Eddie Hellebuyck "'Yeah,' he says, 'I did it.'"

I just read the article and it's a compelling story. Eddy seems like a complex character, and while he is probably more villainous than he would like to be portrayed, and his motives may not all be pure, I think he did the sport a service by coming forward. It is a good contrast to the "Marion Show" that is travelling around right now.

I would be interested to hare from anyone on who is closer to this story.

Great story. Thanks for the link.

I'm still disgusted with Eddie's whole story. I ran against Eddie between 1999 and 2005, and quite honestly don't think I ever lost to him. (maybe once at Jax 15k?)

Anyway, true story. I saw Eddie - at the site of a competition, a few days before the race - put a needle in his leg in late 2003. He told me it was a B 12 shot. I thought 'whatever dude, I don't want B12 that bad', and honestly had doubt it was B12.

Question - Was it EPO Eddie, or B12? I don't think you ever beat me. I mean, damn, you were like 42 and I was 23 or so. It makes me feel better all these years later that you were hopped up on EPO to be that old, and that close to me in all those road races.

Not cool dude.

allfortheglory

allfortheglory wrote:

I'm still disgusted with Eddie's whole story. I ran against Eddie between 1999 and 2005, and quite honestly don't think I ever lost to him. (maybe once at Jax 15k?)

Anyway, true story. I saw Eddie - at the site of a competition, a few days before the race - put a needle in his leg in late 2003. He told me it was a B 12 shot. I thought 'whatever dude, I don't want B12 that bad', and honestly had doubt it was B12.

Question - Was it EPO Eddie, or B12? I don't think you ever beat me. I mean, damn, you were like 42 and I was 23 or so. It makes me feel better all these years later that you were hopped up on EPO to be that old, and that close to me in all those road races.

Not cool dude.

allfortheglory

Well allfortheglory, assuming your true story is true, you've got the probable source of Eddy's alibi right here in the article:

"As for the needles Moreira saw boiling on the stove, Shvetsov says, "They were for B12 injections.""

Must not have had those little tabs you dissolve under your tongue back in those days...

Eddy, all the prize money you won over the years while you were doping, give BACK! you cheated, so now be a man and do what is right, pay it ALL BACK! How about pay it BACK to those athletes you stole from. And, you should write a letter of apology to every athlete you coached, and to every school you coached at. And then, do some more.

'I think he did the sport a service by coming forward'

yeah after he got caught

It is absolutely true that Eddy took advantage of and cheated other athletes he "hosted". And by "hosted" I mean that he violated their human rights. He treated them horribly, and he should come clean about this too. Hey, maybe if we wait like another 10 more years, maybe he will finally admit this too. Eddy should also come clean about the unethical things he has done with some of his prep athletes, such as hosting parties with underage drinking encouraged, and taking some of his athletes to Mexico to rip them off, and get them booze, and girls for cheap. His wife is just as bad, just as responsible, and is just as big a liar and a cheat. One thing Eddy has been first in though, and which he actually deserves, is the title of "the worst person in distance running history".

ukathleticscoach wrote:

'I think he did the sport a service by coming forward'

yeah after he got caught

Yes that is very true, but most cheats keep protesting there innocence forever. I do not think he has necessarily redeemed himself, however it is good to have some insight into the dark world of PEDs, particularly in distance running.

"We saw a few DUIs and a public urination arrest of a female Kenyan Olympian."

lol

It is sick that his wife still didn't want to come clean. The character of these people is seriously flawed, and I'm suprised that they are allowed to coach high school. The high school has an obligation to tell the student-athletes about his past.

The argument "But I think it's important to point out that he is hardly the only American runner of his caliber to use drugs." made by his wife is seriously flawed. Just because somebody commits a crime, does that mean it's ok for somebody else to do it.

They just can't fade away, can they? Anything for attention.

notno1 wrote:

It is sick that his wife still didn't want to come clean. The character of these people is seriously flawed, and I'm suprised that they are allowed to coach high school. The high school has an obligation to tell the student-athletes about his past.

"Our athletic director received four or five anonymous letters warning us about him, blasting us for hiring him, but because the letters weren't signed, I paid them no mind. The parents haven't made Eddy's past an issue. I'm not sure they even know about it, and I wouldn't tell them anything unless they asked"

I was was willing to forgive him until I read that he owns a Hummer.

drives a hummer. see what happens if he misses a payment. lotsa folks projecting a successful lifestyle with all the bling are leasing/renting it - a missed paycheck away from "poof" - all gone.

I never post on this site but saw the blog regarding Eddy. I myself am a former athlete of Eddy and while i understand some peoples feelings it is hard to hear people bash him as harsh as they have here. Eddy has wronged people no doubt but at the end of the day he has to deal with it not us...he is surely not the worst person in running history...I have extremely fond memories of eddy, and it is because of him that i am a US citizen and where i am in both my running career and personal life, i owe him a great debt for all his family has done for me. ANd Human rights violated? i have no idea what you are talking about?Eddy brought many of us into his own home or other homes he owned and we lived no different then that of college students 2 to a bedroom...Eddy did a disservice to his sport to our sport however he is not the devil...i think people need to look at their own lives and see that no one is perfect.

xrc wrote:

ukathleticscoach wrote:

'I think he did the sport a service by coming forward'

yeah after he got caught

Yes that is very true, but most cheats keep protesting there innocence forever. I do not think he has necessarily redeemed himself, however it is good to have some insight into the dark world of PEDs, particularly in distance running.

Also true (and its a great article) but its just another twist and turn of a liar trying to say yeah everyone is at it.

I ran against him (well behind him!) in 1987. 500 runners did the Tour of Tameside - racing 6 night of 7 total 52 miles which Eddy won beating Steve Brace. Brace was a great runner but Eddy beat him and there was no EPO at that time. The last race was nine miles and I was four minutes back. It certainly makes me think a bit because they were full time athletes and I only trained once a day, never thinking I was good enough to make training like a pro worth while. But the reality was they were 7 or 8 minutes better than me over 10 miles, they were knackered and finally my lunatic training (hard most days don't do it!) kicked in.

Rambled on a bit there! Here is some more:

The thing is I really looked up to Eddy who was 4 yrs older than me, dreaming of being the local guy to topple him in the tour. I would never have done what he did, I suppose its his living and there is more temptation but its all just excuses. Do you think I'm paid to coach? Am I hell lke 99% in the uk its voluntary. To think they pay a known drug cheat to coach kids! Unf'ing believable!

I would believe his repentance a bit if he outed a big name not that muppet I've never heard of. I trained & spent a lot of time with with Ethiopians in uk, Im the most sceptical untrusting person(again some way back!) you will meet but no way they were using drugs. They looked at me like the new Mesiah when I produced some Savlon - one of their toes looked like it was about ready to drop off -they didn't even have basic 1st aid! Of course from any country you will get a few cheats even there but the positives usually come from countries with no high altitude or runners changing countries, like from Kenya to US (ahem)

He doesn't even seem to understand how EPO works. 'I had the speed' like hell he did - try and find a track time for him. It improves the amount of oyygen that the blood can carry - the same as altitude training only for lazy cheating bastards

Next thing you know his will book be out

Front page says he admits to using EPO in '94. Nowhere does he admit that. He admits to using EPO 2001 and onward.

Nobody's perfect, but if you steal money, get caught, and confess, you should have to give it back. Do you think if I admit in a magazine that I stole thousands upon thousands of dollars from dozens of people over the course of several years that I could still be considered an okay guy?