UVA Coach Serving Doping Suspension

Perhaps they have reassigned him because they cannot get out of his contract. If they knew this at the time he was hired it would seem to be verging on wrongful dismissal to then terminate him based on facts that were known at the time.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

Perhaps they have reassigned him because they cannot get out of his contract. If they knew this at the time he was hired it would seem to be verging on wrongful dismissal to then terminate him based on facts that were known at the time.

No, he was already coaching at UVA when he got popped. He was doping while coaching. Wonder if his throwers were on same stuff. NCAA testing would probably not catch them...

There are a lot of disappointing things about this story but the biggest for me is they won't provide the so-called proof that it was an unintentional act. I went to them before publishing story #1 hoping to hear their side of it. IF it was the results of some mistake, then there was no need for us to make a big deal of it.

They basically told us, it was unintentional but we won't show you the proof. that has made me very suspicious.

We have a new story out on his role here:

Yes. Many assistants aren't on long-term deals but maybe 1-year deals. but they likely offered him a new deal at the end of the season when they clearly were aware of his doping past. So you are likely going to have to pay him no matter what. They likely figure since we're paying him, let's keep him around and then we can rehire him again next year when the ban is up if we want to.

If you guys think he is not coaching the throws athletes right now at UVA, I have a bridge to sell you...

It usually takes the Virginia Track and Field ADs three years to fire a morally unacceptable coach..

wizardstaff wrote:

It usually takes the Virginia Track and Field ADs three years to fire a morally unacceptable coach..

So what ivy does Fetz get shipped back to? Could join viggy at Princeton maybe.....

Yes, I fully agree that since he was not summarily removed from the university there has to be some ulterior reason for keeping him on staff in any capacity.He may not have physical daily contact with his throwers; however, who's to say he can't design their training and work outs and have it surreptitiously sent to them. Who's to say he can't be sent videos to do analysis and send back his analysis to his throwers. What is the definition of "Contact"?I don't get this "win at all costs" philosophy with these D1 programs. These coaches and ADs should be forced to sit through basic Ethics training when they get their jobs. In the long run, did Maric's university or his athletes really win anything? UVA's track program and it's AD's reputation are shambles, careers are likely on the line as they are now seen as a dirty program and their kids who were sold these lies are left to pick up the pieces.His two foreign born super-star throwers Maheljevick and Jordan will now themselves be looked at with some degree of suspicion as well. One kid transferred in and got as big as a house in less than one year. The other one was so closely tied to and nurtured by Maric, who is from the same country, that chatter is bound to happen. There are rumors of the team being given "supplements" routinely. This practice apparently prompting many recruits' parents to have their kids steer clear of UVA. The university is a mess and this won't get better by continuing to house a doper coach on staff.Additionally, since Maric violated his ban is he not also subject to an extension of that ban as a result of coaching these athletes at UVA? If that is the case, what value of any sort would he bring to the UVA program that they seem to not be able to separate themselves from? This is a strange story and UVA's behavior is the strangest element. I don't for a second believe that this is the end of this story and a gum-shoe journalist needs to keep digging for the truth. If UVA was not continually called out by this site and Robert Johnson, nothing would have been done. Watergate was not just the simple burglary break in that poor journalists just accepted it to be, and this, I believe, is deeper than just another doper coach who was reassigned after being called out by LetsRun.com. There seems to be much much more here.

Totally Evil Private Coach wrote:

If you guys think he is not coaching the throws athletes right now at UVA, I have a bridge to sell you...

LetsRun.com wrote:

We have an article on this story up here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2015/09/university-of-virginia-employing-banned-doper-as-throws-coach-coaches-association-honors-him-as-regional-coach-of-the-year/

I sent you guys an email about two years ago suggesting you write an article about Remi Korchemny coaching at Merritt college. You didn't respond to my email or write an article. You also didn't post on my forums thread about it a few weeks later.

Is Remi not worth posting about? Remi was a coach who doped a large number of his athletes, was directly involved with Balco labs personally, pled guilty in federal court to distributing controlled substances, and has a lifetime ban from the sport. And yet he still coaches at the college level as well as "unofficially" coaches a number of elite athletes and top local prep runners, who seem to be unconcerned with any repercussions since they don't list him as a coach.

Last year Merritt had a kid go from a previous of 10.5 to setting the njcaa record of 9.92. Quite an improvement in a single year, right?

I also emailed the AD at Merritt college, but never heard any response from them either.

justhepsthrows2014 wrote:

He may not have physical daily contact with his throwers; however, who's to say he can't design their training and work outs and have it surreptitiously sent to them. Who's to say he can't be sent videos to do analysis and send back his analysis to his throwers. What is the definition of "Contact"?

I might only buy that he is not coaching the throwers there any more if they were to hire a new and reputable throws coach. Otherwise this is assuredly the case.

"I, (insert name), do hereby certify on my honor that I have neither given nor received assistance during the time of this examination from any source whatsoever."

This is the honor code statement that UVA academics are founded upon. In classes, this must be written by the students on their work to reinforce the seriousness of their (and the institutional) commitment to the code and its underlying values.

Maybe the athletic department needs to go back to basics?

Props to Robert and LRC for the follow-up on the UVA situation. I have had my differences with RoJo/LRC--to say the least--but credit where it's due!

And yes, I too would like to know what's up with Remi Korchemny (sp?). If the man is not entirely out of the sport--why not?

gku wrote:

Props to Robert and LRC for the follow-up on the UVA situation. I have had my differences with RoJo/LRC--to say the least--but credit where it's due!

And yes, I too would like to know what's up with Remi Korchemny (sp?). If the man is not entirely out of the sport--why not?

I guess Remi isn't out of the sport for the same reason as UVA hires a coach under suspension. There isn't any real "teeth" to any ban as a coach, only if you are an athlete. I sent pictures of remi coaching athletes to usatf last year. At least one of those athletes later ran at trials. I saw him working out with Remi again this morning, so obviously nothing came of it. I sent a complaint to the Merritt college ad last year, but the Merritt head coach was with Remi and some Merritt kids this morning for a track workout, so obviously that didn't matter either.

The UVA situation could be solved by the public putting pressure onto NCAA to be signatory to the WADA code. But of course they should have the character to not hire a banned athlete as a coach.

Bump

Hey WADA/NCAA/IAAF, want to clean up the sport? Are you afraid of the cost of litigation against dirty track programs, coaches and athlete who will no doubt lawyer up? Try this:

Treat the current problem as if it is a disease or toxic material Start a Clean up Track and Field movement fund. Set up a monitored fund and ask clean athletes, coaches, schools, parents and business and other supporters to contribute to this fund. This would be the equivalent of a Super Fund program; which is appropriate given the toxic nature of the sport currently.

Make the mission statement simple and easy to understand: "This money will be used to fight dopers for the sake of our sport!" Don't commingle the money with any other program or initiative. Sebastian Coe, if you read this site and are looking for creative ideas, here's one. Cleaning up the sport will take more than grit, rhetoric, and disgust . . . it will take mosey. Nothing shows passion for a cause to people digging into their pockets to support said cause. I am sure that everyone who reads this and other great similar sites would contribute to save our sport.

I would be the first person to write a check if any of these governing bodies set up a credible program to fight this cancer in athletics before it metastasizes further. We just need WADA/NCAA/IAAF or some other body to step up and create a frame work for such an initiative led by someone who will fight the status quo and not take bribes to suppress positive dope test results.

Set up a public fund and let's start fighting.

The UVA situation could be solved by the public putting pressure onto NCAA to be signatory to the WADA code. But of course they should have the character to not hire a banned athlete as a coach.[/quote]

I don't see how these guys keep there jobs. And why are other coaches, and the ustfccca so ok with it ?!? If there is such a laissez-faire approach to policing drug use in the acc/NCAA, it makes you wonder, how clean is T&F/XC at the college level???? There's obviously no penalty for NCAA coaches- isn't this fetzer's second run in with failed drug tests (his athlete at miss state)- who condone/hide drug use in their programs.

gku wrote:

Props to Robert and LRC for the follow-up on the UVA situation. I have had my differences with RoJo/LRC--to say the least--but credit where it's due!

And yes, I too would like to know what's up with Remi Korchemny (sp?). If the man is not entirely out of the sport--why not?

The fact that this situation has taken so long to get the truth and UVA to respond, raises concerns about the integrity of UVA and their philosophy. Disappointing!![/quote]

They'll probably wait until his suspension is over and then move him back to assistant coach from his current position with the intramural and rec sports program.[/quote]

If the ustfccca/NCAA were sincerely interested in a clean sport; this would not be allowed to fly. It is accepting that a drug cheat culture is "not their problem".

So schools like uva, merrit, etc... who are willing to harbor drug cheats and facilitate a culture of cheating, will not be penalized.

Are there visa issues here or does he have an anchor baby or some other tie? I could see how he cold coach under a special professional talent visa but how do they justify a visa for a intramural position?

I am disappointed to hear that Remi has a college position too. Was he ever charged with anything or convicted?

Are these examples of how we handle Eastern European wrong doing differently than Mexican?

Given that he blatantly violated not only the Croatian ban but also IAAF and WADA rules his ban, by policy, is subject to an extension. UVA has to know this. This is why I can't understand why UVA would hold on to this guy. If he can't coach the kids, can't be in contact with the kids and will be a liability for another 2 to 4 years, what is his value to the university? Why hold on to him> This is all very strange organizational behavior on UVA's part. Something smells very fully here.

Drug sport cool with uva wrote:

gku wrote:

Props to Robert and LRC for the follow-up on the UVA situation. I have had my differences with RoJo/LRC--to say the least--but credit where it's due!

And yes, I too would like to know what's up with Remi Korchemny (sp?). If the man is not entirely out of the sport--why not?

The fact that this situation has taken so long to get the truth and UVA to respond, raises concerns about the integrity of UVA and their philosophy. Disappointing!!

They'll probably wait until his suspension is over and then move him back to assistant coach from his current position with the intramural and rec sports program.[/quote]

If the ustfccca/NCAA were sincerely interested in a clean sport; this would not be allowed to fly. It is accepting that a drug cheat culture is "not their problem".

So schools like uva, merrit, etc... who are willing to harbor drug cheats and facilitate a culture of cheating, will not be penalized.[/quote]

So the UVA saga continues to defy credulity.

The program has no Throwing Coach since Martin Maric was "reassigned" (not fired) to another part of the athletics program after the doping scandal in the Fall.

So with no coaching Filip Mihaljevic had a nearly 4 foot PR to break the ACC and UVA school records this weekend and also attained the Olympic Standard to make the Croatian national team??!! I repeat, with no coaching as the UVA program has no Throws coach on staff.

When will this program be investigated and cleaned up.