M65 sprinter slapped with suspension for speaking out
Woe to ye UK masters athletes who speak ill of thine leaders. Your ass is grass. As promised, M65 sprinter Anthony Treacher has been banned in Britain after a 10-month war of words with the BMAF, his national track association. In fact, our online account of his claims against his team manager figured in his suspension. BMAF Chairman Winston Thomasā Jan. 18 letter to Treacher is posted here. Winston writes: āAs all the above are serious infringements of Rules for Competition 1(k), 22 (3) I now confirm that you are disqualified from all masters competitions under the auspice of BMAF, both domestically and internationally, for a period of 12 months from 16 January 2007 until 16 January 2008.ā
Whether this holds up under Eurovets and WMA scrutiny is another thing.
Treacherās reaction?
He replied to the BMAF leadership: āThank you for the impressive suspension document in the British colours. I will have it framed and I will hang it on the wall of my den.ā
Man has a sense of humor, no?
But it aināt no laughing matter to the masters movement. For an athlete of a āfreedom-lovingā First World nation to be banned on the basis of speaking freely is an abomination. Itās past insane. The BMAF has taken a step usually reserved for tyrants and despots ā dictators more concerned about their riches and reputations than the lives of their subjects. In other words, this sucks.
Although itās not the lifetime ban I first projected, itās still open-ended. If Anthony doesnāt kiss royal BMAF butt by January 16, 2008, what then?
For his part, Anthony isnāt sweating the edict. Heāll compete in Swedish masters meets (he lives in Stockholm). But he wonāt seek Swedish citizenship. Heās made that clear.
Now the ball is in the EVAA and WMAās courts. Will they ārespectā the ruling of their affiliate governing body? Or will they recall the first world masters championships in Toronto, when organizers fought to allow South Africans to compete? The idea, as recalled in āMasters Track and Field: A History,ā was that any individual athlete of any nationality should be able to compete in international masters meets. Now that principle is in peril.
Winston wrote: āYou have persisted in bringing the sport into disrepute on various websites and by emailing athletes and magazines direct.ā
No, Winston. Itās YOU and the BMAF who have brought the sport into disrepute.
Shame on you all.
2 Responses
What a bunch of BS (thats bullshit to all my Brit friends). Anthony was RIGHT when he stated the relays cannot be changed right before competition…the manager was WRONG.This is a great example of how the Masters movement around the world is a VICTIM of its own administation. THIS IS MY OPINION of course…and ill stand up with it. The people in administrative positions are there to help the athlete not make things HARDER and in fact HAMPER athletic competition. As anyone honest will admit participation in the USA is down…and NOT growing…go to a meet and tell me im wrong! This is a big part of the problem …self righteous…know all the rule “administrators” who THINK they are doing us all a big FAVOR and in fact doing a horrible job… Theses people actually award THEMSELVES awards!!!!Good Luck Tony…train hard and the hell with the bastards…run FAST.
I agree with you completely Francis. Administrators with power egos are ruining sports at many levels, not just masters athletics. It just hurts even more when the sport is struggling to attract participants and something like this happen.
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