Topic: News: 2009 USA Sr Nationals Combined with Pan Am Champs

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Just got off the phone with the USAW and they have confirmed that not only will these meets be combined but we would be lifting in the same session as the Pan Am competitors even if we don't enter the Pan Ams. This really sucks. I don't want to compete against them and I don't want OUR nationals influenced by their presence, not to mention I don't want to compete in any international competitions at all anyway. I have been training now for months for this meet and now its basically totally unappealing to me. I understand their doing something similar with the American Open/Championships as well, so now they have gone from having one almost meaningless meet and one very meaningful event to having two utterly meaningless events, and actually worse- two offensive, to me, events.

This really blows.

[Shaun Le Conte]

I don't like the idea of it either, not that it affects me in any way. But would any nation hosting the European Championships also schedule their national championships into the same event? It goes both ways. Just like you don't want the Pan Ams mixed in, I suppose there are many Pan Am lifters that don't want their event absorbed into another country's national meet. It certainly gets in the way of attempts.

I assume that this was a cost saving measure or perhaps no other city was willing to host the meet this year.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I'm filing a grievance tomorrow arguing that this violates the rule/policy forbidding extra/guest lifters in our national meets. After all, they are lifters lifting in OUR sessions that will not count toward points or medals. I guess there is NO rulebook available on the USAW website? I have old copies, but what rules are we operating under currently? Can anyone point me to the rule/policy against extra/guest lifters or a current rulebook?

Thanks

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Here is my rough draft. Feedback, suggestions, and links to rulebook and extra/guest lifter policy/rule would be most appreciated. But, I am mailing it tomorrow one way or another so there is plenty of time to have my hearing well before Nationals.

To: USAW
Date: 8/22/2008
I hereby am filing a formal grievance against the decision to hold our 2009 USAW Senior National Championships in conjunction with the 2009 Pan Am Championships.  Since there is no rulebook available on the USAW website as of today, I can find no instructions for filing a proper grievance or rule numbers to cite. However, the USAW currently has a rule/policy forbidding extra/guest lifters in our National meets. Clearly, having the Pan Am competitors lifting in the same sessions as our National competitors competing for our Senior National Championships when they cannot earn medals or points qualifies them as extra/guest lifters in our Senior National Championships. They will have the ability to influence our own, internal contest- the most important National meet of the year. Further, they have the potential of spoiling the victories of our National Champions who could lose the session in which they win their Title. And, in my opinion, this decision spoils the level playing field the USA has striven so hard to achieve through rigorous out of competition testing by allowing competitors who do not compete under the same system and rules in to our contest where they will contaminate it.

I hereby request a formal hearing to examine this issue, along with a copy of the current rulebook and copy of the extra/guest lifter rule/policy so I can make my case.

Sincerely,


Chris LeRoux, MS, CSCS, USAW III

[DAVE PETERSON]

                   Chris,
                      You can well imagine that way back in 1963 at the U.S. Nationals how the US lifters felt when the "so-called" powers of weightlifting allowed 4-5 lifters from Japan to lift in our Nationals. Of course, the worst part came true when it was over and done with the Japanese lifters were champions at our Nationals !! I believe it was at least 20 years or more before it was resolved and the proper champions of each wt. class were given their over due first place award. Joe Puleo was one of those lifters who should've won first place back in 1963,but instead had to take 2nd to a lifter who more or less should have been a guest lifter.

                                               Regards,
                                                  Dave P.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Dave,

Yes, I am familiar with that situation. Of course, the defense will be that the Pan Am competitors from other nations will not be eligible for our Nationals medals. But, they can still impact the contest dramatically, upstage our Champions, and contaminate the contest via doping and less stringent testing within their nation. The last issue is the one that matters to me. I do not wish to compete against dopers, do not wish to compete in IWF events, as I feel they are ALL tainted by the IWF's lack of resolve in doping matters (fines instead of team suspensions, too short suspensions, warning when a new testing protocol comes out, etc, etc). I feel competing against them legitimizes their victories as well as the corrupt, evil system- even if I beat them, since they will surely beat some clean lifters. This is not to say they are all dirty of course. That isn't the point. The point is the system is inadequate, inconsistent, and therefore allows some cheaters through.

[Dave Almeida]

Chris,
  If you are competing only against lifters registered for US nationals then whether or not the other lifters are doping shouldn't really effect you. I understand you are opposed to even competing on the same platform as them but if you are not registering for Pan Ams then I think you should just forget about the foreign lifters and do it if you really want to get out there and compete. Come on, a national championship at age 36? Thats quite a feat...

  HOWEVER, I clearly see how ridiculous this is that the USAW is letting foreign lifters compete at nationals. Our top lifters competing for a national championship may have to wait longer in between attempts for foreign lifters to go etc... It is just a distraction and basically not a fair contest as a result.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Competing against the dopers is JUST like competing against people in the 100 meters and ceding them a 10 meter head start and allowing them to take the victory lap after they beat you anyway.

I see NO reason to grant a head start and then admit defeat.