Mo Trafeh is in my Running Club

So Cal Person wrote:

He's also coaching Cross Country at Duarte High School

http://www.duarteusd.org/Page/910

Go ahead and tweet at them

lol fake race bib numbers. https://mofittrainingdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/dollarphotoclub_55359161-female-runners.jpg

Looks like he is using stock photos anyone can buy...

I would say his ped use would be more of an issue coaching at a high school than it would be coaching some hobby joggers. How did he get the job anyway? Don't they do background checks? All you have to do is Google his name and his drug use and suspension comes right up. I am all for second chances but it seems a little too soon to forgive him and let him coach young impressionable high school students.

Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater.

Wouldn't this includes prohibited association. At least to the runners being coached by him. Not that it matters unless they are looking to compete at a pretty high level.

http://www.usada.org/resources/2015code/

Wouldn't this apply wrote:

Wouldn't this includes prohibited association. At least to the runners being coached by him. Not that it matters unless they are looking to compete at a pretty high level.

http://www.usada.org/resources/2015code/

Yeah... being banned means being banned from all aspects of the sport. Anyone who trains with him is potentially committing an ADRV, although no one is going to care unless you are an elite athlete.

The reality in the US is anyone can call themselves a coach, and if they operate outside USATF it can be hard to stop them. High schools and colleges have proven repeatedly that they don't care if people actively serving bans coach there.

since I'm lazy, is his sanction up? I can't remember how long it was for, but I thought they tried to get extra time since he was so blatant about it, but can't recall if it was 2yrs or 4. if it was only 2, then maybe he's eligible in time for the maratthon trials?

ok, answered my own question, was finally announced in 14, for 4 years, so yes, 2020 is soonest he could come back.

great to see that the Duarte HS website mission statement and school learning objectives page(s) both fail to say anything about ethics. plenty about diversity and grasping technology, but nothing about becoming upstanding citizens, or learning to make ethical choices, so i guess it's not even worth wasting time on informing the principle that the coach is a banned doper. lame.

I don't care that he's coaching hobby joggers. I mean they are adults and free to choose. The information about him is out there and I'm sure people who know wouldn't really care that much.

If they want to risk the association who cares.

People who say he shouldn't have any association with the sport are dumb. I mean the thing I love about running is that it doesn't require association. I mean are you going to prevent him from running on his own? Really.

But I don't think he should be associated with a high school program. AT ALL

I think I have more of an issue with him putting fake reviews and pictures on his website than I do if he wants to be a personal trainer to some recreational athletes.

But he is claiming to be a professional athlete which is kind of shady...

yep, those reviews are beyond obviously fake, it's pretty darn funny how blatant it is. oh well, i guess he needs to pay his parents some rent now that he's back in the states. btw, what happened to his "wife" in morocco? last i knew, he had supposedly married a moroccan and had a kid. what happened to that? actually, nevermind, I really don't care, just wish he'd get the heck out of the sport, unless it's to right his wrongs. won't hold my breath for that one.

How about getting a real job for a change? He already failed at his previous one. Did you look at his pic on his website? He doesn't instill confidence in overall fitness training if that is what he is advertising himself to offer. Would you take fitness advice from this guy? Maybe running advice at best.

http://mofittraining.com/our-team/

That is f-king wrong. A drug cheat has nothing to offer young kids. He needs to be removed.

Mohamme Trafeh has paid his dues, or is in the process of paying them big time. Yes, he took some shortcuts in running and was ultimately caught and has paid a big price.

He should be welcomed back into the sport. He (like a lot of Moroccan immigrants) is a victim of his very tough childhood circumstances. He was basically a street kid, selling cigarettes on the street and doing other odd jobs. He deserves commendation for getting ahead. In Morocco he supports a very large extended family - around 50 people in all - they need money because, despite progress, Morocco is still a Third World country with Third World problems including poverty and unemployment.

Cut the guy some slack. He was a great runner - illicit products or not - and his reputation has been unfairly tarnished. Like all good Muslims, he recognizes that he erred, and he is willing to re pay his debt to society. He can be a great role model for youth - because he can say to them "Look, I made a mistake, and now this is not the way to go" His words have credibility because he had great courage and form as a runner. He is one of the best technical runners in the business, with a very economical/efficient running style.

The Christian thing to do is to live and let live, and give everyone a second chance. He is fundamentally a good Muslim and kudos to him for reaching out and adjusting so well to life in the U.S. Many of his peers in Morocco ended up in prison for petty crimes. Trafeh is trying to better his life and those around him. I think he is a good role model, Al Hamdullilah.

Ghost in China, apply today, great benefits.

I am Slow wrote:

I'm a hobby jogger, in a hobby jogger running club that has a facebook group. Everyone posts their workouts and race reports and whatnot.

Recently, Mo Trafeh joined. It's invite only, so I assume someone invited him. Now he posts workouts and invites people to long runs and track workouts with him. He hosts a weekly track session that a bunch of the club now attends.

It seems harmless and the group is mostly about encouragement but I still feel weird about it. Should I say anything or just go about my business?

Invite him and Hightower to lunch. Then steal her purse.

Economics, bro.

Until someone else who's bumped shoulders with top athletes starts offering $10 training, I say get all you can (knowledge & training, not dope, that is).

That is interesting because when Mo lived in Flagstaff he showed up at my house looking for housing for another Moroccan athlete (who was recently busted via the biological passport) and I specifically remember him kicking at my dogs and declaring that only his servants at home in Morocco had dogs. He went on and on about his privileged upbringing. So I guess that he was lying about that? Regardless, Mo had a HORRIBLE reputation in Flagstaff. For example, one night he broke into my house after only having that one short interaction with me but seeing the inside of my home. He met some ladies downtown, snuck them into an empty room in my basement, ate pizza and ice cream and then spent the night with them! In my basement! I had no clue who this guy was! It was crazy! Who does that!? There is story after story about his lack of integrity and also his complete lack of work ethic to train hard. I don't think you are painting and accurate picture. By the way, this is the first time I've posted on Letsrun but I really felt that I needed to vocalize that this guy is bad news all around.

to "a shay": don't worry, ghost is delusional, to say the least. Mo had the same reputation in several cities that he went and trained in, mooching off of everyone he could, until he would get kicked out, then move on to the next sucker. Guy was NEVER selling cigs on the street, his family does just fine, and they seem to have no problem supporting their little boy, as he's back living at home now.

To Ghost: we all know you're delusional, so I shouldn't waste even a second with you but...show me ONE, just ONE instance where mo has shown he has begun to repay his debt. Just one, and i'll post my real name, social security number, and bank account number. don't worry, my money is safe b/c you can't find ANY examples because, the way he's operated so far, there never will be any. period.