Hebron, KY group outed in AP article!

Clerk wrote:

Unfortunately, the article doesn't change the state of things. Only non-interested fans or casual readers will learn something they didn't know before.

When each of Basweti, Cherutich, Nourdine /Omar Jimila, Dghoughi, Marita, and Gemechu all tested positive from this group, they were outed.

USADA target tests as best they can. They targeted and got this guy:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/03/news/michael-buckley-41-handed-four-year-doping-ban_399868

because of his message board posts alone:(

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/endurance-training/competitive-cat-1-masters-cyclist-supplement-questions-1476753.html

).

The coach hasn't been banned, and the athletes haven't been sent home.

Mourad Morafit has been doping since before the passport... Julius Koskei is rumored to have paid off positives in Mexico... The "Outing" in this article won't change the situation

rojo wrote:

How did you know about that? That's an amazing story.

How did they get the guys name? I'm still shocked they'd even bother to test an amateur. I didn't even know amateurs were subject to out of competition testing. Can USADA drug test any athlete in the US?

I'm a big cycling fan. It's a lot more fun to be a cycling fan than track fan: more races, more competitors and contenders, the action is amplified, and the season is longer. Doping stories are juicier, too. Idiot, fat, masters dopers make the gossip rounds pretty often.

USADA can't test anybody, and Cat1 is not amateur. A Cat1 type rider would have to comply with the same whereabouts system as an Olympic Trials qualifier, for example. Someone replied in the thread that they had submitted it to the USADA tip line. Also in the thread, there are posts that explain there aren't that many 40-45 year-old Cat1 riders, and that it was realistic to target test them OOC (the posts' username is "TravisT". Unlikely it was actually Tygart, but the reasoning is still likely enough to be the real situation.)

any similar claims about the Columbus, OH group?

I wonder if this group is going to waltz away with the bulk of the prize money offered at the Glass City Marathon in a few weeks? Any way to stop them?

The way to stop it is to enforce the rules. That means testing. Those who cheat will get caught and punished. Those who don't cheat will be clear. And it will discourage future cheating.

jjjjj wrote:

any similar claims about the Columbus, OH group?

Which group would that be? I don't know of any group of foreign runners based in Columbus.

The three running groups at the front of most races in Ohio this summer were New York NY, Hebron, and Grand Prairie TX

AWESOME, wasn't long ago we had them take 3 prizes from our big %K we host annually too

Make that Toledo: Richard Kessio, who apparently had been in Tx.

We should build a wall around Hebron Kentucky and make these drug cheats pay for it with their winnings they've stolen from us.

jjjjjj wrote:

Make that Toledo: Richard Kessio, who apparently had been in Tx.

This IS NOT an easy solution. Consider this possible situation.

Athlete drives over on race day. Registers with a 16yo volunteer at the table 45 minutes before the gun. Pays $50 cash or whatever and gets a bib. Entry form uses a different address, and just maybe initials (remember that K V Switzer = Katherine Switzer) instead of full name. Race winnings is less than $1000 so no W9 or other form is required which could possibly be a hiccup on the name and address. Collects check and drives back to wherever.

Who checked the banned list for this athlete?

Who asked if there is a coach or agent back home?

Who checks on the possible coach or agent on the list?

Who checks on other athletes associated that could be on list?

At best this is a smokescreen deterrent.

Larisa can stay home and send them out on their own. Only loss to their MO is any possible travel and lodging monies.

It will only be successful when the athletes pee in a cup or rolls up a sleeve and money is not paid out until after the test results of their fluids.

As someone who's won small prize purses at a number of regional races:

1. Races can (and often do) require W9s for far less than $1000. I've had to fill them out for as little as $150

2. It's SUPER rare to get paid the day of. Checks are mailed later 95% of the time. Plenty of time to check the athlete on the banned list / registered agent list (the link eludes me at the moment but it exists).

You're not wrong. There is no foolproof system outside of actual testing. But, as a race director of an event that has had this crew show up and take money... we know who they are. And if I feel like I'm getting gamed but am not sure, I'll hold off on handing out my small checks until I've had time to make sure my prize money isn't going to known cheats.

Good article wrote:

Of course I also don't believe that the Kenyans here are innocent and didn't know what they were taking. I don't think they are victims at all - they are co-conspiritors.

Be careful you'll be called a racist for pointing that out by the PC bros. They still believe in the "noble savage" idea, like because Kenyans come from poor rural third world country that they don't have the same desires for money as the rest of us. Now THAT is racist.

Sorry if this has already be addressed, but what attracted all these foreign athletes to Hebron Ky???

Who or what is the common link?

Bottom Line is Drug CHEATS end of story! They should not be allowed to compete here in the U.S under a Lieing, Cheating, and Coward Russian Coach.

Larisa Mikhaylova and the L.M. Elite Running Club is the common factor.

If a Hebron group runner wins, you can't just refuse to mail him the check because he is from that group (unless he was on some banned USATF list). He would technically be entitled to the money. I suppose the RD could refuse his entry or prize money eligibility before the race. I'm not sure of the legality behind that either though. I think the best route is having those aforementioned forms, and forms that state no runner is eligible for money if they use a banned agent or associated with group utilizing banned agent. Do all these athletes have US citizenship? You could say US athletes only for top prize money and have small amount for open category (includes nonUS citizens).

If a Hebron group runner wins, you can't just refuse to mail him the check because he is from that group (unless he was on some banned USATF list). He would technically be entitled to the money. I suppose the RD could refuse his entry or prize money eligibility before the race. I'm not sure of the legality behind that either though. I think the best route is having those aforementioned forms, and forms that state no runner is eligible for money if they use a banned agent or associated with group utilizing banned agent. Do all these athletes have US citizenship? You could say US athletes only for top prize money and have small amount for open category (includes nonUS citizens).