Doug Consiglio Reacts To Charlie Francis' Death
By LetsRun.com
May 20, 2010
Last week, Charlie Francis - the man who coached drug cheat Ben Johnson to the world record and brief Olympic glory at the 1988 Olympics - passed away. To the surprise of some, a lot of positive things were written about Francis. People wrote nice things about Francis for three reasons: 1) He clearly understood sprinting. 2) Many seemed to think that Francis just did what he had to in order to stay even in the drug infested 1980s. 3) When confronted with the cheating, Francis didn't deny it like everyone else.
However, the excuse of "everyone else is cheating so I have to as well" isn't one that we here at LetsRun.com endorse, because the brave souls who don't fall for that reasoning and don't cheat are severely hurt by those that do. To prove that, we'd like to share the following email with you.
A few days after Francis' passing, we received a great email from 1988 Canadian Olympian Doug Consiglio. In the email, Consiglio (who once held the Canadian 1,500 record at 3:35.82, was the NCAA record holder in the 1000 for 20 years thanks to his 2:19.64 clocking, and was the winner of the Pre Mile in 1991) talked about the impact Francis' actions had on the clean athletes at the 1988 Olympic Games and in the years to follow. Francis may have helped a lot of people in the world of track and field but his actions also hurt a lot as well. We now share Mr. Consiglio's email with you in its entirety:
Email From Doug Consiglio, 5/12/2010:
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Athletics+Johnson+notorious+sprint+coach+Charlie+Francis+dies+cancer/3018995/story.html
Sad, when ever any one dies.
Perhaps it is just best, and
most honourable to talk about a man's good point when he dies. If you
agree with that statement, just read the next few sentences and move on,
don't read the rest, as the rest of the e mail regresses from this
point.
Charlie Francis was a knowledgeable sprint coach who knew how to
train
athletes. He was a very intelligent, well spoken man. He helped advance
sprint training in Canada. He cared a lot for his athletes and the
sport in general.
*****
But, I was surprised Alex
Gardiner (Head of Athletics Canada) gave him so much praise in a
recent article. This praise for him, and how Alex said he was good for
Track in Canada, compels me to make this reply. I personally know
Charlie told a bunch of us distance runners in the mid 80's that we were
idiots not to cheat. He said we would make more money, run faster and
become more famous. I guess he forgot to mention the "in" in front of
famous.
In Seoul, Korea, back in 88, and after Ben Johnson, Charlie's star
athlete, got caught, the entire track team had to go through meeting
after meeting to deal with the aftermath. We were told we could not
wear our Canadian Track Uniform to the practice track and if somebody
asked us, we had to deny we were on the Canadian Track Team. Those of
us whom had chosen to stay clean, still were wiped with the same brush.
The Canadian Press at home had articles saying the whole team was on
steroids. We were told that if we spoke to the press we would be sent
home, and would never again represent Canada. Another distance runner
and I asked our Federation if we could all be tested to prove our
innocence, even make it voluntary. This was voted down by the Track
Coaches, (in order to stop other embarrassments I presume). All the
coaches there know which way they voted, and why. The voting results
were not made public. Charlie's group helped taint the ultimate
athletic experience for many of us, and we had unjust suspicions thrown
on our careers.
When years later I asked Charlie (who was then banned for life in
Canada) if he ever felt a need to apologize to people like me, who had
stayed clean, and were adversely affected by his actions. He told me
something to the effect that I am a naive young athlete who is stupid to
play by the rules. Thanks Charlie. Aren't coaches suppose to help
'mold' athletes? Charlie had a Stanford degree, Ben Johnson had a grade
9 education. Charlie influenced / encouraged Ben and a host of other
athletes to cheat. He was a smart man who used his influence to bring
many an athlete to the 'dark side'. Fortunately I was not one.
There were other implications for us athletes back then as well.
The Ben Johnson incident also cleared out almost all sponsorship money
out of Canada. It was near impossible to get a contract then. And it
also caused Athletics Canada to suffer financially for decades. This is
when all the rules about paying your way on teams, etc came into
place. So, if you have ever complained about having to pay so much to
go to world cross, Junior meets, or FISU, this is when it started.
And he certainly didn't change his ways after he was banned for life
in Canada. I saw him down at the Stanford Track on a couple of
occasions during the Balco days, telling me he was not working with
Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery. He was still telling me I was an idiot
not to do things his way. He was still running with the 'cheating
crowd.' Even after the whole Ben deal, he still didn't change his
opinion on cheating.
So, to add on to what Mr. Gardner says, I will say, Charlie led a
group that embarrassed our country, helped financially ruin Athletics
Canada, encouraged young, impressionable athletes to cheat, and was part
of the biggest doping scandals of all time at that point of time in
history.
He also was a knowledgeable sprint coach who knew how to train
athletes. And he was a very intelligent, well spoken man.
When
Bernie Maddoff dies should we should say he was a man whom gave a lot to
Charity, understood business, loved his wife and thanks to him, the SEC
now has some new rules?...............
Like I said, sad when some one dies.
May he rest in peace.
He has left his legacy.
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