Topic: News: Norik Vardanian busted for marijuana

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

http://assets.teamusa.org/assets/documents/attached_file/filename/18425/Suspension_N_Vardanian_090929.pdf

[Matt Erdman]

 

[Dustin Oranchuk]

at least its only 6 months, the only competition that he will miss that REALLY matters is worlds(if he would have made the team), and maybe the Arnold (if that really matters for him)

[Shaun Le Conte]

IMO being forced to miss the Worlds is a minor injury compared to a fine of $5000 . That would sting much more, at least to me.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I don't think they can make Norik pay it. I wouldn't pay it. Weightlifting isn't worth it. That $5000 put into some smart investments could change Norik's entire life.

EDIT:

On second thought, I would also like to say trying to make him pay it is a very, very bad idea. If the rule wasn't spelled out, which I don't think it was from my memory, then you can't enforce it. Rules must be objective and be established before their violation to be valid. To write them as you go should destroy what little credibility the USAW has left. And, the precedent this will set is unacceptable. What if the test were for steroids? Would the athlete potentially be responsible for $50,000? Its a back door to a lifetime suspension on one offense, but in a way that is not objective but randomly set by the IWF depending on how much $ they think they can coerce. The USAW should fight the fine. I used to support team fines, but no longer. It won't work and is clumsy. This is unjust and counterproductive. You could lose a great lifter and the pot ban will inevitably be lifted anyway since its flat out stupid. Pay the fine and forgive Norik. Tell him to redeem himself on the platform or whatever makes you feel good about it. Without naming names, it is surely common knowledge that the USAW has paid similar things for its elites in the past- ie., lawyers for non-weightlifting matters, etc.

[Paul LaDuke]

Most of the suspensions of US lifters I have seen in recent years have been for marijuana use, but I don't recall any fines for those failed tests and suspensions.  I know that there is a difference because the meet where Norik failed the test was actually the Pan Ams and not the US Nationals.  So it was a WADA testing meet and not USADA.  (Yet another reason why combining the US Nationals with the Pan Ams was a bad idea IMHO.)  Does WADA always fine the national governing body for a first offense?  Is there precedence for this fine?

[Mike Wittmer]

Paul, the fine came from the IWF, not WADA.  They can do that because it was an international competition.  I've heard of larger fines, but those were for steriods.  I am not aware of any "set in stone" penalties for drug offenses.  We were surprised by both the six months and the fine, plus the suspension took effect in September, not June, which took him out of the worlds.

[Shaun Le Conte]

I wonder if Vardanyan Sr. ever had a dispute with anyone involved in determining the penalties to Norik?