Danny Harris visits Striders; Valien gets Lifetime Achievement Award
Johnny Valien — recently crowned USATF Masters Athlete of the Year along with Flo Meiler — was further honored Saturday night at an Irvine, California, banquet room by her club of many years, the Southern California Striders. She won the club’s first Lifetime Achievement Award as a W85 superstar in pretty much every event. Watching the awards ceremonies, which included Damien Leake winning the club’s 2011 Athlete of the Year Award, was Danny Harris, legendary teen Olympic silver medalist in the 1984 Games, finishing behind Edwin Moses and later the 400-meter hurdler who ended Edwin’s historic 122-race winning streak. But Danny hasn’t run in decades.
World medalist Damien and Robert Watanabe Award for top Strider of 2011
He was handed a lifetime ban after testing positive a second time for cocaine in 1996. Danny has since kicked his drug addictions and become a hero for his various anti-drug efforts, but should he be allowed to run masters track?
I’m trying to find out.
Danny lives in Southern California, where lives are remade all the time. And masters track has given new life to many an athlete — not matter what they did in their kid years. So stay tuned.
Meanwhile, take this poll.
2 Responses
Annie Skinner, a USADA spokeswoman, writes:
The following information is not legal advice, and Mr. Harris may want to consult with legal counsel.
A lifetime ban is a lifetime ban, so Mr. Harris could not presently compete in any competition sanctioned by the IAAF, USATF or any club, member or affiliate of the IAAF or USATF, or any member of a member.
However, if the rules under which he was sanctioned have changed he could apply to the body which sanctioned him for a reduction in his period of ineligibility based on the new rules.
Without further information about Mr. Harris’ previous sanction(s) it is difficult to determine whether this is a realistic avenue for Mr. Harris. If Mr. Harris has any questions or concerns, he is welcome to contact USADA.
Congratulations to Johnnye on another well-deserved honor. She is an inspiration.
Leave a Reply