In and around 1988, there was a systemic failure in American track and field. While doping was hidden, and prevalent, it was also given tacit approval by USATF (or whatever the initials were back then). At the '88 trials, there were over a dozen drug positives that were hushed up, covered up, and manipulated in order to get those athletes "clean" in time for the Games. Most of the athletes were coached by Terry Crawford, the women's Olympic team coach. While it was obvious that many/most athletes coached by Kersee were suspect, he once said about drug testing, "our chemists are better than their chemists." The most shameful aspect of all this is that some genuinely nice people were put in situations were they were forced to make difficult moral situations. Before we all judge, think about having the 'carrot' of success dangled in front of you (the distance to the carrot always being skillfully manipulated by folks like Kersee, Crawford, Debus, etc.), and then being told ther is only ONE way to reach the carrot....use THIS....
USATF (or wahtever) leadership at the time could have been diligent in opposing durg use. They condoned it through benign neglect. And decades later, the sport tries to cram the toothpaste back in the tube. It's too late.
Well said.Hit the submit button below if you want us to review the post.
If you feel this is urgent or want a reply, email us at letsrun@letsrun.com about the post and please include a link to the thread the post is on and what page number/post on that page it is
