Gabriele Grunewald officially DQ'd after Salazar appeals the appeal of the appeal

11/10

This, absolutely.

It is one thing to protect an athlete's position and battle with business competitors. It is another to represent a brand. One does not represent a global sports brand by bullying and not accepting the ruling of meet officials.

The incidents described below were witnessed by another coach. We all have bad days, but, at the end of the day,we have to remember that what how we act is more important than what we say.

Incidents surrounding 3,000 meter races "Ugly for the sport," by Jon Gugala

by Jon Gugala

Lee Troop is the Boulder-based coach of Laura Thweatt, the athlete who led the early stages of the women's 3000-meters at the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Thweatt finished fifth (sixth before the disqualification of Gabe Grunewald), and Troop walked with her from the track to the athletes' warm up area to decompress after her race. On the way, he says, he watched Nike Oregon Project coach Alberto Salazar screaming at one of the USATF officials at the protest table, Salazar saying it was "bullshit."

Back in the warm-up area, Troop was feet from Nike coach Jerry Schumacher, who was talking to a few people. That's when, Troop says, Salazar stormed into the area with "his posse"--at the very least three other people--and barely escaped making physical contact when confronting Schumacher.

"It was just like this complete continuation from what was going on earlier," Troop says. "[Salazar] just kind of ran and launched [at Schumacher]."

One of Salazar's "posse" intervened before Salazar made contact, but Troop says that though Salazar didn't have a clenched fist, indicating a punch, there definitely would have been a push.

At this point, Salazar was screaming at Schumacher. "You're against us," Troop remembers Salazar saying.

Schumacher, whom he remembers was composed and unrestrained, asked what Salazar was he talking about.

"You're always after us," Troop remembers Salazar screaming back.

"It was just crazy. It was just ridiculous," he says. "It just went on, the screaming match."

But it wasn't just screaming; Salazar was visibly fighting against the restraint of one of his group, and Troop says it was endangering Thweatt. So he jumped up and pushed Salazar and his restrainer away.

To those that witnessed it, Troop says they were more confused than anything.

"It was just like Alberto was looking for any opportunity on any situation," he says. "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."

I've reached out to both Salazar and Schumacher for comment; at the time of this writing neither has responded.

"It was like a volcano that was just building up to erupt," Troop says, "and we saw the complete eruption and the meltdown."

Salazar was ushered off by his "posse," and Troop says Schumacher remained, but was not visibly shaken by the incident.

actually Ho Hum, LF is not an elite 1500m runner, never was. decent 5000m runner, but thats about it. I've known Gabe for some years now, and I'll readily admit my bias. That doesn't prevent me from acknowledging that Gabe does race rougher than she should, but still doesn't make today a dq'able offense. sad state of affairs at usatf, and salazar is beyond pathetic.

Ho Hum wrote:

Is Lauren Fleshman elite enough for you?

https://twitter.com/laurenfleshman/statuses/437445196318384128

HardLoper wrote:

The way Gabe races is completely normal on the European circuit. Americans are too soft and too frequently are shocked when they get into their first world-class races.

Entirely true. As many have pointed out, this happens all the time outdoors on the European circuit and in XC. Very minimal contact and Hasay slowing down and cutting in was part of the problem. I love Hasay and think she has a great future, but I want to see the person who ran the fastest and the best win. Gabe did that and deserves the title without question. Best race that day.

The guy who ran the 8:07 2M should have won that race no matter how things went down. For Salazar to be upset that it wasn't 8:05 3K pace is ridiculous. Rupp got beat fair and square today and Hasay was a non-factor.

Salazar had a total meltdown today and the USTAF rewarded him for it. Pathetic.

Just watched the race. There is no way that warranted a DQ for any of the runners. The contact was extremely minimal. If this is too much contact for women they should be embarrassed to call themselves athletes.

Gabe was destroying them either way. Hasay was totally spent and had nothing left, same goes for Rowbury. It wasn't even close. This is a major F up if Gabe gets DQd.

Lee Troop is a TOOL. This guy always wants attention and will do and say anything to make himself look good. Example-Troop was starting trouble at the Club XC after party. Lee is 40 and will never grow up. He sent a tweet to Gabriele trying to make himself look like a hero (what else id new).

Guys in the elite circle always joke about how we can smell his BS from miles away.

Truth be told the race didn't Warrent a DQ. Like many other on this site I like Jordan Hasey. Kids I have coached in the past who have interacted with her said she was kind, nice, and down to earth.

But, in this race she was totally out matched by her own teammate and the US champion. I believe if there was a could it is because the US champion missed judged how slow Jordan was going at that time or the fact that Jordan actually decelerated. The contact certainly did not make Jordan deviate her stride and the US champion one by such a large margin that it should have been a no call.

Alberto and his behavior has today does look bad.

However, most importantly I believe Jordan looks terrible and sickly. He weight looks bad for a number of reasons. What we don't know if her change in diet and weight training is a result of Alberto meddling or Jordan think she needs to be that size. Whatever the case maybe coach Alberto needs to not worry so much about DQ an obviously better runner yesterday but instead look at what his coaching has accomplished outside of two rediculousy talented runners.

Who has he really improved dramatically? Before you say Mo and Galen think about how they might have had more to do with one another's improvement the cryogenic chambers and dangerously messing with someone's mechanics.

Here's how the process will work from here:

See Exhibit M, USOC Bylaws - Section 9, Athete's Rights, page 165 of the pdf below.

"Section 9.1 Opportunity to Participate. No member of the corporation may deny or threaten to deny any amateur athlete the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games, the Pan American Games, the Paralympic Games, a World Championship competition, or other such protected competition as defined in Section 1.3 of these Bylaws nor may any member, subsequent to such competition, censure, or otherwise penalize, (i) any such athlete who participates in such competition, or (ii) any organization that the athlete represents. The corporation shall, by all reasonable means at its disposal, protect the opportunity of an amateur athlete to participate if selected (or to attempt to qualify for selection to participate) as an athlete representing the United States in any of the aforesaid competitions."

"Section 9.2 Manner of Filing the Complaint. Any athlete who alleges that he or she has been denied by a corporation member an opportunity to participate as established by Section 9.1, may seek to protect his or her opportunity to participate by filing a complaint with the CEO, with a copy to the corporation’s legal division."

"Section 9.7 Arbitration. If the complaint is not settled to the athlete’s satisfaction the athlete may file a claim with the AAA against the respondent for final and binding arbitration. If an impending competition requires immediate resolution of the complaint, an athlete may file a claim with the AAA simultaneously with the filing of the complaint with the CEO."

http://www.usatf.org/usatf/files/d3/d3b84e86-3748-4692-a650-3a5d90de61f5.pdf

staterof theoblivious wrote:

no agenda here wrote:

I agree.

Thank you for identifying yourself as a Nike troll.

Thanks YOU for identifying yourself as a Brooks troll

I'm an ASICS troll. The disqualification was ridiculous.

I'm tired of these Salazar NOP athletes being in an insulated plastic bubble. Shorter and Pre trained together briefly. That type of camaraderie is not possible today.

Just watched the video and in the words of the NFL TV guys, "C'MON Man!"

THAT was the bump that everyone is talking about!?!?! Pfff. That was hardly anything. Regardless if it was blatant or not, that was the slightest bump I've ever seen and there should be no grounds for disqualification for that. If that little thing is the reason why she got 4th, her camp is really grasping for straws to get her in.

Adam Goucher ‏@Adam_Goucher 3h

Integrity. Some people have it, some people don't.

https://twitter.com/Adam_Goucher

Kara also retweeted

Anderson/Grunewald has a history of impeding other runners. This is not the first time. I agree that she probably would have won anyway. But that does not change the fact that she ran into Jordan and then Shannon. The woman either doesn't have any sense of personal space or maybe common sense. But the way she navigates around other athletes involves questionable tactics.

It seems that she is talented but her sportsmanship is questionable. You just can't go blasting into other people without any concern for their personal space and right to compete unimpeded.

If Salazar is willing to have rules bent and use his corporate influence to get the outcome he wants, then what would stop him from using the same tactics when it comes to pharmaceuticals?

Maybe some good can come from this. Can Salazar get Gammoudi disqualified from the 1972 Olympic 5000 for cutting off Pre so Pre can get a medal? How about Gammoudi in the 1964 10000? Can Salazar get Gammoudi, Clarke and enough guys disqualified to move Lindgren up to the bronze?

Most Interesting Coach ITW wrote:

Just watched the race. There is no way that warranted a DQ for any of the runners. The contact was extremely minimal. If this is too much contact for women they should be embarrassed to call themselves athletes.

Gabe was destroying them either way. Hasay was totally spent and had nothing left, same goes for Rowbury. It wasn't even close. This is a major F up if Gabe gets DQd.

well said.

this did not warrant a dq.

Is Gabe in the 1500? Cause I really really want her to win that thing.

One part of me thinks that Brooks should now commence protesting every nudge in a race by a Nike athlete, to point out the absurdity of this DQ, but the other side of me says two wrongs don't make a right.

USATF needs to stop this nike pandering - it's not good for anyone.