George Mathews agrees Neil Griffin got the WMA shaft
George Mathews really is just getting started. In addition to venting on USATF, he now feels liberated to comment on WMA issues as well, especially the drug-testing rituals that seem to penalize masters. George writes: "As you can see, I’m starting to work for the sport in a different way now. Blogging is the way to go. I hope to get the fortitude to start my own soon. When I first heard that Neil Griffin was tested positive I was saddened to hear another athlete had cheated the rest of the world. After hearing the facts so far thanks to Ken I have a different view on Neil’s situation."
George continues:
I was an eyewitness to the competition. I saw the drug testers come up to Neil prior to the finals (at the reorder) and inform him that he was to be tested. I believe he was leading at the time. I believe this to be a gross injustice and not in any protocol I have ever witnessed. I could see Neil was somewhat affected by this information and lost his !st place position in the finals. How could anyone do their best after hearing they were going to be tested?
I communicated my observations to Rex Harvey and Sandy Pashkin and they both said it was a mistake and that it wouldn’t happen again.
Meanwhile a person who it seems made an honest effort to get an exemption was targeted and lost his medal as well as two years of competition.
This whole Masters drug testing process needs to reformed. It’s not like we don’t have examples of how it should be done. Obviously Masters might need some additional exemptions for age/health sustaining requirements. The testosterone situation is a tricky one. I had a conversation with the USATF General Council once about the subject of testosterone supplements. She believed that in most instances they should be banned.
The decrease in testosterone is normal in males. Just as we all age differently she believes that we shouldn’t be able to change the aging process with the supplementing of testosterone because it may be decreasing in one individual versus another. Diabetes might be a different story. I didn’t ask her position on estrogen.
The US should have an exemption form on the USATF Masters page as The Euro Vets have. I had asked Marilyn and Rex to facilitate this. Marilyn was to research what other countries were doing about drug testing.
WMA has always said they don’t have the money for wide scale testing and the research required for age related exceptions. This running the paper work through IAAF is ridiculous. WMA needs to step up and be responsible.
There needs to be a clear method of selecting those to be tested; random in the top finishers, record breakers etc.
The US has asked its athletes to make a feeble commitment not to disgrace our country on the form we that they sign for WMA Championships. I am not against the commitment letter the German’s have created. The German’s have drug testing and I Dieter Massin is a staunch advocate of drug free level playing field competition. The Fins have drug testing. I predict Dieter will be the next President of WMA.
I have always been a strong advocate for drug testing for USATF Masters Track & Field athletes. Does anyone believe that no one in The US is taking illegal performance enhancing drugs? How can USATF call itself a drug free organization when 8500 athletes are not subject to drug testing. They do it for youth but not Masters. This is not something to be voted upon.
I have brought this need to Bill and Craig and all they say is they don’t have the money for it. The next time someone from the US tests positive in an international competition I’ll bet the USOC and or Congress might want to pay for the testing.
And so it is! George
Comments
George.. I myself have seen some DRAMATIC "differences" in athletes i have know over the years do to "weight training".....I guess im lifting the wrong kind of weights!!!SOME Masters Athletes in the USA are cheating just like everywhere else...to me these are the TRUE losers..they cheat for praise and get the recognition by unfair means..its sad, stupid ...and ILLEGAL.When and IF we ever have a real Masters "organisation" (one willling and capable of dealing with OUR issues)perhaps this very inportant issue could be HONESTLY addressed..
Posted by: Francis A Schiro | January 1, 2007 6:11 AM
Testosterone and masters is a complicated issue. Testosterone decreases with age (particularly the biologically active unbound testosterone) . Low levels of testosterone are linked to coronary artery disease, decreased libido, bone and muscle loss, insulin resistance, and depression. However, testosterone supplementation improves performance in every track and field event (particularly among masters). So, on one hand taking testosterone is cheating and provides an advantage, but it may also promote health in older adults. This issue is not clear cut.
Posted by: Tom Fahey | January 3, 2007 3:56 PM
Sorry, George, I can't agree with you on this one.
Just look at the Neil Griffin situation. Administrators screw up but
athletes get screwed!
What playing field are we
leveling? Aren't we doing this for fun? If some individuals are foolish enough to abuse drugs for the sake of Masters glory then they are the losers.
I compete against my self
and strive to stay active.
I'm not too worried if someone is jacked up to beat me.
Thanks for the inciteful
info, Tom.
Posted by: Charles Roll | January 3, 2007 7:11 PM
The way I see it is that if Neil Griffin was 25 years old and had his condition he would have been granted the TUE. The idea of drug testing is to level the playing field but if Neil is below the "normal range" something like (250-1000) then he is starting with a handicap. If drug testing is about fair play, then the way masters are tested might need to be looked at. The T/E ratio test measures foreign testosterone period. Drug testing does not measure if someone is in the "normal range" contrary to popuar belief.
Neil can test positive and actually have very low levels of testosterone. There is an easy fix and it is a simple, cheap, test that any lab can perform.
I think the answer is to establish a normal range of testosterone allowed and then look at if the athlete was in that range. Does this mean that Neil was innocent and was in that range? We don't know. One thing that is known is that testosterone is testosterone regardless of if the body makes it or if it is injected. So the key is to estabish a normal range, or adopt the medical standard above, and then test masters on that.
Really the question is what is fair and there is some evidnece to point that drug testing is not fair to people like Neil G.
Posted by: zac | January 4, 2007 5:36 PM