Why Was A Man With A 10-Year Doping Ban Enjoying The 2012 US Olympic Track & Field Trials From The Nike Sky Box?

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162430

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8 years ago 07/03/2012 1:54pm CDT
re: rojo

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It is absolutely ridiculous that Block was allowed in the VIP suite. Jeter's responses were almost equally ridiculous.

"I don't know where that question is coming from."

Hmmm… Let's think, Carmelita. The man used to be your agent. He has been banned from the sport for 10 years. He was in your sponsor's VIP box watching your race and left immediately after you finished. You just made your first ever Olympic team despite being quite old by track standards. As a 25 year-old, you could not even break 11.50. As a a 31 year-old, you ran 10.70. You have gained significant muscle mass during the last 5-6 years or so. The question makes perfect sense to me (and anyone else with a brain). Alright, Rojo!
Cap's Corner

8 years ago 07/03/2012 1:58pm CDT
re: smd

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The pics of Mark Block That LR has up on the front page ARE from Cap's Corner. You absolutely need a Nike credential to sit in those seats, I know, I've sat in them myself. Free food, free beer, and top athletes, former athletes, and those with Nike connections or top Nike employees and their families. Each end has an entrance and there is a security person at each end only letting the proper colored credential for Cap's Corner up into that area. The picture of Mark Block is from Cap's Corner.
Left Said Fred

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8 years ago 07/03/2012 1:59pm CDT
re: 162430

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162430 wrote:
The man used to be your agent.

What do you mean, "used to be"?
Lances Strongarm

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:01pm CDT
re: Cap's Corner

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Capriotti is scum of the earth.
HS Coach Bozo

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:04pm CDT
re: Lances Strongarm

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Interesting to see the ultimate response from USATF/USOC/USADA/Nike.

Who wants to wager one who actually follows up on this?

My guess: only USADA, who already made a preliminary statement.

Throw the b4stards out!
gorney

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:07pm CDT
re: Cap's Corner

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I used to run against John Capriotti in high school.

Never heard of that one

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:08pm CDT

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Wow that's pretty insane. He booked right out of there when was questioned. That in itself means he knows his ass shouldn't be there.
formerjournalista

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:10pm CDT
re: smd

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Dear WEJO and ROJO:

First off, I love your site. Great, mostly unbiased news, all the time. Keep up the good work.

I can tell you with certainty that large unnamed shoe companies are actively involved in supporting doping (and providing false tests) at all levels of elite track and field.

Most top Nike athletes are dirty. How do you think they compete with the rest of the world? Don't be naive.

Doping has and always will continue. You don't get caught if you've got a brand behind you with lots of dough.

Case in point: Armstrong. He'll never serve time.

It is beyond me why most of the LR crowd seems so oblivious to the ELITE side of track and field.

few of the elite mid distance crowd who made the team are clean that i know of...with the exception of Lopez Lomong. remember that name. he'll likely never deserve the fame that should be his. he really is that good. even Webb can't redeem his former doped self - we in the know know can "see" he is trying.

TandF is a dirty sport. Don't get too deep in it all. What you'll find is sickness.

That said, perhaps doping should be made legal for athletes. everyone's doping at the top level of all sports - IRONIC that Armstrong himself said in the 90s (before his Tour victories) that in order to keep up with the Peloton one must dope..

EVERYONE ON THIS SITE SHOULD READ THIS IMPORTANT ARTICLE

http://www.bicycling.com/news/pro-cycling/lance-armstrongs-endgame

all for now
JustSomeDude

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:13pm CDT

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For the past 9 years, since about my sophomore year of high school, I've worn almost exclusively nike shoes to train and race. Even in college when provided with several pairs of free Adidas shoes, I would pay out of my own pocket for Nikes beacasue I preferred their training and racing shoes to what Adidas could offer.

I was able to disregard what I perceived as a small decline in the quality of their shoes the past few years, but was still sticking with them because their shoes are what I have been used to and have known. However, Between the Brooks incident and now this, my opinion of nike has taken a nose dive in the past few days, and I won't be purchasing their products any longer.

I hope to continue running a significant amount for at least the next 20 years. At 3-4 pairs of shoes a year, that probably comes out to at least 6000 - 8000 dollars. Certainly that amount is not even noticeable to a company like Nike, but at least I won't feel I am knowingly contributing to the continuing hypocrisy and willful blindness surrounding the doping culture that is all too prevalent in this sport.
*

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:15pm CDT
re: rojo

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I've gotten a VIP pass with someone elses name to walk around at Penn Relays before.
Seeing pictures of him walking around in a VIP area doesn't tell me that this is Nike approved.

You hi-jack the homepage for this but didn't give Ashton Eaton a black page for the deca WR?
David Greenberg

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:18pm CDT
re: formerjournalista

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Yeah, that's my real name and god bless you brojos. Keep kicking up the dust. I have no idea how much doping goes on in elite t/f, but unless people like you keep fighting, I do know that there will be more.
JonDCH

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8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:19pm CDT
re: JustSomeDude

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Part of the problem is the lack of popularity of track and field. This leads to less scrutiny by the the public, media, sports officials. Granted, the Tour de France is enormously popular and still has drug scandals, but the cycling press, doping agencies, race officials, etc. have also removed Tour winners and gone after Tour legends. There is an ongoing battle in that arena. The fear, with track and field, is there is no battle and not likely to be one since the public is, largely, disinterested.

Coach D

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8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:19pm CDT
re: rojo

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But why is this question being asked of Carmelita and not of Nike, Vin, USADA, or the Eugene gang?

If he is in fact connected with Nike, that would be consistent with what many of us believe about the Portland distance programs. If the guy is supposed to be banned from situations like this, SOMEBODY gave him a credential. You should be asking who gave him a credential and why.

The REAL question you should be asking is, "What connection is there between Nike and Mark Block, who has been banned from the sport by USADA?"

Unless you have evidence of a continuing relationship with Jeter, why are you asking her?
BFel Fan

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:26pm CDT
re: formerjournalista

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formerjournalista wrote: I can tell you with certainty that large unnamed shoe companies are actively involved in supporting doping (and providing false tests) at all levels of elite track and field.

Most top Nike athletes are dirty.

Really? If you are so "certain" then starting naming names and citing sources. Adding your own name to these assertions would also add a little credibility to your claims.

Speculation is a dangerous thing, people. Until you've got PROOF beyond the shadow of a doubt, keep your pieholes shut and enjoy the games.
Timeforittostop

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:26pm CDT
re: David Greenberg

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Do you think with enough pressure USADA/WADA could be conviced to test Jeter, Gall, Kipyego, and Symmonds more frequently until the olympics? They all have an affiliation with Nike, Total Sports, and Chris Layne who is and always has been just a brainless follower of Block.

To let this occur is outrageous. Each athlete still competing that has any affiliation with block or once did should have their emails watched, phones tapped, and be frequently tested until the games. If they want to do something about drugs in track and field, they need to put some effort in.
Inspector Jacques Clouseau

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:27pm CDT
re: rojo

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Rojo, the answer is simple. Block knows too much. He could bring down Nike in a heartbreak.

Why do you think that Dick Brown was given an office in the Bowerman building despite being fired for paying for drugs through a slush fund. (read "Swoosh")

Dick Brown knows too much, too.
super**

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:30pm CDT
re: rojo

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Great Job reporting from Eugene,and this is a great site and I for one is glad that it is the go to site for all things track and field. The image does not paint nike in a good picture that is all I have to say. The USATF should have asked him to stay away
rojo wrote:

Check out the homepage which will be archived at this address:

http://www.letsrun.com/2012/homepageblock.php

I think our story pretty much says it all.
Smartguy12324

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:31pm CDT
re: rojo

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what sucks is that if there is a scandal then it wouldn't take much for Nike to leave track and field high and dry and without any funding..Nike probably brings loads of money into track but now you probably have ruined that for the sport.
Les

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8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:32pm CDT
re: rojo

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Excellent reporting, Rojo. I smell a new moniker for you -- Track Cop. Can't help but notice how much smaller Jeter is.
Canada641

8 years ago 07/03/2012 2:32pm CDT
re: JustSomeDude

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Unless Nike provides a reasonable explanation for this situation, I won't be buying Nike products in the future.