The Ethiopians--Did you know that they live and train in a major city.

Not true. They have camps outside Addis, and the main training area used by Hermens is fairly remote. The athletes themselves have commented on this, as have journalists visiting these sites. Same goes for the Kenyans. The people from WADA have said it's difficult to find these athletes. They didn't come out and accuse them of drug usage, but they did say it is very hard to track down (no pun intended) the top runners in E. Africa. They said it is much easier to find the Moroccans and Algerians.

The fun will start when we see what happens in Qatar.

As I said, the main training area used by the top Ethiopians is not remote, it's the city of Addis. Some runs go up into the mountains nearby. Hermens doesn't train these guys, he manages them. Woldemar Kostre coaches the 5k and 10k guys. Another Ethiopian coach, whose name escapes me, coaches the marathoners.

Does anybody have more info on this?

You should let everyone know Woldermar Kostre is an MD, like Rosa. Not that it means anything, right? Those former Eastern bloc docs are a clean bunch.

Actually middle distance is correct. They train in addis I'd say 11 months out of the year. Even when they go to "camps" it is no more than 20 miles outside of the capital, which is a far cry from "remote". If you ask how I know I was there two years ago and got the opportunity to train with the marathon team. They met at the stadium every day and then they either did a track w/o there or they went into the mountains (that aren't more than 5 miles away). Toni Revis and some other guys from ESPN were there at the same time I was doing a piece for Running and Racing. Very nice guys and they go every year for about two weeks. You should contact them if you want to know more.

What is so wrong about a coach having an MD? People flip out once they hear that someone's got the title "Dr." because obviously, if someone's a doctor they must be drugging their athletes.

What's funnier is when someone's got a phD and they go by Dr., and people start throwing accusations.

It would seem to me that someone with medical expertise would be a nice fit for a coach, when you couple in their running knowledge.

I'm not saying that Rosa or even Kostre would NEVER dope their athletes, but just because a coach has their medical doctorate doesn't mean they're drugging their athletes!

Addis Ababa has a new name: Epopia Utopia, where the water flows like wine and the blood like maple syrup.

I agree, being a Dr. is not inherently bad for a coach. However, when you combine Dr. and East Germany a noted drug empire of sports. That is where the questions come in. Also, when you're thrown out of one sport for drugs(Dr. Rosa/Cycling) then of course there will be questions.

I have read the statement a hundred times on this board saying that Dr. Rosa was thrown out of cycling. Is this really true? Anyone have a link to a source that can back it up?

I've run his name through Factiva and couldn't find anything -- but I was using the name "Dr. Gabrielle Rosa" - and might have misspelled it.

I found around nine hits in the last five years, none of them related to cycling.

Martin

Epopian wrote:

Addis Ababa has a new name: Epopia Utopia, where the water flows like wine and the blood like maple syrup.

This almost sounds like a line from Dumb and Dumber.

Dr. Woldemeskel Kostre has a phd in physical education or something closely related. He is def. not an MD.

As for those who accuse East africans will continue to bitch ... so hell with you!

Dr. Woldemeskel Kostre has a phd in physical education or something closely related. He is def. not an MD.

Those who accuse East africans will continue to bitch no matter what... so hell with you!

Go Kenya! Go Ethiopia! GO Africans!

Kostre trained in Hungary for 11 years during the Communist Regime, when no doubt most of the tathleets in the coaches groups he learned from were doped. The East German team used to have training camps in Hungary near lake Balaton. Kostre and Ethiopia were all part of the Communist bloc sporting propoganda machine. Ethiopia was supported for years by the USSr, not only with weapons with which ight the Eritreans but also to promote the communist machine, Ethiopia was the African roll bodel for Communism, their sporting achievements should come in for as much scrutiny as teh East German, Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian and other Eastern Bloc Systems.

Clue

I thought it was Professor Plumb with the lead pipe in the Conservatory.

Martin

Then how the hell do you explaint the success of Kenya?

Ethiopia was alligned with the Soviets -- where else was he supposed to go to university?

Is that question for me or for Waz?

If it was directed at me, I offer the following reasons:

1.talent

2.training

3.desire

4.attrition (one Kenyan champ = @ 30 burned-out also-rans)

5.focus

6.tradition

7.fear

Martin

Waz,

you sound like a bitter person with hopeless agenda. The Ethiopians will continue excelling with their hard-to-imagine perfomances in every meet. As for you, sorry dude, you need to get help so that you could go out and run a good race.

good luck