Cathal Lombard retires

So you still won't answer the other posts?

There is nothing more to say in this saga. People have made up their minds, and no rational argument or counter argument will make any difference.

The case is now closed.

Ghost in Korea.

www.gifle.go.kr

, apply now, good conditions

Ghost - You never mentioned anything about your sources. You may possibly have heard of me, I might know you too. I do know Cathal. I would even say he is a friend of mine. I also think the whole situation is tragic, as Cathal's a good guy whose whole previous life and passion was running. As I've said before, I think he suffers from insecurity, maybe depression, which led to EPO; I'm sure there was some other twisted rationale mixed in too.... I didn't approve of his 'comeback' but didn't care that he came back doing smaller races. After Belfast however, I felt that he had again made a mistake, as he was yet again prominent in the public domain, and had not done anything to address the "fight against drugs" as he had stated in 2004:

"I am strongly against doping in sport. It would be my greatest wish now to join the fight against doping and work in the anti-doping area."

He did express regret in the same statement for what he had done, and to me personally by mail - I saved all the mails, as I find the whole situation intriguing. He wrote to me:

"I am sorry I let you down. I cannot justify what I did, it was simply wrong. It wasn't all a lie, everything I said re training and the encouragement was true, and much of what I achieved was genuine." and

"As for the other people you mentioned, I betrayed their confidence and will never forgive myself for that."

Apart from the official statement and these mails to me, he didn't make much of an impact in expressing publiclyhis regret or in (willingly) helping the anti-drugs movement. I told him I thought that he could maybe gain some favour from the public by confronting this, then next thing I know he just quits. Haven't talked to him since.

To conclude, I think it is good he retired. I think it is important that we support him if we can now. I think, however, that the onus still is on him to take a strong position in his purported fight against doping. He is currently extremely busy with studies and work so maybe when he has a bit more space he can approach this thorny topic! The case may not be closed after all, Ghost. (Why don't you say who you are?)

ghost = Casey Moulton?

ghost wrote:

Ghost in Korea (www.gifle.go.kr) apply now, good conditions, c.moulton

Not sure where Korea comes in though, I thought he was in Michigan.

If it is Moulton, this is a guy who has definitely put in his share of hard work to ascend through the ranks, and hasn't yet achieved the kind of success that Lombard did on drugs. Which is why I'd be surprised if the poster is Casey. I always appreciate forgiveness and grace. In this case, however, I agree with Mcgloughlin that it would be nice to see a bigger effort on Lombard's part in combating drugs in sport.

Hi Cian,

Ghost is a guy called Chris Moulton. He usually leaves his name but he was so insulted on this thread that I suppose he took it off.

It is amazing how the fact of disagreeing with people & being forgiviving (too forgiving maybe I agree) can bring as much hate & insults.

Cian I admire your position to which I agree for the most part. Shows you actually reflected on the matter rather than just let your hate for drugs & cheating curb your rationality.

I know you but am just not secure ( or balsy?) posting under my real name.

ghost wrote:

People have made up their minds, and no rational argument or counter argument will make any difference.

You mean you aren't willing to entertain any logic or rational argument that goes against your pre-determined beliefs?

cathal made a huge mistake and served his ban.wether this Ban is sufficent we all have opinions.

I would love to know if Cathal made big improvments under Joe Doonan and then used drugs to futher enhance this.

how big an improvment can drugs make lets say on a guy who is a 30min 10k runner>>>>

It was the manner in which lombard beat the field.i think he could have won by a minute if he liked.

the field wasnt a very strong field compared to lets say the John Treacy era but it still had some very good runners like Cragg....

Cian.....that was a load of crap there....ur spending too much time on this board an not doing the miles....get with it man

Well the booooyyeeeeeee wrote:

Cian.....that was a load of crap there....ur spending too much time on this board an not doing the miles....get with it man

What are you on about Cian does 120 miles a week you just do 50 miles a week with 3 nights a week in Coppers & a blocked sink from too much sausage & rasher feeds...

by the way put some curtains on those windows theres a 6yo girl in the apartment facing you that doesnt need to see you watching Jenna Bond.

Coppers is catttttt lads.

Personally I would have liked to have seen Cathal continuing his comeback although I know it would have taken tungsten like resolve. I would have a forgiving nature and a clean Cathal should not be seen as a problem in the sport. Cian is spot on, Cathal should have acted out his stated wish to combat the drug scourge but for whatever reason he stayed mum. Public perception and reaction is cruel, re some of the posts here, and lacks balance. Disappointed he hadnt the resolve to continue and fight to regain his credibility by achieving an olympic place the right way. I wouldnt feel this way for every drug cheat for although I dont know cathal, I have a gut feeling he was planning his comeback honestly. Former drug cheats are not all honest. I just have a hunch he was. Disappointed it had to end like this after such a comeback, maybe he just could have run a super marathon. By the way my real name is PJ Carroll from the North Laois Athletic Club.

Have no time for anonymous postings, bit of deceit inherent in them. Although I am guilty of this on page 3 of this thread, I have the excuse of being new to this website and usually I always post my real name in Ireland.

Ok, this subject has been done to death but just came across something that interested me. It was an article on the bbc sport site, talking about David Millar (the scottish cyclist who was caught before the Olympics like Lombard, served his ban and is now back competing and preaching as a hard-line anti-doping advocate - which I think is great).

Anyway, the author talks of the textbook way to redeem a battered reputation. I want to compare how Cathal handled the situation as opposed to Millar who is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Athlete Committee. He says what Millar has done and what one should do:

Say sorry (a lot) - Lombard made a half-hearted apology when the news broker. He was more concerned justifying his actions by saying he needed to take the drugs to level the playing field

Tell the truth (leaving nothing out) - We know that Lomabrd got the EPO sent in the post but really have no idea how long he was taking it and what doasges etc. He never gave a proper interview confessing all.

Serve your time (without complaint) - Ok he did this part

Start competing again (this time clean) - I have big doubts over this on Lombards part.....he runs a 25.4x 5 mile and a few weeks later beats Alistair Cragg (a 13.08 5k guy) and then rides off into the dust. I dont buy it

Throw yourself into good works (preaching the anti-doping message) - No sign of this nor do I think he ever will. He was very cynical about the whole thing. Never repented properly for having cheated and conned so many people, including young aspiring athletes.

Thats my opinion on the situation - I dont have much time for Cathal, obviously because he took drugs but mainly for his complete disregard for rectifying the situation. Im glad hes now gone and hope we never hear from him again. It seems athletics motto should be "no news is good news"

The last posting makes a lot of intelligent points. But it is importanmt to recognise that the course on the day was like manaa from heaven for Lombard while it completely didnt suit cragg. Also maybe the roving ambassador suits an outgoing personality like Millars but ,without knowing him, be totally unsuited to Lombard. Not trying to justify anything, just trying to add some balance to the debate, which is coming to a natural end soon. Have no time for cheats who lie and deceive and never change, I just believe Lombard was trying to change for the better and met a barrage of resistance that made it impossible for him as a person..

Just heard (reliable source) on Tuesday - Ricky Simms heard that Cathal contacted his old mangaer (Ray Flynn I assume) about races (Rotterdam I assume) and Ray? told him it wasn't that easy, he couldn't just waltz back into the scene like nothing happened

Paudgie Poo wrote:

I just believe Lombard was trying to change for the better and met a barrage of resistance that made it impossible for him as a person..

And I believe that if he was truly interested in changing that it shouldn't matter what level of "resistance" he met from outside sources. The only "resistance" that would make it "impossible" would be that which comes from within. Unless he's just incredibly wrapped up in attaining the approval of others and thus really pathetically weak mentally in which case he isn't cut out for success in a solo sport like distance running anyway.

most (well those who knew him well) argued that its that weak personnality that is one of the main reasons that brought him to doping in the first place.

Dont get on your high horses, the fact that he was dishonest and a cheat is the main reason of course.

Cathal made a HUGE mistake taking EPO.He served his ban and returns to what one can only describe as a demolition job on the field.He ran like a guy who was on a warm up.

I think he is on drugs again.I would love to hear from Joe Doonan where he thinks Cathal would be without drugs !!!

His sudden retirment makes no sense so the post above about Ray Flynn makes alot of sense.

Just remember the hips don't lie ''Shakira Shakira'' aka Kevin English.