It will be interesting if a woman makes the men’s world champs qualifying standard, and an American man doesn’t? – Tom Raynor
The Petition – says to me – 2:09:56 is itself prima facie evidence of fraud.
‘No effin’ way that’s legit. Hell, anybody can see that’ for you non-legal-types.
Which reminded me of the drug case against Alberto Salazar. And I reminded somebody else.
“Funny thing is someone has written on the petition ALBERTO SALAZAR…that would be so hypocritical and makes no sense if it is.”
Makes some sense, I thought. Maybe Al wants to see these governing bodies finally brought to task, just like we all do..
Let me begin my defense of Alberto Salazar and Ruth Chepngetich, just as I would commence my opening argument on behalf of Scott Peterson. Yeah, I get it. Dead body here, sub-2:10 there. Somebody’s gotta be guilty of something. That’s ‘primey grimy facey’ whatever, for sure.
But where’s the proof? And can we prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt?
In my over half century of published running journalism – in respected, and some not so any more, periodicals around the world – I have yet to see writing much more fun than the FaceBook comments section to my latest post. (Who’s Clean, Who Isn’t, Will We Ever Truly Know & So, Where’s Don’s Bronze??? https://www.jackdogwelch.com/?p=60162)
Here’s a sample. Minimally edited for clarity.
Jimmy Ashworth
Makes a lot of sense, cartels, well not as large but definitely local gangs. When my wife worked in transporting solar-powered fridges into Africa for Medicines (This shows EPO could be stored in remote places?) she said there were so many people you had to pay to get the fridges to the right village, etc. So, why not some kind of street gang calling the shots? Lets face it, you win big in the marathon, it’s unbelievable amount of money for a Kenyan, etc. Leaves the athlete in those areas very vulnerable; you could even say easy pickings or prey.
Dave Goodger
Recently heard from someone who’s trained out of East Africa and the medical ‘support’ and access to stuff astounded me. There’s a trade out there and it’s far from naïve. There’s big money at stake and they know what they are doing.
John Downes
Dave Goodger there’s money, there’s criminality
Peter Bullen
Dave Goodger but there are still enough gullible people, who think it all looks good and if it looks good, it’s OK. So everything looks good, if you put it on to a presentation plate. What you see is what you get. But the moment you are not looking…
How many times in this day and age do you see services offering you the best, the finest, etc., etc…but when you have taken the bait, it’s totally different. Facebook is full of such things. We know of people who have gone to Kenya and come back with accolades full of Glanz und Gloria. So, why the cheating? Why are there so many guilty parties when they are supposed to be the best? Why do those responsible ignore, why do they allow coaches who have been banned to carry on training potential Olympians? The new tactics for all those in responsible positions is SILENCE. And that is GUILT!
Dave Goodger
Peter Bullen agree fully. I’ve said for a long time Salazar was dodgy and so it was proved, yet not one athlete ever failed a test…so he bought drugs, tested them on and with his son and no athlete benefited? Come on, he worked out the tests and micro-dosed along with TUE’s. That’s how the medals were won!
Peter Bullen
Dave Goodger We’ve got past those scenarios, Dave, we are on the total denial country-wise. Kenya is flooding the record books, living in total denial. Has there ever been logs or proof that these individuals have tested negative? Have any of those record-setting runners stood up and said here’s the proof! Not one, because they are bound to silence. Just as WA is with their creepy Lord Coe who sits there giving visions that are far from the reality of drug cheats. He doesn’t care for the lives of others, it’s the swoosh that counts.
I’ll bet my last share of Nike stock, ‘the swoosh’ would be over the moon to have all their many world records adjudicated ‘DRUG-FREE.’ Meanwhile, says an anonymous company source, “It’s the shoes until they prove otherwise.” Maybe some extraordinary energy gels, too.
If Lord Coe wanted to signal a new well-funded CREDIBLE drug policy for World Athletics, no better way than fixing the 1976 Montreal Olympics Marathon podium. Shorter gets his second gold. Lismont gets his second silver. Kardong – at long last – for the bronze. https://www.jackdogwelch.com/?p=54161
And special thanks to John Downes and Peter Bullen for allowing me to grind my many axes.
It will be interesting if a woman makes the men’s world champs qualifying standard, and an American man doesn’t? – Tom Raynor
Seems to me I saw a list. 144 sub-2:06:30s in 2024. Zero Americans.
Saw this on LetsRun.com.
On the men’s side, no time qualifiers, only way is like the Olympics they get in via World Rankings. [Connor] Mantz and [Clayton] Young are out as they won’t run that fast in NY (okay, it’s highly unlikely) and likely have no interest in passing up $$$ for a big race in the Spring versus running the Worlds (for practically free). No other Americans can get within the same zip code as the qualifying time.
On the women’s side, that would require yet another quantum leap, nearly three and a half more minutes off the new world record. “I suppose that could happen in the next few years,” offered Benji Durden, “though I would have an extremely tough time accepting it as a legit performance.”
My reading of The Petition suggests rather strongly 2:09:56 is itself prima facie evidence there’s SOMETHING hinky amiss. Frank Shorter never ran that fast, for goodness sake. “Frankie Two Golds” – as he’s known on the streets, not to forget forest trails and parking garages and dorm hallways and hotel stairwells and airport service roads – NEVER lost an Olympic medal to a clean marathoner. (I’d have to check the 10K.)
Suppose Alberto Salazar really did sign The Petition. Would that get Sir Seb Coe’s attention finally?
The Petition
Please sign this petition to compel WA, AIU and WADA to disclose all testing, if any, conducted on Ruth Chepngetich, in the twelve months prior to 13 October 2024, and to hold these organizations accountable by requiring them to take urgent measures to eliminate doping in athletics. Thank you. No fake names, please.
The Athletics Integrity Unit has jurisdiction over International-Level Athletes and their Athlete Support Persons, World Athletics Officials and Member Federation Officials (limited to their dealings with World Athletics). On this page we publish a consolidated list of all persons serving a period of ineligibility in Athletics. This includes persons serving a period of ineligibility as a result of national level cases and decisions.
Actually, this is just the Kenyans. And it is five pages long.
Have a nice day.
Poised with my finger o’er the “Publish” button, I get this word from John Downes: USA Pulls Out of WADA today. The US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) says it “fully supports” the US government’s decision to withhold a payment of $3.6m (£2.8m) to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cg525z14z19o?