Should Desi have spoken up about Ritz, when that may reflect badly on her own group?

Wada boom wada bing wrote:

rumor mill 2012 wrote:

I heard from a former Hanson member in 2012 the coaches were encouraging taking oral L-Carnitine. The rumor at the time was that Salazar’s group was injecting L-Carnitine, which technically is not an illegal substance or illegal means up to a point (50ml every 6 hrs?).

The point is- don’t think for a second the Hanson group isn’t pushing the grey zone too on legal supplements and methods. Desi is probably pissed and questioning that Dathan was injecting it. However, even he was questioning what they were doing and was likely pressured into doing it. She’s no longer the big fish in the pond. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

Is L-Carnitine on the WADA banned list? If so, it's banned. If not, it's permitted.

lots of substances are legal in limits. so caffeine can be taken, but only up to a certain amount.

What she said wasn't necessary.

Oh cry me a river! Who is Desi to speak on this topic? This is not HER group. She is just simply a member of the group. She's not a fan of Ritz?? It sounds like she doesn't even know the guy. Maybe she should take the time to get to know someone before judging them. Lost respect for her after this interview!

Keep silent wrote:

She should have said something.

Ritz was with the NOP for 7 yrs and ran that very fast 5k right after switching to Dirty Alberto.

So like Kara, he benefited from the drugs.

Now Ritz did speak out, and he’s admitted to shady stuff and left (unlike Kara gladly taking that silver medal upgrade this summer in London). But doesn’t mean Dêsi has to be okay with this person as a teammate.

You assumptions are pretty stupid. Both athletes Ritz and Kara started out as extremely talented. Al helped most of his athletes get to the the next level. Strength and speed elements that were beyond the traditional distance training routine. Adjusting training schedules have proved successful for those that could adjust.

You have no access to what he told or referenced in his actual conversation with WADA. If for some reason you have hacked their site could you please post the question and answer session you have so we can all see.

He nor Kara have never tested positive unless again you know something beyond the scope of them being caught and or on a list of suspended athletes. No NOP has ever tested positive .

Desi is suspect of EPO use as she has spent time in the hotbed of EPO in Kenya as other posters have written a poster child for EPO use. Absurd huh! Desi has never tasted positive for any drug.

Desi as you suggest may have a personal dislike for some people, but to elude to athletes drug usage without anything but assumptive knowledge and taint them is as in your words is shady and a cheap shot.

Alberto Salazar and his athletes are under investigation for unethical performance enhancing substance abuse.

Ritz was an athlete of Salazar's.

Ritzenhein is under investigation.

As a professional whose career can be tarnished at best and ruined at worst by having connections with disreputable persons, it is perfectly natural to withhold support for someone with alleged involvement in doping.

This is natural not only for innocent persons but also persons with involvement and participation in practices similar to those alleged against accused.

fir desi to have made any other statement would have been moronic.

Completely agree with this.

It takes courage to speak up about controversial subjects, ESPECIALLY when it involves your employer. Full respect to Des for doing so, even though she must know that it might put her in a tricky situation with Brooks. That being said Brooks should be magnanimous enough to respect her opinion and not make a mountain out of a molehill. If anything I think it puts both her and her sponsor in a better light.

Went to Kenya = suspect of EPO use? You're an idiot. Get a life and move out if your mum's basement.

*of your mum's basement.

She's speaking her mind and answering questions. She didn't bash her coaches, just said that she wasn't consulted (which was the truth).

+1

My boss didn't consult me on hiring a new employee either. Why in the hell would he?

Completely disagree with this. You are confusing courage and stupidity. Bill Rodgers showed far more courage by simply saying he trusts Al Sal and NOP at their word until proven otherwise. If you agree with "Go Des" then I guess you think that Bill Rodgers is also "a loser " who doesn't "give a true crap about our sport."

Roger S wrote:

My boss didn't consult me on hiring a new employee either. Why in the hell would he?

Because you're going to be 'working' alongside this person for years to come, that's why. A good boss would know it's good business to keep your best employees in the loop. I have nothing against the Hansons, but this one is on them.

Roger S wrote:

My boss didn't consult me on hiring a new employee either. Why in the hell would he?

Because you're not the face of your company and probably so far down the totem pole you don't know the actual boss is female.

From reading everything he has said, I doubt Danny Mackey would want to sign Ritz.

1runnerboy wrote:

a point not addressed in all of this...widely know there is no love loss between Nike and Brooks. period. How were K / K Hanson's able to sign Ritz despite the cloud of rumors and speculation of his activities with NOP?

How much influence does Brooks have with respect to signing of athletes or is it totally on K / K and their decisions? I'm going with the later as the 'putting lipstick on the pig" and selling it to Brooks that the signing of Ritz is a very positive decision for both brands.

Think about this scenario. Say Ritz is an 800-1500-3k type instead. Do you think Brooks would have given Danny Mackey the green light to sign him to the Beasts? Doubtful.

Speaker of Hard Truth wrote:

She's speaking her mind and answering questions. She didn't bash her coaches, just said that she wasn't consulted (which was the truth).

I'd guess Nike lawyers are waiting for the first person to outright claim that either Rupp or Hasay are "dirty" while knowing there is not any definitive proof. Green light city for a defamation suit. More reason why pros like Des should be super careful about what they say or insinuate about another athlete - especially when doing so could cause them financial harm.

kmaclam wrote:

Roger S wrote:

My boss didn't consult me on hiring a new employee either. Why in the hell would he?

Because you're going to be 'working' alongside this person for years to come, that's why. A good boss would know it's good business to keep your best employees in the loop. I have nothing against the Hansons, but this one is on them.

Desi plans on training with Ritz??? She would never work side by side with him.

It would be more like hiring someone in accounting and I'm in sales.

Desi is simply jealous that she will not be viewed as the top dog.

She is going to have a tough time shaking the bitter attitude.

Claiming damages in defamation can tough - in general they would have to show (1) that someone's statement caused financial harm, and (2) that statement was made by person while same person knew it was not true. So, Nike might be able to show (2) if someone outright claims that "Rupp and Jordan are on PEDs!" when it is common knowledge that they have not failed any PED tests (I think that is true). More difficult would be to show (1) the financial harm caused by defamation. Nevertheless, the mere act of filing the suit along with a request for all parties to cease speaking publicly of suit while being adjudicated would certainly have the desired effect of making those people clam up. (Of course people on LRC could then speculate non-stop about the merits of the suit).

How does being against doping create negative implications for a group? She’s got every right to speak her mind about it, and understandably so given Ritz’s previous affiliations. I don’t wanna think he’s doped, but at the same time her concerns are understandable.