Shameful: Drug cheat Liza Hunter-Galvan wins $10,000 at 2015 Boston Marathon

ray wrote:

There is no question in my mind that PED's have cast a huge net of suspicion across our entire sport. As such, I think the same rules that apply to sex offenders working in education should be applied to athletes. Yes, they've served their time, now register as a drug cheat and go find something else to do.

It would be interesting and useful to hear one of the (yes, rather self-righteous) "second-chancers" (apologists) respond explicitly to the logic of this view.

The end of a government-imposed punishment gives you the "second chance" of no longer living under that punishment. Nothing more, nothing less. It doesn't force or imply that others should now view you favorably.

KMB wrote:...It would actually not surprise me at all to learn that whoever assigned Liza Hunter-Galvan her bib number did not know her doping history...

Weird, I responded to this thread Tuesday but what I wrote has disappeared.

Given the resources the BAA puts into this race I'd be very surprised if someone isn't at least doing a cursory check of the runners in their elite fields, which is where this runner started. A simple search brings up all you need to know. If they knew, then it comes down to a choice to allow runners whose suspensions have expired to compete - and to be eligible for prize money.

It's not that difficult to find information on athletes who are currently under suspension or who have served suspensions in the past. Road Race Management even published a link to a new website that is trying to track any athletes who have ever been suspended for PEDs.

The marathon I work for got an inquiry this winter from the agent of a runner who was suspended about 8 years ago, which I figured out by looking at page 1 of a google search. We informed the agent that the athlete was welcome to compete here, but that we would not be able to provide a comp bib or any of the other perks of our elites program. In addition we informed the agent that the runner is not eligible to receive any prize money at our race. We added that qualification about 5 years ago. If we can do that how come Boston doesn't?

For us it comes down to the feeling that runners who have won money or received sponsorship money while they were doping are taking money and opportunities away from other athletes who are trying to play by the rules. Until we get to a situation where doped athletes are paying back their ill-gained winnings I don't think anybody owes them anything.

Too Many wrote:

ray wrote:

There is no question in my mind that PED's have cast a huge net of suspicion across our entire sport. As such, I think the same rules that apply to sex offenders working in education should be applied to athletes. Yes, they've served their time, now register as a drug cheat and go find something else to do.

It would be interesting and useful to hear one of the (yes, rather self-righteous) "second-chancers" (apologists) respond explicitly to the logic of this view.

The end of a government-imposed punishment gives you the "second chance" of no longer living under that punishment. Nothing more, nothing less. It doesn't force or imply that others should now view you favorably.

Excellent comparison. I agree completely.

What is horrifying to me: I cannot fathom that BAA would ever pay a formerly suspended doper prize money.

I feel bad for Dallas... they're a good race, and I'm glad they responded with a solution going forward. But they're a charity race run primarily by a lot of volunteers if memory serves (haven't run that race since 09 or 10).

BAA has far more resources and their race is a whole different ball game. For them to not have a policy on this sort of thing, as a WMM, is shameful if true.

In view of the large amount involved why couldn't BAA make her pay to be tested out of her 'winnings.' If she passed she begrudgingly could keep the remainder. The 2nd placer must be well disappointed.

TrackCoach wrote:

There's a lot you don't know wrote:

"I don't know the details of the doping issue" - You're right, you don't.

"but let's say she doped" - She did.

"got caught" - She did.

"accepted her punishment" - She didn't.

"Unless you think Lisa is still doping" - Who knows, she hasn't been tested.

"you have to appreciate what she accomplished" - No I/we don't.

"can't blame any of the principles involved for simply following the rule" - What rule?

"are you mad at the BAA, Lisa or Hancock? - WTF does it matter who he's mad at, he's mad?

Conclusion - You're an idiot.

We can disagree, but the name calling is unnecessary.

"the name calling is unnecessary" - Someone has to point it out, especially when a person such as yourself, who professes to be in the know and knowledgeable, constantly comes on to LRMB with BS. It has nothing to do with disagreeing or opinions.

I am happy that she has turned her life around. You go, girl!

MySA:

"Hunter-Galvan said she doesn’t like to talk about the suspension.

“There’s some negative people, and they like to focus on that,” she said. ”(But) as far as my career (goes), I want to go out (strong). I don’t see myself running marathons in a couple of years.

“I have a couple of bucket-listers that I want to finish and then I’m going to retire. I want to go out on a high.”

A former cross country and track athlete at UTSA, Hunter-Galvan has won seven San Antonio marathons and several others but had never run in Boston".

There's a lot you don't know wrote:

Conclusion - You're an idiot.

TrackCoach wrote:

We can disagree, but the name calling is unnecessary.

BS Detective wrote:

It has nothing to do with disagreeing or opinions.

Exactly. When you have no valid reasoning, the only recourse left is to either agree or resort to name calling.

The Brojos and their misguided minions are always short of facts, but full of hypocrisy, so you make up your own facts, name call in the titles of threads, and on the front page. The Brojos, spurred on by sensationalism, acrimony and ill will, never have and never will have a valid argument about doping and drugs.

There are plenty of runners- just don't invite drug cheats.

I hope Nuta Olaru (2nd place masters) takes the steps to necessary to contact B.A.A about the prize money she's owed and not LHG. It's insult even if an athlete has served their ban to come back and still take money from clean athletes. I don't care how good of a person she is perceived to be, she simply doesn't deserve it.

Liza Hunter-Galvan won the race and deserves the prize that she got.

A cheat would be someone who was second and tried to get the first place prize.

As one of the few drug cheats who has been caught and per the rules of the World Marathon Majors she should NOT be eligible for prize money.

J.R. wrote:

pop_pop! wrote:

Except, she's a cheat, then lied about cheating. You are telling me this pattern of behavior means she's clean now.

I believe what she said, and don't care if she's "clean" or not, as I don't share your obsession with drugs.

She appears to be an amazing person and runner to me.

In this case, Ms. Hunter-Galvan finished 5+ minutes ahead of second. 5 MINUTES!!! Not tested once in 2014. Yeah, it makes perfect sense.

The suggestion I'm "obsessed with drugs" is a common tactic used to discourage the spread of ideas and marginalize the opinion.

Is Lance Armstrong amazing too? How about Bernie Madhoff? C'mon now, those are some great people!

runDirtyrun wrote:

Is Lance Armstrong amazing too? How about Bernie Madhoff? C'mon now, those are some great people!

How about Paula Radcliffe, and Hitler?

Are you serious? She injected herself w/ EPO and was BANNED. She cheated. She wasn't suppose to be allowed into the World Marathon Majors race, she CHEATED 2nd place out of money.

Since you brought it up wrote:

runDirtyrun wrote:

Is Lance Armstrong amazing too? How about Bernie Madhoff? C'mon now, those are some great people!

How about Paula Radcliffe, and Hitler?

Good job invoking Goodwin's Law:

Close the thread!! Maybe the Internet too.

Hitler was on testosterone, methamphetamine and cocaine. His doc shot him up several times a day.

She is such a good person that an HS athlete from Smithson Valley was so scared of her, they had a police escort to meets that she was going to be at in the fall. That is a great person that scares a 16 year old girl with her behavior. Great person?

fred wrote:

Hitler was on testosterone, methamphetamine and cocaine. His doc shot him up several times a day.

Hey he's friends with Bush who's our neighbor, and if he's taken drugs then I'll close down the Site. Besides that he's very hard working, so I think he is clean!