• LetsRun.com
      your benevolent dictator
      • Fair or Foul? Sonia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 7:59AM
      • LetsRun.com
        your benevolent dictator
      • The 2016 Euro XC Champs are in the books.

        Results can be found here :


        After the race, legend Sonia O'Sullivan, who competed both for Ireland and Austrlia during her career, slammed the fact that two Kenyan-born Turks went 1-2 in the women's race.

        https://twitter.com/soniaagrith/status/807928776562769920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw


        She elaborated on tv as explained. Hear it for yourself.

        https://twitter.com/RTEsport/status/807920305318432768

        Here is what she said according to The Independent.



        "I don't think they are legitimately running for the country. They haven't grown up there. There is no connection there.

        "They are basically being paid to run for Turkey.

        "Whoever allowed that to happen in the IAAF are not brave enough to distinguish between cases where people have legitimate reasons for people moving countries. For refugees or reasons other than going to be a part of a team.

        "When you run for your country, you should really be buying people from other countries.

        "It's being discussed at the highest levels and I'm sure that Sebastian Coe is talking about it but it has taken them such a long time to change the rule.

        http://www.independent.ie/spor...84906.html

        So what do you think? O'Sullivan herself ran for two countries. How do you decide what is legit and what isn't?
    • LetsRun.com
      your benevolent dictator
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 7:56AM - in reply to LetsRun.com
      • LetsRun.com
        your benevolent dictator
      • We forgot the link to results.

        https://www.letsrun.com/news/20...p-results/

        Kenyan-born Turks also went 1-2 in the men's race as Aris Kaya and Polat Kemboi Arıkan got gold and silver. Yasemeni Can and Meryem Akda got gold and silver in the women's.
    • Bib #1
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:11AM - in reply to LetsRun.com
      • Bib #1
      • Somewhere out there, there a bunch of American kids dreaming and training to make the 2028 US Olympic track team. Somewhere out there, also, are a bunch of Kenyan kids dreaming and training to make the same 2028 US Olympic track team

        We had a bunch of them already bump up against each other in this tear's Oly trials. While we are (rightfully) taught to be gracious and sportsmanlike and accepting etc, I gotta think that at some point it becomes a disincentive for native grown US kids to continue living that dream

        I'm okay with immigrants representing their adopted countries in athletic competition. But I think there should be limits - e.g. one must have been naturalized before the age of 7 to be eligible to do so. (7 is an arbitrary number for illustrative purposes only and can be a different number. Definitely before puberty though.)

        I am, btw, an immigrant
    • elmore345
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:16AM - in reply to Bib #1
      • elmore345
      • So in the mens GB went 1,2,3 - result!!!
    • The Scot
      registered
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:21AM - in reply to elmore345
      • The Scot
        registered
      • elmore345 wrote:
        So in the mens GB went 1,2,3 - result!!!
        The real hoot is that Turkey isn't even IN Europe IMHO any more than Israel is (the latter also ran, with a team of Ethiopian Jews). I think some people are muddling up Europe with Eurasia...
    • Technically Speaking
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:27AM - in reply to The Scot
      • Technically Speaking
      • The Scot wrote:
        The real hoot is that Turkey isn't even IN Europe IMHO any more than Israel is (the latter also ran, with a team of Ethiopian Jews). I think some people are muddling up Europe with Eurasia...
        Well... the part of Turkey that is north of the Bosporus Strait is actually in Europe, technically speaking. So yeah, they have more of a case for inclusion in a Euro championship than Israel does.
    • Imperial Jingoism
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:32AM - in reply to elmore345
      • Imperial Jingoism
      • Ha ha ha
        The British imported more athletes in the last decade than any other state. Some Brit XC teams sound like a USA college team when interviewed.
        Spain, France, Belgium etc. Transfer from Africa and elsewhere on an industrial scale! And yet Turkey gets it in the neck. Is it because they outdo the others or cos talent importing is wrong.

        As for Sonia. She draws a wage from commenting today but doesn't mention the obvious. The Irish results are possibly the worst ever. No team better than sixth.
    • Imperial Jingoism
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:32AM - in reply to elmore345
      • Imperial Jingoism
      • Ha ha ha
        The British imported more athletes in the last decade than any other state. Some Brit XC teams sound like a USA college team when interviewed.
        Spain, France, Belgium etc. Transfer from Africa and elsewhere on an industrial scale! And yet Turkey gets it in the neck. Is it because they outdo the others or cos talent importing is wrong.

        As for Sonia. She draws a wage from commenting today but doesn't mention the obvious. The Irish results are possibly the worst ever. No team better than sixth.
    • Imperial Jingoism
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:34AM - in reply to Imperial Jingoism
      • Imperial Jingoism
      • Ha ha ha
        The British imported more athletes in the last decade than any other state. Some Brit relay teams sound like a USA college team when interviewed.
        Spain, France, Belgium etc. Transfer from Africa and elsewhere on an industrial scale! And yet Turkey gets it in the neck. Is it because they outdo the others or cos talent importing is wrong.

        As for Sonia. She draws a wage from commenting today but doesn't mention the obvious. The Irish results are possibly the worst ever. No team better than sixth.
    • You can say that again
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:39AM - in reply to Imperial Jingoism
      • You can say that again
      • Can you repeat that? I didn't hear you.
    • elmore345
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:44AM - in reply to Imperial Jingoism
      • elmore345
      • You know Farah came over as a kid and started running way after that? Hardly an import.
    • Imperial Jingoism
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 8:48AM - in reply to You can say that again
      • Imperial Jingoism
      • https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_eligibility_transfers_in_athletics

        Name of athlete From nation To nation Year
        Ljudmila Ninova-Rudoll Bulgaria Austria
        Mark McKoy Canada Austria 1994
        Valentina Fedjuschina Ukraine Austria 1999
        Serhiy Osovych Ukraine Austria 2003
        Nora Edletzberger Turkey Austria 2008
        Hanna Skydan Ukraine Azerbaijan 2015[3]
        Evans Kiplagat Kenya Azerbaijan 2016[4]
        Andrey Makarov Russia Belarus 1998
        Aleksandr Furso Russia Belarus 1999
        Takhir Mamashayev Uzbekistan Belarus 2001
        Sergey Litvinov Russia Belarus 2004
        Mohammed Mourhit Morocco Belgium 1997
        Yelena Golesheva-Scheers Russia Belgium 1998
        Stefanija Statkuviené Lithuania Belgium 1998
        Olivier Sekanyambo Democratic Republic of the Congo Belgium 1999
        Élodie Ouédraogo Burkina Faso Belgium 2000
        Hassan Mourhit Morocco Belgium 2003
        Irina Sustelo Portugal Belgium 2005
        Atelaw Yeshetela Ethiopia Belgium 2008
        Svetlana Bolshakova Russia Belgium 2008
        Mira Preradović Yugoslavia Bosnia and Herzegovina 2002
        Borivoje Stanić Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina 2003
        Mirjana Kalajdžić Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina 2003
        Predrag Momirović Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina 2004
        Tanja Glicic Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006
        Maja Jancic Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006
        Milan Radulović Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006
        Lucia Kimani Kenya Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007
        András Haklits Hungary Croatia 1998
        Roland Varga Hungary Croatia 2008
        Lisa Nemec United States Croatia
        Marianna Zachariadi Greece Cyprus 2008
        Dimitrios Chondrokoukis Greece Cyprus 2013[5]
        Róbert Štefko Slovakia Czech Republic 2004
        Josef Karas Canada Czech Republic 2005
        Robert Kiplagat Andersen Kenya Denmark
        Wilson Kipketer Kenya Denmark
        Larisa Netšeporuk Ukraine Estonia
        Eduard Hämäläinen Belarus Finland 1997
        Natalia Kilpeläinen Russia Finland 2005
        Wilson Kirwa Kenya Finland 1998
        Francis Kirwa Kenya Finland 2005
        Frantz Kruger South Africa Finland 2007
        Abdelkader Bakhtache Algeria France 2006
        Eunice Barber Sierra Leone France 1999
        Abdellah Béhar Morocco France
        Saïd Berioui Morocco France 2009
        Abdessemad Bouhattach Morocco France 2003
        Mickaël Conjungo Central African Republic France
        Ahmed Douhou Ivory Coast France 2002
        Lueyi Dovy Gabon France 2002
        Sylvie Mballa Éloundou Cameroon France 2002
        Hanan Farhoun Morocco France 2006
        Fanjantenaina Félix Madagascar France 2009
        Bouchra Ghezielle Morocco France 2005
        Hind Dehiba Morocco France 2004
        Latifa Essarokh Morocco France 1996
        Rachid Ghanmouni Morocco France 2010
        Fatima Hajjami Morocco France
        Abderrahim El Haouzy Morocco France
        Numidia Kafri Algeria France
        Heni Kechi Tunisia France 2004
        Fatiha Klilech-Fauvel Morocco France 2003
        Sylwia Korzeniowska Poland France 2010
        El Hassan Lahssini Morocco France 2001
        Irba Lakhal Morocco France 2002
        Driss Maazouzi Morocco France 2000
        Rakiya Maraoui-Quetier Morocco France 1998
        Margaret Maury Kenya France 2002
        Françoise Mbango Etone Cameroon France 2010
        Rodica Daniela Moroianu Romania France
        Simon Munyutu Kenya France 2006
        Antoinette Nana Djimou Ida Cameroon France
        Emmanuel Ngom Priso Cameroon France 2009
        Issa-Aimé Nthépé Cameroon France 1999
        Teresa Nzola Meso Ba Angola France 2003
        Nicole Ramalalanirina Madagascar France 1998
        Ferenc Salbert Hungary France
        Mohamed Serbouti Morocco France
        Ismaïl Sghyr Morocco France 2002
        Yvon Sialo-Ngboda Central African Republic France 2007
        Melanie Skotnik Germany France 2005
        Brahim Lahlafi Morocco France 2006
        Jérôme Romain Dominica France 1999
        Nouredine Smain Algeria France 2005
        James Theuri Kenya France 2006
        Cheikh Tidiane Touré Senegal France 2000
        Dauphin Tumatai French Polynesia France 2007
        Ibrahima Wade Senegal France 2000
        Larbi Zeroual Morocco France 1999
        Fabien Bernabe Spain France 2015
        Ousmane Diarra Senegal France
        Halina Górecka Poland West Germany 1965
        Jürgen May East Germany West Germany 1967
        Andrzej Badeński Poland West Germany 1974
        Józef Szmidt Poland West Germany 1975
        Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz Poland West Germany 1984
        Wolfgang Schmidt East Germany West Germany 1987
        Nischan Daimer Armenia Germany
        Andrei Tivontchik Belarus Germany 1994
        Alina Astafei Romania Germany 1995
        Nastja Ryjikh Russia Germany 1995
        Luminita Zaituc Romania Germany 1996
        Irina Mikitenko Kazakhstan Germany 1998
        Nkechi Madubuko Nigeria Germany
        Florence Ekpo-Umoh Nigeria Germany 2000
        Alexsey Bogdasin Kazakhstan Germany 2006
        Sergey Lytvynov Jr. Belarus Germany 2007
        Eleni Gebremehdin-Gebrehiwot Ethiopia Germany 2014
        Julia Bleasdale Great Britain Germany 2016
        Zola Budd South Africa Great Britain
        South Africa 1984
        1992
        Fred Salle Cameroon Great Britain 1992
        Birhan Dagne Ethiopia Great Britain 1998
        Bobby Farren Ireland Great Britain 1998
        Kathy Butler Canada Great Britain 2000
        James McIlroy Ireland Great Britain 2000
        Irie Hill Germany Great Britain 2000
        Kassa Tadesse Ethiopia Great Britain 2001
        Samson Oni Nigeria Great Britain 2003
        Malachi Davis United States Great Britain 2004
        Nathalie Harvey Australia Great Britain 2004
        Simon Shirley Australia Great Britain
        Nicholas Stuart Canada Great Britain 2005
        Gerenshi Tamirat Ethiopia Great Britain 2005
        Germaine Mason Jamaica Great Britain 2006
        Tomas Abyu Ethiopia Great Britain 2006
        Taneisha Robinson-Scanlon Ireland Great Britain 2006
        Michael Bingham United States Great Britain 2008
        Roald Bradstock United States Great Britain 2009
        Tiffany Ofili United States Great Britain 2010
        Shara Proctor Anguilla Great Britain 2010
        Shana Cox United States Great Britain 2011
        Julian Reid Jamaica Great Britain 2011
        Stefanie Reid Canada Great Britain 2010
        Yamile Aldama Cuba Sudan
        United Kingdom 2004
        2011
        Zharnel Hughes Anguilla Great Britain 2015
        Victoria Dronsfield Sweden
    • Europe for Euros
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sonia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 9:12AM - in reply to LetsRun.com
      • Europe for Euros
      • LetsRun.com wrote:

        "I don't think they are legitimately running for the country. They haven't grown up there. There is no connection there.

        "They are basically being paid to run for Turkey.

        So what do you think? O'Sullivan herself ran for two countries. How do you decide what is legit and what isn't?
        Well, #1, at least Sonia is actually European.
        #2, how legit are the times from these Kenyans running for Turkey when they train in Africa?...where drug testing is highly dubious. Much worse than in Russia. I'm sure many of the runners suspect these Kenyans of doping, especially running for a country that's had a plethora of doping issues.

        #3 Interesting that there looked to be 0% actual Turks running for Turkey. Was surprised that the British team consisted of 100% Brits.
    • bob2
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 9:12AM - in reply to Imperial Jingoism
      • bob2
      • Imperial Jingoism wrote:
        Ha ha ha
        The British imported more athletes in the last decade than any other state. Some Brit relay teams sound like a USA college team when interviewed.
        Spain, France, Belgium etc. Transfer from Africa and elsewhere on an industrial scale! And yet Turkey gets it in the neck. Is it because they outdo the others or cos talent importing is wrong.

        As for Sonia. She draws a wage from commenting today but doesn't mention the obvious. The Irish results are possibly the worst ever. No team better than sixth.
        The UK generally only imports from the former colonies, which I think is fair enough. Somalia, Kenya, Jamaica etc. were all pretty recently part of the empire (until the 1960s in most cases). The UK got a lot out of this arrangement so if people from these places want to move to a richer, more comfortable and less competitive country and also make a contribution to national glory and all that, it would be unreasonable to stop them. These Turks need to recognise that they haven't had a proper empire for much longer and should act accordingly. Or at least only import people from North Africa and the Middle East.
    • jCo
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 9:22AM - in reply to bob2
      • jCo
      • UK Brexit so they shouldn't be part of the EURO XC Championships!!

        Out with the British athletes... leave them on the island that they are.
    • jCo
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sonia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 9:26AM - in reply to Europe for Euros
      • jCo
      • And Jakob Ingrebritsen didn't have any problem with the foreign implants.

        Train harder and smarter.
    • olyrun
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sonia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 9:37AM - in reply to LetsRun.com
      • olyrun
      • Get rid of nationalism in track and field. Let the best run against the best. Pure professional running, no countries and no flags. The idea of countries competing against one another is archaic. I'm only interested in seeing the top compete not the top from each country.
    • jCo
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sonia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 9:44AM - in reply to olyrun
      • jCo
      • Hadn't thought of that olyrun... I like it.

        Open World Championships up to everyone, like Cycling.
    • Irish wasteland
      • RE: Fair or Foul? Sounia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross 12/11/2016 9:46AM - in reply to Imperial Jingoism
      • Irish wasteland
      • Imperial Jingoism wrote:
        Ha ha ha
        The British imported more athletes in the last decade than any other state. Some Brit XC teams sound like a USA college team when interviewed.
        Spain, France, Belgium etc. Transfer from Africa and elsewhere on an industrial scale! And yet Turkey gets it in the neck. Is it because they outdo the others or cos talent importing is wrong.

        As for Sonia. She draws a wage from commenting today but doesn't mention the obvious. The Irish results are possibly the worst ever. No team better than sixth.
        What should be discussed is why hasn't Ireland developed its athletes over the years? What should they be doing to create a system that at least makes them competitive in Europe let alone the world stage.
        Sonia should explain her dual country racing and why she felt ok for her.