What about Andrew Bumbalough? Why exactly was he DQ'd?

concerned runner wrote:

Seriously can anyone figure out why Salazar filed a protest against Bumbi?

Upon examination of the videotape, Salazar noticed that Rupp lost.

This whole mess (Bumbi and GG) is so disgusting that I am considering not buying Nike products anymore!!!!!!!!

Agreed on all counts rojo. Thanks for following up.

Here's a full account from Bumbalough in his own words: http://spikeduppsychedup.com/2014/02/25/dq-andrew-bumbalough-mens-3000-meter-final/

If I'm Bumbi i fight this to the wire with USATF. Their ability to DQ an athlete for no apparent reason other than Alberto's wanting to send a message to Jerry's group is completely wrong. It now sends a message to athlete competing against NOP athletes that you have to walk on egg-shells, otherwise you risk being pulled from the results. Even Hill's contact was incidental and these things sometimes happen in races (especially on tight indoor tracks). Either way, USATF has screwed Bumbi and if I'm a top US runner, I'm worried if i might be next if i happen to brush an NOP athlete during a race. Obviously it shouldn't be like this. Bumbi should fight this to push back to USATF and send a message from his fellow competitors. They shouldn't accept what's happened in ABQ.

Here's an update from Tom Ratcliffe, Bumbalough's agent at KIMbia:

"I have been in touch with Jim Estes at USATF and he has passed on our request for a review to Max Siegel, but no word yet. It's clear they made a mistake, so I assume they'll address. The more troubling aspect of this saga is Rupp's coach's verbal assault of Lopez in the mixed-zone after the 3000. Lopez was visibly shaken by this encounter and it seems this too warrants action by USATF. Again, if you watch the video, it's hard to understand what precipitated this egregiously-unsportsmanlike conduct."

I read this and also watched his interview on Flotrack. I think it's appalling that no meet official bothered to tell him that he'd been disqualified for the hour or so he was hanging around after the meet.

At the same time, I don't understand why he or his coaches didn't file an appeal as soon as the results were announced. Although in their defense, looking at USATF Rule 145 on disqualification and Rule 146 on protests, it seems like there is no obligation on the part of the meet officials to inform a competitor that a protest has been filed against them or that they have been disqualified or to give them an opportunity to appeal.

Even worse, it seems like the right to appeal runs out after 30 minutes. So someone like Salazar who is obsessive about this stuff can work the system, while someone like Bumbalough, who was probably disengaged and disappointed by his performance may have no recourse. What a ridiculous system.

This meet is a fiasco.

I protest.

Bumbalough's coaches did file a protest within the hour. It was judged against them. They just didn't push it further because it wasn't for a World spot. But Ratcliffe is still demanding something be done, and Bumby wants it, too.

I like that in Bumby's reply he says that even if the one contact with rupp was a foul (which it's not) that they got the wrong runner -- even with "enhanced video footage". lol

At least everyone is aware it's a sham.

So what is really going on right now and in the last 24 hours is both USATF and Nike doing damage control. USATF meet officials screwed up, Salazar and his camp screwed up and Nike is now scrambling to maintain it's product image. I know most consumers can care less, but Nike does care in light of the fact that they contribute $10 million to USATF with very little if any benefit from that sponsorship. I said in another thread, it appears that Nike looked at this as it was developing and said "Al what the hell are you doing?"

It was pretty clear that both he and Lomong were pacing Hill. You guys would probably scream bloody murder if the NOP set up a train like that. Isn't pacing illegal in these races? But probably hard to prove. So a complaint was lodged about impeding after he slowed down. It feels like Bumbi is being less than truthful in his interview after the race saying that he was really trying to run hard from the gun, and how, "Obviously, 8th place is not what I wanted..." It's clear he was pacing.

Theorist wrote:

Is it possible that the DQ was based on the overall impression that he was there to set the pace without the intention of really competing, and thus somehow interfering with the result? I don't think this was the case since he finished 8th and didn't totally pack it in and get lapped. Just wondering whether "blatant rabbiting" was the charge (unjustified) and the legality of this in USATF championship races.

Seems to be ok in the OG and WC maybe we should suck it up.

perhaps usa needs a new governing body, usatf really dropped the ball, the word corruption comes to mind. allowing nike to run the show behind the scenes... pre would be rolling over in his grave...

That's true. I haven't heard anyone say that his slowing down so fast caused Hill to jump out to lane 2 and cause the Rupp bump? Not a legit DQ, but maybe an excuse because can't prove rabbiting?

Serious question... I assume protests are filed in written form? If so, are the athletes themselves required to sign the protest?

Perhaps in an individual sport such as track & field, the protest should come directly from the athlete, whether written or verbal. Might not work during Olympics, World Champs, etc., but other meets where athletes are competing independently. Not that a coach can't help with the process, but the athlete should be the one to ultimately make the decision whether to lodge a complaint. They are the only ones who know if contact by another runner truly impeded their performance. A coach could have a conflict of interest should the contact happen between two athletes he/she coaches. Look at Kersee at 2012 trials (not same circumstances, but there was definitely a conflict).

If Rupp felt Bumbalough impeded him during that 3000, let him file the protest. He's an adult.

Just a thought.

I think this is it wrote:

Isn't pacing illegal in these races?

No

Pacing is rare because you have to qualify for a championship and those that qualify want to place as high as they can so they are rarely willing to sacrifice themselves.

Nothing prevents an athlete from leading at a fast pace and nothing prevents them from dropping out at any point.

He didn't have to finish but Bumbi finished and he wasn't lapped.

Now - if he let himself get lapped and then started pacing, that would be against the rules.

Why is the Westminster Dog Classic run better than USATF nationals?

I think USATF did mix up Hill and Bumbalough, so he should be reinstated, but Bumbalough and their team need to cut the crap. He was there to pace and had zero intent to compete, so there is no need to get all high and mighty and make believe that they are upset with the DQ, for whatever the reason. It completely made no difference to the Schumacher group, but they'll milk this as much as possible. I have no problem with team tactics, just own it boys.

Again, it seems the Schumacer group races to beat the NOP, which seemingly is their one and only goal. The NOP runs to beat the world. Unfortunately, their seams to be a Nike team trying to derail the NOP them whenever they can. Weird.