Topic: News: Chris LeRoux Ruled Ineligible

[Jack Dluzen]

chris, its seems like someones trying to give one of our greatest lifters the (old hi - ho  up the shoot deal) to sum it  up imo, well i know this is a family type forum, but the head of  (wada)'s name ( D.P.)      sums  it up .... HANG IN THERE CHRIS all OF US IS PULLING FOR YOU!!  THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OF LIFES TESTS, YOU  WILL COME OUT ON TOP! brother!

[John Bologna]

Chris,

If you are at peace that is a good thing after all that you have been through. It is a shame that USADA/WADA will never admit to their actions in the same very public forums that they have no problem putting an athlete in. Until this happens their abuses will continue. The general public should be made aware of what goes on behind the scenes so that they will not be so quick to judge an athlete. The public show that they put on now is just for their own gain.

[Adrian Cadmus-Dixon]

Congrats Chris  .

Adrian Cadmus-Dixon

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I feel like I am being punished for their mistakes. But, with or without this settlement, that was already happening. I have been dealing with this for months already regardless and I now owe a lawyer some money. I think it is wrong that they can enforce any waiting period on me if I chose to compete, but the athlete has no real ability to fight anything they do. They have all the power to do whatever the hell they want regardless of the rules. They are the rule writer, interpreter, enforcer, and only avenue of appeal (not). So, I'm taking the deal because either way I am being punished and this is the fastest way to "serve my time" and get the entire matter over with, though I have done nothing wrong of course.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

So, I made the settlement with USADA just about one year ago and have never received it. Since I got injured before the 2008 Sr Nationals, I got lazy about fighting them and I really couldn't afford any more lawyer fees. Plus, they changed my eligibility status on the USAW site so that nothing said I was ineligible so I thought it was resolved and they would just test me when they wanted once I became an active registered athlete again (as I did), as they claim(ed). But, now the USADA chief lawyer, William Bock III claims he never had the authority to negotiate in the first place and our deal has to be approved by the USOC, though he claims he will support the deal he made with me. So, I am just waiting for them to get their act together, again, but I decided to press the issue and sent them this letter today along with my paperwork to request enrollment in the out of competition testing program again:

9/29/2008
To USADA:
I retired from the sport of weightlifting in 2005. In 2006, I changed my mind and properly came out of retirement and won the USA Senior National Championships with no objection from the USAW, USADA, or the USOC despite being drug tested by USADA at the contest.  The USAW/USADA/USOC then unjustly decided something like 9-12 months later that they made a mistake allowing me to come out of retirement without serving a 6 month waiting period to compete while in the OOC and suddenly, with no formal notice declared me ineligible/retired. I did NOT retire after winning the 2006 USA Senior Nationals and reiterate that I came out of retirement properly according to the documents I signed when I retired in 2005 and what I was told verbally.
 
Through negotiations with USADA’s lawyer, William Bock III, we reached a compromise for me to serve a 3 month waiting period while in the OOC program before competing again. I have been waiting for that agreement for many months now and it has never arrived. I intend to compete at the 2009 USA Senior Nationals and actually before that in a local contest so I can qualify.  I expect our deal for the 3 month waiting period to be honored. I am including USADA’s ALF forms per the agreement and anticipate notice that our deal is going to be honored shortly.

Thanks,

Chris LeRoux
CC:  Dennis Snethen, USAW Executive Director

[Dave Chiu]

Godspeed Chris!!

Let's hope Favre hasn't used-up the luck of "old-timers" when it comes to beating the suits.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Confirmed with USADA today that I am enrolled in the OOC program as of 10/2. No word yet on whether they will honor their deal for a 3 month waiting period instead of the 6 they want to enforce unjustly (not counting all the time I have been waiting for them to start the clock/send me the deal to sign). I offered to go as far as 4.5 months but any longer and I can't qualify for nationals in time so if they are totally without honor it will be time to lawyer up again.

Thanks for the support.

[Jack Dluzen]

CHRIS, it looks like things are finally going your way ! keep  up the good  fight!