things the Bells wanted their new swim organization to do was to have each age be it's own age group. So instead of a 45 - 49 age group, there would be an age group for 45, one for 46, one for 47 etc. At least that's what I recall.