Bernard Lagat's Track Career Has Come to an End- Share Your Respects Here

LetsRun.com wrote:

We didn't give Lagat's track race the coverage it deserved but have tried to rectify that. Article here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/09/bernard-lagat-run-final-track-race-amazing-career/

An amazing track career. Bronze at 2000 Olympics and a USATF 5000m title in 2016 with an Olympic silver, 3:26.24, and 2 World Golds in between.

Lagat also became a US citizen at the perfect time to raise the bar for the rest of the Americans. He made them better and they extended his career as well.

Without a doubt a drug cheat. Look into the full story re his EPO debacle years back. He and his coach were told to shut up after trying to get an "apology" - the IAAF and WADA saying they would make certain things public if Lagat and Li didn't just thank their lucky stars and walk away. Go ask GH at TAFNews, he knows all about it too lol. Good riddance to a fraud.

GutsIsEnough wrote:

Kip like Flo Jo will get away with it

More like masters runners who set ARs BUT fail to get drug tested to ratify the record: So Cal Kush?

Bring Back the 880 wrote:

Tyson gay and Justin Gatlin are also double world champions that lost to their respective event's GOAT at the olympics. Tyson gay lied about being academically eligible back in college, Justin lied about the massage therapist, Bernie lied about when he obtained citizenship.

Strange that they all also had personal drug scandals as well. Good riddance to Mr. Lagat.

Was it not a false positive? If so, why should that be held against him?

No respect for American citizens that run for Kenya in the Olympics. And then there was the A sample...

Seems like the American version of Farah...a winner that pulls the wool over people's eyes.

hungrymandinner wrote:

No respect for American citizens that run for Kenya in the Olympics. And then there was the A sample...

Seems like the American version of Farah...a winner that pulls the wool over people's eyes.

Ahem, the USAFT forced Lagat to compete for another country in 2004. Despite Lagat becoming a citizen in early 2004 the USAFT refused to let him run internationally for the USA. In 2005, after the 2004 Olympics, the USATF allowed to run anywhere for the USA.

In late 2004 Lagat ran 3:27.4 as a US citizen. The USATF forced that time to count as a Kenyan time.

There is no A sample. Get your facts about that intentionally contaminated sample straight. Maybe it was a little-minded jealous boy like you who intentionally tainted it, and released the information which was supposed to be confidential until the B sample confirmed. Only part of a sample tainted and information released that should not; a very white-boy American thing to try.

h/ollb wrote:

Bring Back the 880 wrote:

Tyson gay and Justin Gatlin are also double world champions that lost to their respective event's GOAT at the olympics. Tyson gay lied about being academically eligible back in college, Justin lied about the massage therapist, Bernie lied about when he obtained citizenship.

Strange that they all also had personal drug scandals as well. Good riddance to Mr. Lagat.

Was it not a false positive? If so, why should that be held against him?

It shouldn't be in most cases, but I was trying to make the point that it is hard to give confirmed liars the benefit of the doubt.

Great Athlete but a great big question mark too.

This man is Kenyan who became an American Citizen.

Were his performances aided by drugs ?

Bernard Lagat is a big fat cheat and runs on lies. Many are glad to see him go!

Such a joy to have watched his career. It's frustrating to never know who is clean or not, but you also don't know the status of those whom they compete. There's no even playing fields, just playing fields.

Bernard's 8 Wanamaker mile victories. The raw finishing speed and the literal eye popping nature of those finishes. His tactical brilliance. His talents rivaled only by a tiny few.

Had the privilege to meet in in person last year. A tremendously classy individual and a great promoter of the sport.

One of the greats.

- Para

Not a fan.

Pass.

8-time Olympic and World Outdoor Medalist. Wow.

Doubter wrote:

Great Athlete but a great big question mark too.

This man is Kenyan who became an American Citizen.

Were his performances aided by drugs ?

What is the question mark here?

Isn't training in the US (and other wealthy countries) seen as LESS suspicious? Aren't people always pointing out Farah's and others' constant trips to Kenya and Ethiopia as reason to believe they are doping/dodging doping tests?

Aren't we suspicious of EVERY pro runner's performances?

LetsRun.com wrote:

We didn't give Lagat's track race the coverage it deserved but have tried to rectify that. Article here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/09/bernard-lagat-run-final-track-race-amazing-career/

An amazing track career. Bronze at 2000 Olympics and a USATF 5000m title in 2016 with an Olympic silver, 3:26.24, and 2 World Golds in between.

Lagat also became a US citizen at the perfect time to raise the bar for the rest of the Americans. He made them better and they extended his career as well.

A guy who ran 3:26 in the EPO era and runs world class times and finishes 5th in the Olympics - almost certainly a doper. Seems like a really nice guy though, and probably no worse than most, but let's not kid ourselves.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Hasn't he ran really fast this year? Why quit. He should go run some more, win some races.

Once people retire, they slow down fast. If they really liked being in shape they wouldn't retire.

If he is just sick of track, he could take up fell running or triathalons. Go get revenge on Alan Webb.

Revenge for what?

Kenyan transplant who did an admirable job of representing the best of what the USA has to offer in naturalized citizens. Rip me all you want, but I'll never even consider his performances when I look at the American records lists.

Give me the likes of Pre, Shorter, Scott, Spivey, Falcon, Kennedy, Webb and Rupp. You can keep Lagat, Chelimo and all the others of their ilk.

Shades of Jacobs wrote:

Kenyan transplant who did an admirable job of representing the best of what the USA has to offer in naturalized citizens. Rip me all you want, but I'll never even consider his performances when I look at the American records lists.

Give me the likes of Pre, Shorter, Scott, Spivey, Falcon, Kennedy, Webb and Rupp. You can keep Lagat, Chelimo and all the others of their ilk.

Plus Lagat was a filthy drug cheat.

TrackBot! Dope Bernard Lagat

I'm pretty new to running (besides screwing around back in high school but didn't follow the big leagues then) but I am not new to professional sports. If Lagat did juice, he is no different from 90+% of all the best pros. So for those ripping on him, he's the norm not the exception so I don't see why all the animosity....

Anyways, my hats off to the man. He had an amazing career, and seemed like a really nice guy, too! And I really like his "age is just a number" attitude, most his age won't try to compete with the young guns (most, includes the ones that are cheats, too)

No doping offenses found for Bernard Lagat

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