Okay, I had posted a couple of days ago about Javelin thrower Breaux Greer, and how he did not make it to the Olympic Team because he did not perform well at the Track and Field Olympic Trials. However, it seems that Greer is now on the team roster headed to China. How is this possible? On the USATF web site, this is what they have next to Greer’s name:

Javelin Throw: Leigh Smith (Destrehan, La.); Mike Hazle (Chula Vista, Calif.); Breaux Greer* (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

* USATF rules enable the track & field chair to allow the selection of an injured athlete who competed in the Olympic Trials but did not final, and who has reached the A standard, as long as another athlete is not displaced from the team.

I only have one thing to say– OMG! Talk about PR Nightmares– because this is sending out a completely different message to athletes in general. Unless they do this type of thing for all athletes that are injured– then it’s not fair. What about the athletes that did perform at the meet and placed in the top three– what about them? Besides– look at how Greer acted after the competition– he was very unprofessional and did not represent the sport of track and field well. And this is the athlete that USATF is allowing to compete and represent our country??!!

It seems that USATF and Greer have a very “interesting” relationship– would they do the same for another athlete? Who knows. But will they do this for an athlete that they like? Maybe. But this is the organization that covered up numerous positive drug tests by CJ Hunter before it was publicized in 2000, and it is the same organization that promoted athletes like Justin Gatlin as “clean.” USATF’s overall brand image is suffering, and by supporting an athlete like Greer after the way he acted after the competition says a lot about them as an organization– and it is not positive.

So, as you can see– my personal opinion of USATF is not exactly the most favorable because it’s times like this where you have to question what they are doing. It just doesn’t seem right in my opinion, or ethical. Quality is better than quantity in my book.  USATF in my view has a lot to do to recover their overall image to many people– and they have a challenge ahead of them. We will have to wait and see what happens.

Hope you all are having a great day! 🙂

Best Wishes,

Karen 🙂