Topic: WHY IS TARANENKO 265.5 KG CLEAN AND JERK NOT OFFICIAL?

[Jake Harrison]

i dont understand this, anyone care to explain?

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Because they changed the weight classes.

[John Way]

anyhow he went on to do 266 in november 1988

[Gary Valentine]

it is official for the period 1896-1992, as records are listed on usaw website. many interpretations of the history and reasons, but weightclasses were changed jan 1, 1993. this mostly had to do with ridiculous drug use culminating at the "all drug olympics" of 1988, where ben johnson was caught, and the bulgarian team left for home crying when their first 2 or 3 weight classes were snagged. OL was in danger of being dropped from the olympics, and had to do somethingto clean up their act. new classes brought about a fresh start, with supposed better and increased testing. its worked to a small extent, as one may assume that his record has not been surpassed yet, so one may assume there is less use. but drugs have ruined sport, and it is a pandoras box that can never be fixed. add to that the caveat in usa that LWC's can vote not to categorize reocrds to 1896-1992 like usaw (that the are located in!) or like the rest of the world. so those that are in charge of LWC's, who likely were users and or suppliers to those they coached back in the day, can vote to keep the old records of their LWC. wouldnt you like to be a kid today coming into the sport, knowing that the records of your state were drug polluted, and those in charge were too selfish to do the right thing and give you a fair playing field when they had the chance? then call themselves "grass roots!"
doesnt matter, when the value system sinks this low that "champs" rationalize drug use by saying"the other guys doing it", then lie like slime when they are caught, records are worthless anyway. -g

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Gary,

Good post. I feel your frustration, and I agree. The pandora's box has been opened and has made American and World Records irrelevant and meaningless. The truth is that our sport is extremely contaminated by drug use and this will not change anytime soon.