Fair or Foul? Sonia O'Sullivan slams the fact that two Kenyan born Turks go 1-2 at 2016 Euro Cross

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LetsRun.com

your benevolent dictator

3 years ago 12/11/2016 7:56am CST
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We forgot the link to results.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/12/results-2016-spar-european-cross-country-championship-results/

Kenyan-born Turks also went 1-2 in the men's race as Aris Kaya and Polat Kemboi ArÄ±kan got gold and silver. Yasemeni Can and Meryem Akda got gold and silver in the women's.
LetsRun.com

your benevolent dictator

3 years ago 12/11/2016 7:59am CST

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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/sport/other-sports/athletics/sonia-osullivan-slams-iaaf-rules-after-fionnuala-mccormack-is-denied-european-medal-by-two-kenyanborn-athletes-35284906.html

So what do you think? O'Sullivan herself ran for two countries. How do you decide what is legit and what isn't?
Bib #1

3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:11am CST
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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:16am CST
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So in the mens GB went 1,2,3 - result!!!
The Scot

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3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:21am CST
re: elmore345

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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:27am CST
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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:32am CST
re: elmore345

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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:32am CST
re: elmore345

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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:34am CST
re: Imperial Jingoism

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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:39am CST
re: Imperial Jingoism

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Can you repeat that? I didn't hear you.
elmore345

3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:44am CST
re: Imperial Jingoism

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You know Farah came over as a kid and started running way after that? Hardly an import.
Imperial Jingoism

3 years ago 12/11/2016 8:48am CST
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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 StatkuvienÃ© Lithuania Belgium 1998
Olivier Sekanyambo Democratic Republic of the Congo Belgium 1999
Ã‰lodie OuÃ©draogo 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 PreradoviÄ‡ Yugoslavia Bosnia and Herzegovina 2002
Borivoje StaniÄ‡ Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina 2003
Mirjana KalajdÅ¾iÄ‡ Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina 2003
Predrag MomiroviÄ‡ 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 RaduloviÄ‡ Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006
Lucia Kimani Kenya Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007
AndrÃ¡s 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]
RÃ³bert Å tefko Slovakia Czech Republic 2004
Josef Karas Canada Czech Republic 2005
Robert Kiplagat Andersen Kenya Denmark
Wilson Kipketer Kenya Denmark
Larisa NetÅ¡eporuk Ukraine Estonia
Eduard HÃ¤mÃ¤lÃ¤inen Belarus Finland 1997
Natalia KilpelÃ¤inen 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 BÃ©har Morocco France
SaÃ¯d Berioui Morocco France 2009
Abdessemad Bouhattach Morocco France 2003
MickaÃ«l Conjungo Central African Republic France
Ahmed Douhou Ivory Coast France 2002
Lueyi Dovy Gabon France 2002
Sylvie Mballa Ã‰loundou Cameroon France 2002
Hanan Farhoun Morocco France 2006
Fanjantenaina FÃ©lix 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
FranÃ§oise 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-AimÃ© NthÃ©pÃ© Cameroon France 1999
Teresa Nzola Meso Ba Angola France 2003
Nicole Ramalalanirina Madagascar France 1998
Ferenc Salbert Hungary France
Mohamed Serbouti Morocco France
IsmaÃ¯l Sghyr Morocco France 2002
Yvon Sialo-Ngboda Central African Republic France 2007
Melanie Skotnik Germany France 2005
Brahim Lahlafi Morocco France 2006
JÃ©rÃ´me Romain Dominica France 1999
Nouredine Smain Algeria France 2005
James Theuri Kenya France 2006
Cheikh Tidiane TourÃ© 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 GÃ³recka Poland West Germany 1965
JÃ¼rgen May East Germany West Germany 1967
Andrzej BadeÅ„ski Poland West Germany 1974
JÃ³zef 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

elmore345

3 years ago 12/11/2016 9:02am CST
re: Imperial Jingoism

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You're an idiot.
Europe for Euros

3 years ago 12/11/2016 9:12am CST
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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 9:12am CST
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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 9:22am CST
re: bob2

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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 9:26am CST
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And Jakob Ingrebritsen didn't have any problem with the foreign implants.

Train harder and smarter.
olyrun

3 years ago 12/11/2016 9:37am CST
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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

3 years ago 12/11/2016 9:44am CST
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Hadn't thought of that olyrun... I like it.

Open World Championships up to everyone, like Cycling.
Irish wasteland

3 years ago 12/11/2016 9:46am CST
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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.