UK athletics turmoil?

What I admire about UK athletics , is they stay from athletes who had had PED convictions during athletic career,.

Uk leader wrote:

What I admire about UK athletics , is they stay from athletes who had had PED convictions during athletic career,.

That's a good thing. It's not mentioned in the article.

Nope.

Not following it at all.

Uk leader wrote:

What I admire about UK athletics , is they stay from athletes who had had PED convictions during athletic career,.

I just read that article. If the strategy is to push really hard for medal performances I have to wonder how committed they'd be about keeping drugs out of the sport.

Isn't DeVoss the guy in charge of the 2021 Worlds? How did that happen? And are they still investigating the irregularities into how that meet was awarded there?

Nigel_Bikes wrote:

Nope.

Not following it at all.

It's pretty big there.

I can’t believe this guy De Vos got the head job after losing so much money in UKA

I run for one of the same clubs at John, so it's had quite a lot of traction with coaches and runners that I know.

He's right. Simply put.

HHH Runner wrote:

I run for one of the same clubs at John, so it's had quite a lot of traction with coaches and runners that I know.

He's right. Simply put.

As mentioned, it's got a lot of traction on Facebook.I know John would like an even wider audience though.

UK Athletics cares about gold medals at global championships; that's how they keep their lottery funding and that enables them to keep their highly paid jobs at the top of the organisation. They don't care how they achieve this - anything goes!

They are also interested in the mass participation events -London Marathon, Great North Run etc- because that gets publicity and allows them to claim that the sport is thriving due to the incredible number of people taking part.

Anything else is a waste ot time and money in the eyes of UKA management elite!

Sadly it's all true. We have two(!) national governing bodies, which doesn't help. Now we have ghost/parallel one trying to make up for their failings -- the best intentions, the worst outcome (more fees, more confusion).

UK Athletics (which has a brand called 'British Athletics' for the national team and comps -- can you believe this) and England Athletics cream money off honest runners ($20 a year) for God knows what -- it's certainly not for results, British runners are crap -- and they give the clubs no help or support to turn that around. The competition structure is shambolic, amateur hour nonsense. Nothing like the NCAAs or USATF Circuit.

Most club runners don't give a sh*t, which is a shame as apathy lets this crap happen.

Uk leader wrote:

What I admire about UK athletics , is they stay from athletes who had had PED convictions during athletic career,.

And they don't allow drug coaches to actually coach their athletes, only hold stopwatches.

HRE wrote:

Uk leader wrote:

What I admire about UK athletics , is they stay from athletes who had had PED convictions during athletic career,.

I just read that article. If the strategy is to push really hard for medal performances I have to wonder how committed they'd be about keeping drugs out of the sport.

See Team Sky for an answer to your question.

BritRunner wrote:

Sadly it's all true. We have two(!) national governing bodies, which doesn't help. Now we have ghost/parallel one trying to make up for their failings -- the best intentions, the worst outcome (more fees, more confusion).

UK Athletics (which has a brand called 'British Athletics' for the national team and comps -- can you believe this) and England Athletics cream money off honest runners ($20 a year) for God knows what -- it's certainly not for results, British runners are crap -- and they give the clubs no help or support to turn that around. The competition structure is shambolic, amateur hour nonsense. Nothing like the NCAAs or USATF Circuit.

Most club runners don't give a sh*t, which is a shame as apathy lets this crap happen.

I think saying the competition structure is shambolic is gross misrepresentation of how things actually are.

Perhaps you run at a different level to me but I think the strength and depth of amateur athletics in the UK is absolutely outstanding. Whilst I agree that EA and UKA have very little to do with it, the idea that 'America has it better' is way off point in my opinion.

No, we don't have the NCAA system. But we have much, much cheaper education in general, partially due to the fact that student fees aren't used to subsidise minority activities like athletics. If you're into athletics then you're a club man. You pay almost nothing and get access to HUGE amounts of racing and coaching. But it's on you to put yourself forward for that.

For me, I run in 3 track leagues through the summer, XC league, London, Southern and National XC champs, 6 stage and 12 stage relays, all for free. All competitions won by international class athletes. Add to that BMC races, club events and you've got yourself up to 2 races a week for £70 a year. And that lasts a lifetime, not just until you graduate.

At pro level our athletes have the European circuit on our doorsteps so the need for a USATF comparable pro circuit is somewhat diminished.

I'd say life as an amateur runner in the UK is FAR better than elsewhere on almost every point excluding the 4 years of your life at university. It's a trade I'd be willing to make.

Finally, yes, I agree that little of this is due to UKA and EA, which is why I agree with John Downes. But to say that competition is shambolic and expensive (!?!) is simple wrong for 99% of British runners.

I agree with these points on last post. The main reason for this post is that Oregon has appointed Neils De Vos to run its 2021 world championship campaign and organization and he’s a total disaster and left the sport in a financial and shambolic state. You guys have been warned but I cannot say we’re glad to see the back of him.

I certainly do compete, on the track. As you say "3 track leagues through the summer, XC league, London, Southern and National XC champs, 6 stage and 12 stage relays, all for free. All competitions won by international class athletes. Add to that BMC races, club events and you've got yourself up to 2 races a week" a complete and utter mess. I never seem to race against the same person twice. In the last BMC 1500 where I am there were 5 runners. And they were a different 5 to the previous round.

None of the runner are "internationally class", unless your counting miserable events like England v Wales? That's not internal class.

"At pro level our athletes have the European circuit on our doorsteps so the need for a USATF comparable pro circuit is somewhat diminished. "

Absolutely anyone can turn up and run a USATF race, and walk away with $10,000 if they win. How on earth does the 'European circuit', whatever that is, compare.

John Dillon wrote:

I agree with these points on last post. The main reason for this post is that Oregon has appointed Neils De Vos to run its 2021 world championship campaign and organization and he’s a total disaster and left the sport in a financial and shambolic state. You guys have been warned but I cannot say we’re glad to see the back of him.

It is mind boggling, both in general and here specifically, how guys who screw up a big job end up getting hired for another big job.

What’s happened to John? He’s very quiet these days