Topic: News: Chris LeRoux Ruled Ineligible

[Paul LaDuke]

Chris,

I am a relative new comer to the sport and have yet to compete nationally.  Due to my inexperience, I have yet to meet or have expericene with lifting on a national basis.  I hope to compete at the American Masters later this year.  But, I would compare competition results from the master's competitions with the past USA National championships for competitors.  

Dane Hussey comes to mind because of his previous post in this thread.  Gary Deal competed at a high level nationally.  I'm not sure of the year that the testing started for USAW lifters (1984 Olympics?).   Les Kernodle seems to be a wealth of weightlifting information, he may have some good insight.  Maybe these guys and any other master-level competitors could PM you a list of competitors that he knows from the golden days who still throw around the iron at the masters comps.  There are a lot of master aged lifters who participate in the forum.  I would think many of them would know 1 or 2 lifters who match this description - coming out of retirement to lift again as a master.

Good luck.

[Paul LaDuke]

Chris,

I did a little research of my own and found 2 names that I PMd you that may help you out.  Both are barely master's aged and both competed internationally.

Good luck with the fight.

[Mark Cannella]

Chris,

I had asked on goheavy why the accusations when posted about your plight.  It doesn't make much sense that you are prevented from lifting in local meets and for that matter, National meets, if you are not interested in further competition and therefore, not subject to out of competition testing, unless the BOD wants to specifically test you, which I understand they can do...ala, J. Krystal.  
There seems to be something missing in the argument here.  Why not enroll for 6 months, retire (properly:) and then unretire and just lift in meets without the Out of Competition testing.
No one is that upset over a guy that simply just wants to lift and certainly understands that his better days of setting records and making teams is left for others.  
Food for thought,
Mark

[Mark Cannella]

btw, Kelly Polly was not able to lift in the qualifier at the Arnold 2007.

looking at your .PDF seems to indicate if you are attempting to lift for a National Squad, Stipend, etc.  While the USADA form does not indicate this, certainly the other form does.  Not sure of the disconnect?

Seems like something that can be solved in due time though.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Mark,

To answer the third sentence, if I was to enroll in the OOC program now, I would STILL be ineligible for the 2007 American Open, unjustly. Also, they would not let me out of the OOC program unless I again retired, which is now unacceptable since I do not wish to retire, or they decided not to test me, which is unlikely. Thus, even to compete in local meets or master's meets, I would be uniquely (perhaps) forced to permanently reside in the OOC program, apparently. This may in fact affect other athletes beside myself that do not know it yet.

Thanks,

Chris

[Mark Cannella]

we were told that Kelly Polly was not eligible to lift at the qualifier.  I then had to "move" her into a slot for the open portion of the meet.  Obviously she lifted in the local portion.

the other point i was making was your .pdf.  It says something about the testing if you are interested in making National Squads/Stipends, etc.  So my question to that is, if you are,,,great, it would make sense to be enrolled.  If not, then why the beef.  Lift in whatever meet you desire, but at no point would you be eligible to compete for stipends, trips, yatta yatta.  
The USADA form is all together something else...I don't understand it at this point.  
But why in the world would it matter if you decided to lift again and said hey, i want to compete,,,,i will be subject to drug testing only if i happen to place or be a random,,if I compete at a Nationals...AO etc. and otherwise, enjoy local meets as they come up.  If you are still in shape..good for you...you are an American record holder and pretty well, walked the walk last year...
Hope that helps....i just don't understand why a big deal is being made of this.  Let me read it again. it is late.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

we were told that Kelly Polly was not eligible to lift at the qualifier.  I then had to "move" her into a slot for the open portion of the meet.  Obviously she lifted in the local portion.

I see. This is extremely useful information since the USAW will not discuss the matter since it is confidential. I assume what you are saying is that the local meet was not sanctioned by the USAW. Is that what you are saying? In any case, the USAW is left in a very, very, very bad and embarrassing position. I am sure they wish this would go away, I know it. But, they can not overrule USADA and the USOC, even if it is clearly all their fault. It is abundantly clear that the USAW has failed in a very bad way here. Still, I would actually place the blame on USADA, not the USAW, except for the attitude of coverup, denial, and defiance that I first encountered when I objected to being made a patsy.

[Mark Cannella]

Chris,

all our meets at the Arnold and in Ohio are sanctioned by USAW.  I know you have some issues with your plight that I am sure we'll get solved in due time, however, we aren't telling you anything that you wouldn't know anyway.  For that matter, I sent you the results of the Arnold!!!!!

Well, good luck, I am sure it will be figured out and you'll be back to lifting and training in no time flat.

Later,

Mark