I am not sure we realize how bad this will be for swimming and US swimming.
This will change how everybody looks at the US team from now on. The circumstances do not matter to the casual sports fan - they will only remember "US swimmer caught".
The medal winners will lose a lot of money on endorsements - USA swimming was the "clean" sport, the poster child of how to do it right. Not any more - any advertiser will now look at swimmers differently.
What about US trials - this will change how quickly the testing has to come back and how some 3rd place finisher may train after trials.
US Swimming - they have already screwed this up on 10 different levels. No press conference, 3 weeks after the fact, some web forum starts leaking the story, coaches and swimmers at the Olympic training camp know and they expect to keep this quiet ? Amateurs
Former Member
USA Olympic committee sweeping things under the table. It has been going on even before Ben Johnson won the 100 then they gave his gold medal to a guy who had tested positive earlier that year.
How is the USA Olympic Committee responsible for Ben Johnson?
Former Member
USA Olympic committee sweeping things under the table.
You sweep things under the rug. You drink yourself under the table. Try to keep it straight.
Former Member
Too many on here that can't read. Read # three, it is a reoprt by USA track and field. Johnson was caught at the Games the others were caught before the games but it was swept under the table.
Gull I do not drink except when on Vacation. I happen to limit myself to one or two drinks at that time. You should be so good. I guess drunks can't read too well here.
Read item three again www.cbc.ca/.../top10.html put on your glasses you may eventually understand what I am saying. It is about USA users.
www.abc.net.au/.../s155405.htmquery.nytimes.com/.../fullpage.html
Former Member
Looks like I stirred up a can of worms.
Former Member
Very few have attained his speed for sure if any. He was truly the fastest runner in the world.
I was surely proud when he won the gold. I did stick by him until there was real proof. I even believed what he said about a competitor lacing his drink. It may be true because he had his stuff well under control. Now I am wondering who did that, maybe the guy who came second and ended up with the Gold.
Former Member
Geek you are backing a guy who tested positive be fore he raced Johnson and it was covered up. I admit Johnson used. But again you see this other guy through rose colored glasses.
Former Member
Ehoch I wouldn't wory too much, every country has a few athlete's that have done this. I don't think anyone's going to call this a fall from the pedestal. Well maybe some jingoistic hacks will but normal folks will realise JH is not representative of all the USA. I say this as a) a Naturalised Citizen and b) one who doesn't believe a mere handful of people ultimately represent anything except themselves.
Former Member
Maybe this has been mentioned in another thread......
More positive steps in the US on drug cheaters: Douglas Logan, President of USA Track & Field has written a letter to President Bush asking him NOT to pardon Marion Jones for her recent convictions.
See: www.usatf.org/.../view.aspx
Note the statement of admission: "Our country has long turned a blind eye to the misdeeds of our heroes." which is what most people in other countries believe has happened in the past.
He also says: "A pardon would also send the wrong message to the international community",
Good on Mr. Logan; it takes guts to bring this up so strongly. Hope he doesn't get deemed 'unpatriotic' for his efforts.
Former Member
Mr. Logan should get a medal for standing up and telling it like it is---and should be. Give false information to Federal Agents, cheat, take PED, malign others, call your detractors racists and threaten law suits to ALL who called you out for your cheating---heck, Ms. Jones is a poster girl for the slammer---and needs to serve ALL her well deserved time. It is time for all nations to get tough on PED and STOP turing a blind eye and making excuses for this wretched behavior.
I have utter and complete disdain for these cheaters--and--if for no other reason they stole the dreams of years and years of hard work, dedication and efforts for those who chose to do it the right way---CLEAN. Oh, and for those who think their are no clean athletes competing--nonsense. Many, many honest, decent and dedicated athletes have chosen the right way to compete--and that is clean.
I recall (I think) that Bush brought up PEDs during one of his State of the Union speeches. I think it would be a longshot for him to show her any mercy but given his comments on PEDs, probably even moreso. Still dissapointing she is a Tar Heel, bad news.
