I have no problem with a question like this given to an athlete. But then I think one has to direct something similar also to his name brother, Jakob (who too has a manager with a certain reputation; Henrik Ingebrigtsen, “likely doping”, according to leaked WADA files), to avoid a double standard…
I have no reason to claim (with my limited information) that the two mentioned athletes have done anything wrong, or their managers for that reason, but critical questions should be a part of journalism always…
But there’s more: A number of athletes could be asked critically about their progress and results, e.g extraordinary peaking skills vs doping suspicion, rapid and unexpected progress, inconsistency, +++. So why doesn’t Kerr, Hocker, Habz and Nordås (and a lot of others) get the same confronting questions?
It’s slightly different. Henrik was never banned/sanctioned. It’s not a major data point like so many of Rosa’s most prominent athletes getting banned. Another Rosa thing is no apparent explanation/accountability. Most other agents have the decency to provide comment/explanation on at least the biggest cases whereas Rosa is silent. So then Kiplimo can’t even point to that.
Maybe you'll be condemned by the Kenyan government like Robert was. There's nothing wrong with asking a question that is in the back of everybody's mind. Rossa deserves the scrutiny.
I have no problem with a question like this given to an athlete. But then I think one has to direct something similar also to his name brother, Jakob (who too has a manager with a certain reputation; Henrik Ingebrigtsen, “likely doping”, according to leaked WADA files), to avoid a double standard…
I have no reason to claim (with my limited information) that the two mentioned athletes have done anything wrong, or their managers for that reason, but critical questions should be a part of journalism always…
But there’s more: A number of athletes could be asked critically about their progress and results, e.g extraordinary peaking skills vs doping suspicion, rapid and unexpected progress, inconsistency, +++. So why doesn’t Kerr, Hocker, Habz and Nordås (and a lot of others) get the same confronting questions?
It’s slightly different. Henrik was never banned/sanctioned. It’s not a major data point like so many of Rosa’s most prominent athletes getting banned. Another Rosa thing is no apparent explanation/accountability. Most other agents have the decency to provide comment/explanation on at least the biggest cases whereas Rosa is silent. So then Kiplimo can’t even point to that.
He probably realized he has said some contradictory, deflective, etc. things in past interviews.
This is probably the most he's said in an interview:
Very interesting. In there, he says he’d share publicly blood values of his athlete, but I don’t believe he ever followed through on that (feels illegal to begin with). Maybe he thinks there’s nothing that can be gained by talking, but it’s probably more there’d be even more scrutiny on why someone like Chepn’getich was allowed to be self-coached. Or why if he’s in touch with the blood values she’d be scarfing down a masking agent, and so on. It’s an unsatisfying thing with him, and I’d also say Nike should be turning the screws on him.
Why do you guys harass people associated with Rosa and (in the past) Salazar, but you haven't asked that question of Athing Mu or SML regarding Bobby Kersee?
Can you please name one athlete that Bobby Kersee has coached in the last 20 years that were banned or suspected of doping?
The 1980s were 40 years ago. And I’m not sure if anyone he coached then was banned either.
Maybe you'll be condemned by the Kenyan government like Robert was. There's nothing wrong with asking a question that is in the back of everybody's mind. Rossa deserves the scrutiny.
Bobby Kersee was red alert in 88 to 90. a polished criminal, and moving forward. the sprint culture crosses over with foot ball culture which was nothing but steroids. now peptides micro dose, and they kept up with the science of cheating.
After some more digging, I've noticed that the Rosas have pretty much stayed quiet about anything doping-related since 2016, which was also when Federico was arrested.
“Kenya is very dangerous [right now]. Federico is not involved [in doping]"
“In Kenya, if you pay someone maybe [and] you go to the police and [Person A says] that [Person B is] not a good person, they come and take [Person B] to prison. It’s an incredible situation what is going on – but in November the issue should be released completely, everything finished. We are clean."
“Myself I have coached more than 1500 athletes in 25 years – [and there was] nothing – no problem [with doping until this]."
“We must wait. We never try to explain the situation because our lawyer in Kenya said, ‘Pay attention. Kenya is very dangerous. Don’t make noise [with the press].’
"But we are near to the finish of everything.”
Except they did have a problem with doping prior to 2016...
Why do you guys harass people associated with Rosa and (in the past) Salazar, but you haven't asked that question of Athing Mu or SML regarding Bobby Kersee?
Can you please name one athlete that Bobby Kersee has coached in the last 20 years that were banned or suspected of doping?
The 1980s were 40 years ago. And I’m not sure if anyone he coached then was banned either.
Kersee athletes have had some minor bans dating to as late as 2017. As far as suspected, a ton of his athletes have been 'suspected' of doping, including SML herself. I don't personally suspect her but a lot of people do.
I could ask the same question about Salazar and you'd have to give the same answer. Lots of 'suspected' dopers, none banned since Mary Slaney, which was like 40 years ago too.
But you guys show yourselves to be biased on who you are going to target for harassment. When Shelby got popped you even defended them instead of asking the hard questions.
It’s slightly different. Henrik was never banned/sanctioned. It’s not a major data point like so many of Rosa’s most prominent athletes getting banned. Another Rosa thing is no apparent explanation/accountability. Most other agents have the decency to provide comment/explanation on at least the biggest cases whereas Rosa is silent. So then Kiplimo can’t even point to that.
I don’t think it’s all that different. -There’s a lot of suspicion (unfounded and founded), and there’s a huge problem that both some athletes and coaches are unfairly suspected, and of course that there has to be a significantly amount that goes under the radar when it comes to doping. And even worse: Some of the popped athletes get to keep their (Worlds/Area/National/Personal-) records even when there’s good reasons to think they were doping also pre being busted…
Silence from athletes and coaches is IMO also a significant and unnecessary problem. And you use this as a criticism of Rosa. But as other posters point out he hasn’t been as silent as you claim, and compared to the lack of words from most athletes and coaches in our sport I think you are unfair towards the Italian (and maybe also Kiplimo).
Some examples to what I wrote in the paragraph above: Where do you find detailed explanations and defence by Gjert Ingebrigtsen around Henrik’s “likely doping”? Or from Henrik himself? Or from Jakob? All I have found is Gjert’s information about an extensive testing of Henrik throughout years, and that he and his son(s) thus understood he was under suspicion. Fortunately the Norwegian team doctor (Talsnes) has stressed that all Henrik’s blood values (the variations) aligns perfectly with his altitude camps, and another Norwegian doping expert has also pointed to how badly the doping authorities understood the effect of (and how to properly adjust for and test) altitude training historically. But my point here is that the Ingebrigtsens have been even more silent than Rosa… And what about Hocker’s, Kerr’s, Habz’s and a lot of other elite’s silence about the doping accusations against them.
We need outspoken athletes and coaches and managers. But we don’t get that if nobody asks the questions to them, or if one does it in the way and context that was done with Kiplimo. And I understand the Ugandaen vey well (the silence) -it’s kind of disrespectfully to single out only one or two athletes for the tough questions…
So here’s my main point: One could ask most of the elite athletes/coaches/managers tough and individualistic doping questions (e.g based on the common Letsrun conspiracy theories), but in a polite way, e.g: “What do you say to those who claim that….”. Thus it would be standard to ask questions like this, and the chances of getting good and long answers would be much higher, IMO…
It should be addressed in a one on one interview. Pre-race press conferences is not the time or place for that interview.
What we are realizing more and more is that people need to get uncomfortable for change to happen.
While this puts Kiplimo in an awkward position, any uneasiness or frustration he might feel should trickle down to the people who are actually causing the issue.
And if the agent sees that journalists are pressing his athletes publicly, putting the athletes in awkward positions, hopefully it sends a message that the rest of the running community is not going to let this shyt slide.
Hopefully interactions like these will begin to nudge Kiplimo to rethink his relationship with the shady agent.
Journalists need to create as much bad press about doping after races as possible so that the atmosphere is generally unpleasant - none of this feel-good rubbish to paper over the lies. Maybe then the race organizers will stop inviting doping athletes or athletes associated with doping agents to their races.
Why did Jon even ask that question? He is rocking the boat. These marathon press conferences are all about positive media and good pr. It is not the time or place ask about doping. No one is going to give an honest answer anyway. All you are going to get is the standard doping is harmful line.
I have done the press conferences and once you have done one you have done them all. Runners always say it is a great city and fantastic course. They always tell you their training was perfect and they will run really fast. No one ever says anything interesting or controversial. They are there to promote the race and sponsors. Nothing more and nothing less.
The guy standing in the middle behind Jacob (one wearing the sport coat) is Jason Holder. Jason is the Chief Content and Communications Officer for USATF. He generally is the MC for media at many Major Marathons.
My question is, why was he one of the people trying to tap Jacob and prevent him from answering the question?
Maybe you'll be condemned by the Kenyan government like Robert was. There's nothing wrong with asking a question that is in the back of everybody's mind. Rossa deserves the scrutiny.
Actually, he’ll be praised by the Kenyan government for taking down a Ugandan!
The guy standing in the middle behind Jacob (one wearing the sport coat) is Jason Holder. Jason is the Chief Content and Communications Officer for USATF. He generally is the MC for media at many Major Marathons.
My question is, why was he one of the people trying to tap Jacob and prevent him from answering the question?
tapping is just tapping. why is everyone politicizing the tapping as doping. maybe they were afraid of JG trying to outrage the innocent modesty of schoolboy like kiplimo?
Imagine if LeBron James was asked a question about his agent being affiliated with noted dopers and several people touched LeBron as if to say don’t answer. It makes one think that Jacob is doping, whether he is fully aware of it or not, and that his handlers are fully aware of it.
they were running late ob bedtime schedule and dinner. he has a shakeout jog to do perhaps JG would have asked the question after the race his handlers will not bother him right? stop politicizing body gestures. it's not like they showed JG 2 middle fingers or shouted fk you. tapping could be for other reasons.
