"For some reason, USATF chose to stall. Maybe the leadership wanted emotions to cool, but I think it was a public relations disaster. It made the people running USATF look either distant and out of touch (best case) or calculating and inept (worst case)."
The report says the "new conclusive evidence" was the same footage on a true monitor with zoom capabilities since the initial ruling was made with a "fuzzy" projection on a "bed sheet". Barker claims the rules were still violated as the committee allowed an additional appeal before the higher-quality video was even on the table.
President Stephanie Hightower: "What we have seen in this instance, as well as other competition-related controversies in recent years, is that our rules in some cases fail to address how to decide certain field-of-play issues, as well as who should decide them. The group’s recommendations will provide the blueprint for eliminating the shortcomings of our current rules and processes to decrease the chances of similar situations happening in the future.”
The report doesn't take a side in whether there should have been DQs or not, but does finally acknowledge that the DQ of Andrew Bumbalough was a case of mistaken identity. The report also makes a number of suggestions for rule changes to help with the vague wording and make for a more clear process for the jury of appeals and for correcting mistakes later on. It even addresses the accusations of Nike's/Alberto Salazar's influence and calls for a more private setting for the jury of appeals to work.
In the aftermath of USATF accidentally released the DQ video Jill Greer said that the working group's report will be done in June. We agree with Goe that it's ridiculous it's taken this long.
The most recent Gabriele Grunewald DQ episode is just the latest in a series of controversies which Lovett follows back to the 1996 Olympic Trials.
The group is led USATF board member Bob Hersh and includes USATF Rules Committee chair John Blackburn, Athletes Advisory Committee chair Jon Drummond, athlete board representative Darvis Patton and Women’s Development chair Rose Monday.
*More Info On The ABQ Controversies In Our "USATF Controversy" Section
The meeting was supposed to be Monday and the article doesn't say when it's been rescheduled for.
TFAA wants to be able to have two athletes able to monitor the appeal and protest process at all championships meets as TFAA president Adam Nelson said right now "there is an inherent distrust of the system."
"USATF remains a 19th century type organization trying to govern in a 21st century sporting world." Reavis speaks on Alberto Salazar, Nike and the Grunewald DQ, saying if the roles were reversed, he doubts Jordan Hasay would have been DQed.
Yet another person who doesn't understand the Andrew Bumbalough DQ.
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744-word article by Sara Germano and Kevin Helliker.
Vaughn: "If everything is confirmed, I'll have a medal swap. But I'm not going to make an effort to go clear that up. [USATF] can come find me if they need to. ... A lot of people are in a position of wanting to just focus on their races today. It's kind of a tough spot to be in when even if you might feel one way about Gabe's race and her result, you came here to race. ... I don't know if I would call it intimidation, but there's definitely hesitation [to speak out]. You have to think how stirring things up might you affect you getting into a future race or a future sponsorship deal."
Three time Olympian Lee Troop saw the whole thing unfold and says Salazar was way out of line, "To be perfectly honest, it was just bad for the sport, the way the whole thing was conducted. It looked poor; it was bad; I think a lot of people are going to be walking away with a really bad taste in their mouth. It's just not right on so many levels."