It has been a while since I have written a post on track and field, but this story caught my attention. Just after the Beijing Olympics, CEO Doug Logan’s goals was to designate a panel of athletes and administrators to determine what the best course of action is to build the sport of track and field up. One of the reasons why this Project 30 Project was created was due to the criticism that was given to USATF and the trackand field athletes competing at the Beijing Olympics and the high profile athlete “faces” of track testing positive for steroids and testosterone (ex. Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin).
What is amazing is that in the report, they say that one of the problems has been that athletes have signed endorsement deals with shoe companies and others, when they should have made an agreement with USATF. Here are some of the panel’s “recommendations.”
I think that there are many other issues at play that USATF and this panel need to consider. First, leadership and the overall culture starts at the top (senior management). Second, there needs to be way more transparency among who tests positive and who doesn’t. Trackand field can learn a lot from what is going on with Baseball and Alex Rodriguez. USATF came under fire back in 2000 when CJ Hunter tested positive for steroids, and that he had failed numerous tests and USATF did not release this information. From Hunter to Gatlin and Jones– there seems to be a string of track and field athletes that advocate that they are “clean” but really are not. This tarnishes the reputation and the credibility of the USATF brand image.
Third, the panel needs to seriously look at the coaches and support staff. Athletes are not the only ones to blame here. Coaches and other members of the support staff act almost like gatekeepers for these athletes– they are the ones in control of their training, supplements, and media exposure. For example, look at Marion Jones and Trevor Graham– this is a clear example of how a coach was linked to several athletes that tested positive. Trust me, there are more coaches like Graham out there– and USATF needs to establish harsh consequences for those individuals that break the rules and cheat. Coaches like Graham should not be in the position to coach– period.
In summary, I believe that the panel has definitely an uphill battle ahead of them. Track and field needs to work tremendously hard to establish their All-American reputation as a sport. It is going to take time, resources, and some major changes. Some people will like the changes while others may not– but that is they way that it has to be. These are just a few of my thoughts. 🙂 Hope you all are having a great day!:)
Best Wishes,
Karen
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