Topic: Editorial: Casey at Bat- The Innocent Punished

[Mike Wittmer]

Mike,

The proper way to give credit and promote the site elsewhere is to post a link to it. Really, WE don't want to lose Roger as a member as he is a very knowledgeable and productive member and I have tried to contact him about it so that WE can resolve the matter. But, as I recall, you yourself complained once about someone reposting your posts here on goheave and you are not the only one. Basically, I see it as an end-run around giving us credit (the link) and our rules that promote a civil atmosphere. Not saying that was Roger's motivation, but thats the result as I see it. If the goheave mob can't handle our fair and reasonable moderating policies to discuss the post here and want to attack it there from a link where they can do so with really no moderation, that is their right and nothing can stop them.

You have a good point.  I do recall, and I guess if I wanted something on goheavy I would do it myself.  I have, in the past, avoided comment because you never know where it will go and who will see it.    My only reason for doing that was to avoid pissing someone off and then worrying if they will take it out on my son.  I was thinking of this particular case and the fact that there has been no factual information from USAW.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I have been informed that the pre-testing that was to take place for all weightlifters eight days before the Olympics and was so heavily advertised as proof that our sport was now clean, finally, was not done! It was canceled at the last moment to avoid weightlifting being embarrassed by a bunch of positives and getting thrown out of the Olympics, which it is under great threat of being from several major entities (IOC, WADA, etc)! And, some countries and not others apparently had advance notice that the pre-testing would be canceled!

[Andy Dick]

How convenient!  What a joke.  Another reason weightlifting is in the state it is in right now.

[Dave Almeida]

Informed by who?

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I didn't ask permission to quote as it was a long conversation covering many complex issues. I will do so next time I speak with the source. I believe they will be okay with it.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Dennis Snethen, USAW Executive Director, has gone on the record with the following:

We all had to be at the Olympics eight days prior to start of lifting for pre-testing and then the pre-testing was canceled at the last minute. The rug was pulled out from under us. I was very disapointed as I felt this would have been more evidence Casey should have lifted though it accomplished the goal of not embarrassing the IWF with positive tests.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I have confirmed through WADA's Media Relations & Communications Manager Frédéric Donzé that the IWF has not given a single cent to WADA for anti-doping programs since beginning to collect these fines in place of suspensions. IF any of it is being spent on anti-doping, then it is purely an internal matter. WADA was also unaware that the pre-testing at the Olympics was canceled. I am attempting to contact the IWF to ask how much money has been spent on anti-doping and in what manner.

WADA accepts complaints and requests for information/investigations at info@wada-ama.org . I encourage everyone to let them know you are fed up with the IWF's failures to take the doping fight seriously and with their treatment of Casey Burgener's slot. They are completing a WADA code compliance report in November. If the IWF is found not to be in compliance at that point, weightlifting will very likely be expelled from the Olympics. So, its time to force reform!

[Jim Hooper]

I wonder what proof, if any, exists that any of the fines the IWF has announced in press releases were actually paid by the fined countries?

That would be a handy fact to know, and a pertinent question to ask.  Assuming all the fines they say they have levied have in fact been paid, it would provided a basis for tracking where the total fine receipts were subsequently spent in general, as well as what percentage of those receipts, if any, were spent on anti-doping programs.

Of course, if IWF were ever pressed to produce cancelled checks or proof of transfers documenting payment and receipt of the fines it tells the world that it has levied on offenders, and refused to do so, or claimed to be unable to do so, that would lead to an entirely different set of questions.

Who or what organization, if any, oversees or audits the IWF's money trail?  (Its good to be the king, at least until the revolution comes.)