Guillermo Guzmán Magaña, president of Mexican masters track, says M45 sprinter Marco Antonio Franco Díaz is part of a cancer. Marco counterfeits his times and makes money off his celebrity, the prez says. His allegations are in a letter of Sept. 21, 2014, banning Marco for 18 months. But Marco lives in California, and he later became aware that the ban was extended to a lifetime suspension. On Tuesday, in response to inquiries, Marco denied the accusations and said the root of the dispute is envy by Mexican track officials and his not taking part in Mexican meets or competing for Mexico internationally. Marco says he wrote WMA to give his opinion but got no reply. When Marco contacted the president of Athletics Mexico, he says the response was: “We do not decide by the masters; that’s their business.” Marco says he received no notice of the lifetime ban. “What are the reasons?” he says. “I think the WMA should look deeper into this.” I’m reproducing the Spanish letter to Marco and his response to me. Plus Google translations. Forgive the funkiness.

Here’s English translation of letter sent to Marco:

Mexico DF. to September 21, 2014
The National Master Community
Present.
By this means, let me inform you that:
Mexican Masters Athletes Commission, has as its fundamental principle the development and promotion of athletics master in the major categories of 30 years (submaster) and 35 (master), also has the nationally representative, internationally recognized for our highest governing body, WMA, La COMAM is authority in all matters inherent in our categories and one of its functions is to ensure that competition rules, attached to fair play and this is precisely one of the principles of international Olympics are met.
It is of great known majority who last August our national athletics championships master in Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua was held and released the official results a few days later, however, we came back to run into a recurring problem, a shameful and reprehensible act in every way COUNTERFEITING AND RESULTS MANUPULACION in order to get more support, sponsorships, recognition, awards, and athletic status, but all based on a lie, in a sports fraud.

I mean the Athlete Mexiquense Marco Antonio Franco Diaz, who is also common knowledge that had municipal support of Metepec, was also sponsored by politicians and businessmen, and even the same exhibited this support in their personal Facebook account, the COMAM always attentive to support him, he extended several letters to solicit support for example Carolina Monroy del Mazo municipal president of Metepec, Fernando Platas detector of the Sports Institute of the State of Mexico, Laura Barrera Fortoul Federal Deputy District 27, David Lopez Cardenas, president of the commission youth and sport among others, however following the results of last national, this athlete took the information to the area of ​​social communication of the municipality but with corrupted data, these data were released in the form of newsletters authorities also published on the official website of the municipality, hence several pages of electronic information collected information and distributed nationally, was at that moment that I started getting protests from other athletes saying it was distorted information, which was several days on the network, without the athlete Marco Antonio Franco did absolutely nothing, did clarifications, not belied, received congratulations on this false information.

This respectful of all our fellow Commission has commenced an investigation in the first instance, I communicate with the athlete Marco Antonio Franco Diaz split listen and hear his words, what his version of events, the told me it had been a mistake reporter that he was wrong to publish the information, obviously, I believed, as newspaper reporters sometimes get it wrong, I say this from experience, because I was also a major factor in my youth athlete, however it seemed strange this reporter had been wrong almost everywhere, according to Marco Antonio Franco to ask the authorities of Metepec to rectify the information and that the request for a public apology for the error on the Facebook wall and that it posed no major problem with a server that was satisfied, the athlete if delivered as agreed and I accept, however to publish his public apology immediately after the public 5 photos of 5 girls so that displaced the information down and stay hidden after he resigned his account in Facebook today has nothing, when they contacted me the authorities of Metepec to ask for an apology for the mistake they had made, so accept but claim that they should be more professional to gather information, indicated they had official results on our page, that should not take results of a reporter, that’s when I learned that the reporter was a member of the area social communication of the municipality of Metepec, and published data correspond exactly to the data provided by the athlete, in this way the matter was a 180 degrees, because at that time we were facing an alleged counterfeiting and / or manipulation of results for the purpose of obtaining any benefit

Summary of the performance of Marco Antonio Diaz Franco M43:

 2nd 100m dash. Place official time 12:34

 2nd 200m flat. 25:51 Marco official time instead declared to have won with a time of 25:36, the winner was the athlete Oscar Ruiz de Veracruz

 flat 400m DO NOT PARTICIPATE Marco Antonio Franco said he won with a time of 54:30

 4x 400 Relay M40 1st. Place 4:05:56

 4×100 Relay M35 were disqualified

The investigation shows strong results, you have the respective files

The only athlete won a gold medal in the relay M40, 4 x400 and two silver in the 200m and 100m flat planes respectively, but is portrayed with two gold medals and two silver and times that do not correspond to reality, the honor and justice committee was formed, with the following individuals: Captain Ramon Ignacio Senties Angeles, CP Moon Gerardo Mendez, Lic. Rezendiz Mayda Rojas, Mr. Guillermo Guzman Magana, giving it the right to a hearing and replicates the athlete for Monday, September 22 at 6:00 pm this year, so that could provide evidence in their favor and could defend however the athlete Marco Antonio Franco Diaz failed to show, yet was held where a server provided evidence of the alleged failure, if my presence commission deliberated being reached the following conclusion:

ATHLETE Antono MARCO FRANCO DIAZ IS SUSPENDED FOR 18 MONTHS NO RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS IN ADDITION TO YOUR RIGHTS OF LAND IN TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE MASTER

 For manipulate and distort official results of a national championship

 By usurping a place that does not belong medal in the 200m flat test and give a false time

 By usurping a place that does not belong medal in the 400m test plans without even having run and give a false time

 On the go and act without sportsmanship and skipping the principles of Olympism and fair play

 For harm other athletes who competed and won if those medals

 By deceiving the sponsors and authorities they relied on

 Because with such behavior, severely damages the movement national master

In the same way that this lie was in the red for several days, also it will be on the network this truth
The COMAM exhorts them to all our athletes to go with honesty, we must eradicate this cancer that leaves us progress, again I remind them without effort to justify the action of Marco Antonio Franco, that this will end the day in which the state recognizes us and support us as it is required, and athletes do not have to resort to cheating to get support, I ask you in the most attentive way, bonding, stop fighting with each other, in the end we all pursue what we love our sport, The COMAM always ensure all of you, all I reiterate my deepest respect and recognition.

SINCERELY
Honor and Sportsmanship
Ing. Guillermo Guzman Magana
President of the Commission
Mexican Masters Athletes

Here’s the original letter in Spanish:

México D.F. a 21 de septiembre de 2014
A la Comunidad Master Nacional
Presente.

Por este conducto, me permito informarles lo siguiente:

La Comisión Mexicana de Atletas Masters, tiene como principio fundamental el desarrollo y promoción del atletismo master en las categorías mayores de 30 años (submáster ) y 35 (máster), también tiene la representatividad nacional, reconocida a nivel internacional por nuestro máximo órgano rector , la WMA, La COMAM constituye autoridad en todos los asuntos inherentes a nuestras categorías y una de sus funciones es velar porque se cumplan las normas de competencia, apegadas al juego limpio y este precisamente es uno de los principios del olimpismo internacional.

Es de la gran mayoría conocido, que en agosto pasado se realizó nuestro campeonato nacional de atletismo master en ciudad Juárez Chihuahua, y se dieron a conocer los resultados oficiales unos pocos días después, Sin embargo, nos volvimos a tropezar con un problema recurrente, un acto vergonzoso y reprobable en todos los sentidos LA FALSIFICACION Y LA MANUPULACION DE RESULTADOS con el objeto de obtener más apoyo , patrocinios, reconocimiento, premios, y estatus deportivo , pero todo esto basado en una mentira , en un fraude deportivo.

Me refiero al Atleta Mexiquense Marco Antonio Franco Díaz, que también es del dominio público que tenía el apoyo municipal de Metepec, también era patrocinado por políticos y empresarios, e inclusive el mismo exhibía estos apoyos en su cuenta personal de Facebook, la COMAM siempre atenta a apoyarlo , le extendió varias cartas para solicitar apoyo por ejemplo a Carolina Monroy del Mazo presidenta municipal de Metepec, Fernando Platas detector del Instituto del Deporte del Estado de México, Laura Barrera Fortoul Diputada Federal distrito 27, David López Cárdenas , presidente de la comisión de juventud y deporte entre otros, sin embargo tras los resultados del nacional pasado, este atleta llevo la información a el área de comunicación social de su municipio pero con datos alterados, estos datos fueron dados a conocer en forma de boletines a las autoridades, también fueron publicados en la página oficial de del municipio, de ahí varias páginas de información electrónica recogieron la información y la distribuyeron a nivel nacional, fue en ese momento cuando empecé a recibir protestas de otros atletas diciendo que estaba falseada la información, la cual estuvo varios días en la red , sin que el atleta Marco Antonio Franco hiciera absolutamente nada, no hizo aclaraciones , no la desmintió, recibió felicitaciones por esa información falsa.

Esta Comisión respetuosa de todos nuestros compañeros inicio la investigación correspondiente y en primera instancia, me comunique con el atleta Marco Antonio Franco Díaz parta escucharlo y oír de sus palabras, cuál era su versión de los hechos, el me indicó que había sido un error del reportero que se había equivocado al publicar la información, obviamente, yo le creí, pues los reporteros de los periódicos en ocasiones se llegan a equivocar, lo digo por experiencia propia, porque también fui un atleta importante en mi juventud, sin embargo me pareció extraño que este reportero se hubiese equivocado casi en todo, acorde con Marco Antonio Franco que pidiera a las autoridades de Metepec que rectificaran la información y que el pidiera una disculpa pública por el error en el muro de Facebook y que eso no representaba mayor problema, con eso un servidor se daba por satisfecho, el atleta si cumplió con lo acordado y yo lo acepte, sin embargo al publicar su disculpa pública inmediatamente después publico 5 fotografías de 5 chicas de manera que desplazaron la información hacia abajo y que quedaría oculta después dio de baja su cuenta en Facebook hoy ya no tiene nada, cuando se comunicaron conmigo las autoridades de Metepec para pedirme una disculpa por el grave error que habían cometido, también lo acepte pero les reclame que deberían ser más profesionales para recabar información , les indique que había resultados oficiales en nuestra página, que no deberían tomar resultados de un reportero, es ahí cuando me entere que ese reportero era miembro del área de comunicación social del municipio de Metepec, y que los datos publicados correspondían exactamente a los datos proporcionados por el atleta, de esta forma este asunto daba un giro de 180 grados, pues en ese momento estábamos ante una presunta falsificación y/o manipulación de resultados con fines de obtener algún beneficio

Resumen de la actuación de Marco Antonio Franco Díaz M43:

 100m planos 2º. Lugar tiempo oficial 12:34

 200m planos 2º. Lugar tiempo oficial 25:51 Marco declaro haber ganado con un tiempo de 25:36 el ganador fue el atleta Oscar Ruiz de Veracruz

 400m planos NO PARTICIPO Marco Antonio Franco dijo haber ganado con un tiempo de 54:30

 Relevo de 4x 400 M40 1er. Lugar 4:05:56

 Relevo 4×100 M35 fueron descalificados

La investigación arroja resultados contundentes, se tienen los archivos respectivos

Este atleta solo ganó una medalla de oro en el relevo de M40, 4 x400 y dos de plata en 200m planos y 100m planos respectivamente, sin embargo aparece retratado con dos medallas de oro y dos de plata y con tiempos que no corresponden a la realidad, Se formó la comisión de honor y justicia, con las siguientes personas: Capitán Ignacio Ramón Senties Angeles , C.P. Gerardo Luna Mendez ,Lic. Mayda Rezendiz Rojas,Ing Guillermo Guzmán Magaña, dándole el derecho de audiencia y replica al atleta para el día lunes 22 de septiembre a las 6:00 pm del presente año, de manera tal que pudiera aportar las pruebas a su favor y se pudiera defender, sin embargo el atleta Marco Antonio Franco Díaz NO SE PRESENTO, aun así se realizó donde un servidor aportó las pruebas de la presunta falta, si mi presencia la comisión delibero llegándose a la siguiente conclusión:

EL ATLETA MARCO ANTONO FRANCO DIAZ QUEDA SUSPENDIDO POR 18 MESES SIN DERECHO A PARTICIPAR EN EVENTOS NACIONALES E INTERNACIONALES ADEMAS DE SUS DERECHOS DE ATLETA FEDERADO EN EL ATLETISMO MASTER

 Por manipular y falsear resultados oficiales de un campeonato nacional

 Por usurpar un lugar en el medallero que no le corresponde en la prueba de 200m planos y dar un tiempo falso

 Por usurpar un lugar en el medallero que no le corresponde en la prueba de 400m planos sin siquiera haberla corrido y por dar un tiempo falso

 Por dirigirse y actuar sin ética deportiva y faltar a los principios del olimpismo y juego limpio

 Por perjudicar a otros atletas que si compitieron y ganaron esas medallas

 Por engañar a los patrocinadores y autoridades que en el confiaron

 Porque con esa conducta , daña gravemente al movimiento master nacional

De la misma forma que esta mentira estuvo en la red por varios días, también deberá estar en la red esta verdad

La COMAM les exhorta a todos nuestros atletas a dirigirse con honestidad, tenemos que erradicar este cáncer que no nos deja progresar, nuevamente les recuerdo y sin afán de justificar la acción de Marco Antonio Franco, que esto terminará el día en que el estado nos reconozca y nos apoye como es su obligación, y los atletas no tengan que recurrir a la trampa para obtener apoyos, les pido de la manera más atenta, unión, dejemos de pelear unos con otros, al final todos perseguimos lo que amamos , nuestro deporte, La COMAM siempre velará por todos ustedes, a todos les reitero mi más profundo respeto y reconocimiento.

ATENTAMENTE
Honor y Espíritu Deportivo
Ing. Guillermo Guzmán Magaña
Presidente de la Comisión
Mexicana de Atletas Máster

Marco’s note to me (unedited):

Hello. If you let me want to explain my part.

1. In the document suspencion several things that are not true and they can not pruve. a) that I benefit letters that the President handed me to ask sponsors. b) that affects the master of mexico atlestismo (In which the form, does not say) c) to falsify results. The results are published no forgery. d) they did a meeting for sanction, in which I was not present and they do´t notify anything. e) I asked him to tell me on the basis of TF law suspended me, and did not tell me what .Hi give me 18-month sanction for not participating in national or international events, It is unfair.

But I’ve done because I now live in California and not I have participated in international or national events of mexico. I Send letter to WMA to give his opinion and did not answer (which seems wrong) will send my case to the president of Athletics mexico and his response was, we do not decide by the masters that’s their business (there is irregularity ) Now to indefinitely suspend me: Where is my notice? What are the reasons ?. I think the WMA should see deeper this. For all things I am here to serve.

And with President Guillemo guzman. My relationship with him was not very good in the last 3 years. I tell you. My state participated in elections for the national presidency of athletics and I was master of my state secretary, we lost the election by 11 votes (very few) and gained Guillermo Guzman. In the last 3 years he has not given balance of their work, or where is the money charged for membership and where is the money? sells uniforms other things, their duty is at least 2 events per year, 6 in 3 years, only made 2 and with many irregularities.

Things that I demanded. Besides that before the sanction me I was the best athlete master of mexico and much admired by all athletes (something he resented. The last national event was his last and should have called for elections, and did not, which point telling him that it was wrong to observe the law of only three years. So that has made this more personal. MI state president said “Do not listen to this crazy.” So this is the story Relations He and the other suspended athlete is no different.

Obviously, something is being lost in translation. I’ll continue to look into this.