2011 in Review – Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles

If there is an event that I would hold up as a model for how I’d like to see a season go it would be the women’s 100 meter hurdles! These women did it all. The top women competed from early season through the World Championships – most competing in over 10 meets, and some over 15. They competed against each other often, and did so at a fairly high level for most of the season. If more events had this level of competition throughout the season we wouldn’t be talking about a decline of the sport!

The season got started early as Sally Pearson (AUS) ran 12.85 at the end of March to get things rolling. She would win the Australian title at 12.83 in April before taking the month of May off. Meanwhile, the rest of the top contenders got their games cranking in May as Kellie Wells (USA) screamed a 12.53 in Doha to defeat Danielle Carruthers (USA), Lolo Jones (USA) and Ginnie Crawford (USA). In the following DL meet in Rome, however, Dawn Harper (USA) would upend Wells and Carruthers, as the defending Olympic champion showed that she would be a factor on the season. They would gather a few days later in Hengelo with Carruthers taking the win ahead of Wells, Harper, and Jones – and the season began to look like we were in for a great ride!

June would start with Carruthers winning again, this time in New York, with Wells, Jones, and Crawford in her wake – and Jones not looking at all like the woman who threatened to dominate this event just a couple of seasons ago. At this point American hurdlers looked like they were going to dominate the event from beginning to end – and at Nationals it was the trio of Kellie Wells, Danielle Carruthers, and Dawn Harper, in that order, who set sail for both the European Circuit and Daegu. Then in Lausanne the tide would begin to turn as Sally Pearson upended the Americans with Carruthers finishing 2^nd and Wells surprisingly in 6^th. Pearson would then take a destructive path through Europe to Daegu, winning in Birmingham, Monaco and London – to head to Worlds undefeated and leading the world at 12.47.

Once in Daegu, Pearson was even more dominant, screaming a 12.36 semi before scorching the track in 12.28 in the final to become the 4^th fastest performer of all time – with Carruthers taking the silver and Harper the bronze, both setting PRs of 12.47. The season would end with Pearson winning in Zurich & Zagreb before falling in Brussels – Carruthers getting the Brussels win. And so to evaluate a season that was pretty easily laid out.

 

#1

Sally Pearson

Australia

Pearson was easily the best of the best – and my 2011 Women’s Athlete of the Year. She was undefeated through 10 straight meets – hitting a hurdle and falling being her only real flaw on an otherwise perfect season. She won the World Championships, became the 4^th fastest hurdler of all time, and completely dominated her competition.

 

#2

Danielle Carruthers

United States

Her season record looks a bit shabby at 4 – 9, but most of those losses came at the hands of Pearson. She shied away from no one and outran everyone else. She took World silver, set a PR of 12.47, and managed to win in Hengelo, New York and Brussels. Actually not too shabby at all.

 

#3

Dawn Harper

United States

Harper was 5 – 6 on the year with wins in Rome, Berlin and Newcastle. She was the bronze medalist, ran 12.47 and dominated all except Pearson and Carruthers.

 

#4

Kelli Wells

United States

Wells started out like a house a fire, and in any other season may have ended up as the top woman. But this event was HOT in 2011, so Wells ended up only 4 – 13 on the year. She did win in Doha, US Nationals, and Doha – and was second in Rome, Hengelo, New York, Monaco and Berlin. But she had some very low finishes and the fall in Daegu – where she didn’t finish in the final – doomed her to anything above a #4 ranking.

 

#5

Tiffany Porter

Great Britain

While it seemed like a four woman event, there were other women competing – and Porter was the best of the rest. She finished 4^th in Daegu, ran an NR 12.56, and finished 3^rd in New York, Monaco, Lausanne and London to earn her spot in the rankings.

Next up I’ll take a look at the long hurdle events.

2011 in Review – Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles

This was supposed to be one of those “super events” with the three fastest men in history going head to head for hurdle supremacy in 2011. And for a quick minute it seemed like that was going to be the case – but at the end of the day things weren‘t quite what we had anticipated.

David Oliver (USA) started things off hot once again running a WL 13.16 to open up his season on Apr 9^th. Then he went to Daegu to test things out at the Pre Worlds competition on May 12^th – the result a swift 13/24. Then three days later in Shanghai, we would get a peek at two of the Big Three, as Oliver and Liu Xiang (CHN) went head to head with Liu coming out the victor in 13.07 – a signal that he was indeed back in form.

Two weeks later, the third of the Big Three, Dayron Robles (CUB) would run his own 13.07 in Hengelo; then two days later he would win in Ostrava in 13.14 – and we looked like we were on course to one of those epic confrontations that we anticipate, but rarely get. But just a few days later in Eugene, Oliver and Liu went head to head once again, this time Oliver scorching 12.94 to Liu’s 13.00 – and things definitely seemed on the right track. But shortly after Pre, word came that Liu was again nursing injury – and he wouldn’t be seen on the track again until the Asian Championships in July.

Meanwhile Oliver would win the U.S. Championships in a fine 13.04 – and back in third place Jason Richardson (13.15) would both PR and seemingly begin to hit his stride. Dayron Robles would win in Lausanne (13.16) and Reims (13.09) to signal that he was indeed ready for the season. Then he and Oliver would go head to head on Paris – running to a virtual dead heat with Robles being declared the victor 13.09 to 13.09!

Then the final two big meets before Daegu – Stockholm & London – things would begin to change. In Stockholm, Oliver would go up against Nationals 3^rd placer Jason Richardson once again – except this time the tables would turn. While Oliver would hit the final five hurdles in the race, Richardson would run cleanly and score a near PR of 13.17 INTO a -2.3 mps headwind. Suddenly it appeared there might be another addition to the podium chase in Daegu. That was confirmed in London as Robles, Oliver and Richardson all toed the line in their final tune up for Worlds, with Robles (13.04) finishing just ahead of Richardson (13.08 PR) who once again finished in front of Oliver (13.19). And so they headed to Daegu.

In Daegu it looked like we were going to get even more than anticipated, as the Big Three had become a foursome with the addition of Richardson to the fray. Defending champion Ryan Brathwaite (BAH) was in town, but was eliminated in the heats (5^th place) as the Big Four all moved into position – the three fastest men in history, plus the young would be usurper. At the gun it was Robles and Richardson looking like mirror images of each other as they edged in front. Then mid-race Liu began his patented move, as it became clear that Oliver was not going to be in the hunt. With three hurdles to go it began to look like Liu was going to go by the leading pair when Robles and Liu hit arms, then again over hurdle 9 – this time with a force that clearly sent Liu backwards. As Liu stumbled backwards, Robles and Richardson headed to the line – Robles scoring a narrow 13.14 to 13.16 win, temporarily. After protest and a review of the video it was deemed that Robles impeded Liu and he was DQ’d – making Richardson the World Champion and moving Liu into silver medal position.

Liu would run no more. Robles, Richardson and Oliver would run again in Zurich – finishing in that order. They would meet once more in Zagreb, with the same result – and Robles getting his seasons best of 13.00. Then Robles would go on to run in the Pan Am Games, where he would win once more.

Now it’s time to sort it all out. And I will say that just as a review of the video in Daegu resulted in a change of the results, so has my review of the season. Because my #1 today is going to be different than the #1 I named when I put out my initial list of #1’s at the end of the season. I will explain why shortly.

 

#1

Dayron Robles

Cuba

Initially I looked at the Daegu race and said “but for Robles interference of Liu, Liu would have been World Champion – and Liu’s loss was not his fault”. I still feel that way – Liu was on his way to becoming World Champion. That aside, however, Robles had the better season! Robles was 12 – 2 on the year, clearly better than anyone else. He won in Hengelo, Ostrava, Lausanne, Paris, London and Zurich. And aside from Liu, he beat everyone, and did so multiple times. He did everything except win the World title – and he beat the man who did on every other occasion.

 

#2

Jason Richardson

United States

Richardson was 8 – 6 on the year, better than everyone else. At the end of the day,, he was the World Champion – and defeated Liu in their only matchup. He won Ponce and Stockholm, and was 2^nd in Reims, London, Zurich and Zagreb – beaten only by Robles.

 

#3

Liu Xiang

China

At the end of the day, Liu’s record was just too short to be ranked #1. He was great when he ran, but with only four meets he can rate no higher. But with a 2 – 1 record over Oliver he does elevate to this spot.

 

#4

David Oliver

United States

Oliver started out like a repeat of 2010. But an injury during the season slowed him enough that he just could get by the top three at the end of the year. Still, he was better than everyone else as 2^nd in Shanghai, Paris & Stockholm; and 3^rd in London, Zurich, and Zagreb attest to.

 

#5

Aries Merritt

United States

Merritt was clearly better than anyone not in that top four. He was next on the clock at 13.12. He finished behind them in every race but Daegu, (Andy Turner sneaking in for bronze there) as he finished 3^rd in Shanghai & Eugene; and 4^th in Paris, Stockholm, & London. Merritt was easily the best of the rest.

That’s my story and I’m stickin with it this time. It’s not often I go back and change my mind, but I had to this time, or I would have done an injustice to Robles’ season – and Richardson’s too. I was wrong initially, but I fixed it! Next I’ll take a look at the women’s 100 hurdles.

John Smith Reboots w/ Dix & Bailey!

The last time U.S. sprint fortunes were in the precarious position we are now was coming off the 1996 Olympics. Yes, Michael Johnson won the long sprint double – the 200 in WR time. But for four straight Majors (’92, ’93, ’95 & ’96), we had lost the men’s 100 meters – and Donovan Bailey (CAN) took possession of the WR with his ’96 win. In ’95 & ’96 we lost the 4x1 relay as well – botched handoff in ’95, poor personnel management in ’96. Sound familiar?

Early during that same time frame, Coach John Smith was nurturing quarter milers Steve Lewis, Danny Everett and Quincy Watts who won Olympic gold in ’88 (Lewis) & ’92 (Watts); a couple of bronze (Everett, ’88 & ’91); and a silver (Lewis ’92). But in the middle of the decade Smith rebooted, and started attracting pure sprinters.

He began with Jon Drummond in 1993 – and he lead off a WR 4x1 in Stuttgart. Then added Ato Boldon (TRI) in ‘95, who took bronze in Goteborg and that ’96 Olympic final. A year after Atlanta he added one Maurice Greene, who didn’t perform as well as expected in Goteborg in ’95 and missed the team entirely in ’96. The rest as they say “is history” – Greene going on to win 100 meter gold medals in ’97, ’99, ’00, and ’01 – and set a WR 9.79 in ’99. Like John Wayne leading the cavalry, John Smith and his sprint crew came in to bring U.S. sprinting back to a place of prominence in the world.

Well it’s starting to look like 1997 all over again, because we’ve lost the 100 in the last three Majors – and the 200 to boot. We’ve lost the WR in the 100 – and the 200 too. And we’ve lost the last three 4x1’s – all to poor baton work. And once again, it looks like John Wayne, make that John Smith, may be riding in to save the day – with a group that closely resembles that ’97 group.

I received confirmation from Coach Smith this afternoon that this year’s “reboot” will have Trinidadian Richard Thompson – silver medalist in the Beijing 100; and Americans, Walter Dix – this year’s double silver medalist in Daegu – and Ryan Bailey – the 6’ 4” National Jr. College Record holder in the 100 meters! Dix and Bailey both have great top end speed and finishes, but often give up much ground early race. As luck would have it, Smith is a pioneer of the “Drive Phase” – the starting technique that saw Jon Drummond blaze to the front of races time after time, and that allowed Maurice Greene to be right where he needed to be to execute his own tremendous top end drive home.

They will join a squad that already has Daegu gold medalists Carmelita Jeter (100) & Jason Richardson (110H), and 4^th placer Jaysuma Ndure (200). In September I asked what happened to U.S. sprint camps, well this has the potential to be the best ever!

If I sound excited, it’s because I am. Coach Smith has the history and the pedigree, and the new additions to his camp certainly have the potential. Now if only 2011 will mirror 1997. This is going to be an Olympic season to watch!

2011 in Review – Women’s 800 Meters

At the end of the day this became a very difficult event to rank, as Daegu results would not mirror the season in total. The year would get off to an extremely slow start taking us up to June and the Prefontaine Classic before we would see someone go under two minutes, as Kenia Sinclair (JAM) went crashing through at 1:58.29 – easily the world leader to that point. In the process she beat a sterling field that included Caster Semenya (SA), 1:58.88), Janeth Jekoskgei (KEN, 1:59.15), Alysia Montano (US, 1:59.40) and Yulia Rusanova (RUS, 1:59.59).

That WL would be short lived, as on the next DL stop in Oslo, Halima Haclaf (MOR) sprinted by Mariya Savinova (RUS) in the stretch to take a 1:58.27 to 1:58.44 victory with Semenya (1:58.61) also under 1:59 and another five runners under 2:00.

Then oddly the event went right back above the two minute line, as Paris and Birmingham would go above two minutes before Kenia Sinclair once again won under two in 1:58.21, with Montano (6^th, 2:00.69) and Semenya (8^th, 2:01.28) well back of the pace. Then with London the final race before Daegu, hometown girl Jenny Meadows (GBR) cranked out a 1:58.60 to beat Sinclair (1:59.16) to head to Worlds on a high note. Savinova was missing from Paris, Birmingham and London, but still headed to Daegu as the world leader off a sizzling 1:56.95 win at the Russian championships.

In the 2 + 2 qualifying of the World Champs semis, Jenny Meadows’ third place finish would leave her on the outside looking in, while Montano and Sinclair’s would earn them trips to the final. The final was dominated by Savinova, however, as she cruised to gold with Semenya, and Jepkoskgei also making the podium. Montano would barely lose out to Jepkoskgei, while Sinclair would only manage 7^th – and the difficulties with ranking this event began.

Just days after Worlds, Savinova would once again claim victory over Montano, Jepkosgei, Meadows and Semenya. Then Jepkosgei would take Semenya’s scalp in Berlin. And now I have to try and sort this all out.

 

#1

Mariya Savinova

Russia

The World Champion, had a 6 – 1 overall record with wins in Stockholm and Zurich to go with Daegu – her only loss being a 2^nd place run in Oslo. She was the world leader on the clock and defeated all the principles in the event.

 

#2

Caster Semenya

South Africa

On the surface it seemed like Semnya lost a lot. Looking at Semnya’s record it stood at 8 – 7 – indeed a lot of losses, but also a lot of wins. In spite of the losses Semenya was the silver medalist in Daegu and had a 3 – 2 record over my #3 – earning the #2 spot on the year.

 

#3

Kenia Sinclair

Jamaica

Here’s where it got really tricky,, because there was a lot of Ro Sham Bo going on in this event over the course of the season. In the end I chose to go with Sinclair here, because though she was only 7^th at Worlds she was 5 – 4 on the year (one of the few winning records) with wins in Melbourne, Kingston, Pre, and Stockholm – and a runner up in London. She chose the wrong time to not step up, because in spite of placing only 7^th in Daegu she still ran 1:58.66, but was the most consistent athlete all year long – thus gaining the #3 slot.

 

#4

Jenny Meadows

Great Britain

It was a similar situation for Meadows, who failed to make it out of her semi in Daegu – in spite of having the same placing as Montano and Sinclair. But like Sinclair she was a beast on the Circuit with wins in Shanghai, Hengelo, Birmingham and London, and a 2^nd in Stockholm in a 5 – 6 season.

 

#5

Janeth Jepkosgei

Kenya

The World Champs bronze medalist garners the 5^th spot here, mostly off the strength of her Daegu run. She was only 2 – 6 on the year, with her only major win in Berlin. But in a year where many athletes were up and down, and mostly down, performing at her best when it mattered, earns her the 5^th spot.

Next I think I’ll take a look at the hurdle events before moving up in distance.

2011 in Review – Men’s 800 Meters

Just as in 2010, David Rudisha (KEN) was the story of the 800 in 2011 – this time carrying the heavy mantle of WR holder. And, just as in 2010, the question on the table was whether or not Abubaker Kaki (SUD) would find a way to upset his rival.

Rudisha wasted no time putting the target squarely on his back as he went out during the Australian summer season and scorched a 1:43.88 WL in Melbourne on Mar 3^rd – a mark that only 5 men would get under the rest of the year! Another quick 1:44.80 in Sydney on Mar 19^th and we wouldn’t see Rudisha again until the end of June as he took some time off to nurse a slight injury – giving the rest of the contenders and opportunity to win some races and test themselves.

But with Rudisha on the sidelines, the first 800 of the Diamond League (Doha) went to miler Asbel Kiprop (KEN) in 1:44.74, before Khadevis Robinson’s (USA) Rome win over Mulaudzi (SA), Kiprop (KEN), Lalang (KEN) and Mutua (KEN) – albeit in a slowish 1:45.09. As May would come and go without anyone stepping up in Rudisha’s absence.

As the season turned to June however, Abubaker Kaki got untracked in Eugene with a 1:43.68 to take the WL – while taking the scalps of Robinson, Lalang and Symmonds (USA) among others – in his opening race of the season. His follow up in New York, saw him pull out only 150 meters into the race, however, with a bad hamstring – leaving a bit of uncertainty as to how his season was going to go. Meanwhile, after finishing only 8^th in that Prefontaine race behind Kaki, Nick Symmonds would return to Eugene for U.S. Nationals and turn 1:44.17 to get back into the hunt.

With the Circuit getting under way following the various national championships, Monaco became the site of the first truly fast race of the year as Rudisha (following a win at Kenyan Nationals) would blaze a new WL of 1:42.61, leading Kiprop (1:43.15), Symmonds (1:43.83) and Mutua (1:43.99) under 1:44 – and signaling that Rudisha was over his earlier physical issues. London would provide the final hot race of the year before the World Championships as Rudisha and Kaki would go head to head for the first time in 2011 – with Kaki also coming off a huge run in Monaco having run a 1500 PR of 3:31.76. Kaki stayed close but could not overcome the long striding Kenyan as Rudisha won yet again 1:42.91 to 1:43.13. And so it was that they would head to Daegu.

Daegu would once again pit Rudisha and Kaki head to head, with Symmonds and vet Yuriy Borzakovskiy (RUS, winner of his nationals in 1:43.99) expected to be in the mix. Rudisha made everyone else a non-factor however; as he went about adding World gold to the WR he set last year – winning in an easy 1:43.91 with Kaki just holding off the closing rush of Borzakovskiy 1:44.41 to 1:44.49.

That out of the way, Rudisha took a shot at a fast time zipping to a 1:41.33 in Rieti – the #5 time ever behind the last four WR runs! He then went to Brussels and won, before ending the season in Milan in his only loss of the year as young Mohamed Aman (ETH) – third in Rieti in 1:43.35 – turned the tables 1:43.50 to 1:43.57, ending Rudisha’s 26 race winning streak. The 17 year old Aman set a World Youth Record with his race in Rieti, and along with Kaki should be a nemesis of Rudisha’s for years to come.

Now, on to the rankings.

 

#1

David Rudisha

Kenya

No question here as Rudisha was a scant .07 away from perfection, going 10 – 1 on the season. He added World gold to his WR, defeated everyone in sight, and once again broke the 1:42 second barrier as he ran the #5 time ever. Not much else to say, simple Nuff Said.

 

#2

Abubaker Kaki

Sudan

Just as easy a choice for #2 as Kaki was 4 – 4 on the season – twice taking second to Rudisha and twice unable to finish. He was the World silver medalist, and beat everyone else of note head to head.

 

#3

Adam Kszczot

Poland

Here’s where it gets tough – and this is easily the toughest decision I’ve made so far in my rankings, but I’m going with the Daegu 6^th placer here. In a nutshell, he was better than everyone else below him aside from Daegu. He was second in Rieti – the fastest race of the year. He won in Hengelo, Bydgoszcz, Krakow and Stockholm – beating my #4 on three occasions for a 3 – 1 record. And only Rudisha, Kaki and Kiprop were faster on the season.

 

#4

Marcin Lewandowski

Poland

Another tough call, but at the end of the day I had to go with the 4^th placer from Daegu as he had the best season overall outside of Daegu –not counting those ahead of him. In addition to just missing the podium in Daegu, he was 2^nd in Lausanne, Birmingham & Bydgozcz, as well as 3^rd in Milan, 4^th in Brussels & Hengelo, and 5^th in Rieti in a long 12 meet season.

 

#5

Yuri Borzakovski

Russia

The bronze medalist in Daegu, Borzakovski only raced one other time outside of Russia in a 6 meet season. And while he did beat Lewandowski at Worlds, the Pole simply had the better overall season in spite of Borzo’s finishing one place ahead in Daegu.

Next the women’s event.

2011 in Review – Women’s 400 Meters

This was a very intriguing event, and one of the top stories in 2011, as it featured one half of the double sprint attempt of Allyson Felix (USA).

Nothing of note happened here in the spring, but once May hit everyone got busy. Felix started the month off blazing, opening up in Doha at 50.33 (May 6) before scorching 49.81 in Rome (May 26) to end the month. Both times she set world leads, beating Amantle Montsho (BOT) in Doha, then Monstsho, Richards Ross (USA) and Mc Corory (USA) in Rome – her Rome victory demonstrating her strength in the stretch.

Prefontaine would start the month of June, and would mark a change in fortune for both Montsho and Felix as Montsho would turn the tables winning over Felix and Richards Ross – this time Montsho showing strength in a race cursed by strong headwinds down the backstretch. Monstsho would go on to win in Oslo, before getting a huge PR win in Monaco, taking over the world lead from Felix with a storming 49.71 – Mc Corory also PRing behind her at 50.29 – in her final race before Daegu.

Meanwhile, defending World Champion Richards Ross was struggling with a season’s best of only 50.61 in a loss in Lausanne (to Montsho) before coming home in 51.11 in Birmingham – making a defense of her title appear very bleak. Then in her final tune up in London she hit on all cylinders clocking an SB 49.66 to take the London 400 – sending her to London, once again looking like she might have a shot at a repeat after all.

But while her 49.66 was faster than Montsho’s PR 49.71, it was not the world leader heading into Daegu as once again the Russians would turn fast times at their National Championships – this time Ana Kapachinskaya blitzing 49.35 to lead everyone in the run up to the World Championships.

Once in Daegu, everyone that should have been in the finals made it, though Richards Ross did so courtesy of being the final qualifier on time – not boding well for her chances in the final. That final was dominated by Montsho and Felix as both went sailing around the track with Felix a lane just inside of Montsho. Off the final bend they were clear of the field with Felix still just off Montsho’s shoulder. And that’s how they would finish as try as she might, Montsho would not let Felix go by as she held her off for gold by an eyelash 49.56 to 49.59 – PR’s for both athletes.

There would be no further races among the top women, which sends us to my top five for the season.

 

#1

Amantle Montsho

Botswana

Montsho started the season with two consecutive losses to Allyson Felix, but would lose no more in an 8 – 2 season. Her season included wins in Eugene, Oslo, Lausanne, Birmingham, Monaco and Brussels as she proved to be one of the few athletes in any discipline that would compete in nearly every major opportunity that was available. She avenged her earlier losses to Felix as they split 2 -2 with Montsho winning the biggie in Daegu. She finally got under the 50 second barrier and set a fine PR of 49.56 in what was easily the best season of her career.

 

#2

Allyson Felix

United States

Felix started off hot hitting 49.81 in only her second run of the year. But doubling over 200/400 proved to be a bit more difficult than she may have anticipated as it took her until Daegu to get back in stride for this event. She was 3 – 2 in the quarter, splitting her season with Montsho and defeating everyone else of note. Earning her #2 here.

 

#3

Ana Kapachinskaya

Russia

This was a tough choice, primarily because Kapachinskaya competed little away from home. But she did win in Berlin and Nice, was 2 – 0 against #4 and was the bronze medalist at Worlds – the record against my #4 being the key. She also had one of the few winning records at 5 – 2, though as previously stated had some home cooking baked in.

 

#4

Francena Mc Corory

United States

Fourth in Daegu, Mc Corory just gets edged out for the #3 spot here as well. She had a very solid season at 4 – 7 – solid because she competed in several of the events tougher events. Unfortunately, she was 0 – 2 against Kapachinskaya in Berlin and Daegu. So I just couldn’t give her the three spot. However, it was still an outstanding breakthrough season for Mc Corory.

 

#5

Novlene Williams Mills

Jamaica

After the top four it was slim pickings this year, as everyone else seemed to struggle through most of the season. In the end I chose Williams Mills. Eighth in Daegu and sixth in Lausanne, Williams Mills had a string of thirds in Birmingham, Monaco, and London, as well as a second in Brussels – at the end of the day better than all except those ahead of her.

Next either the 800 or short hurdles – I haven't decided yet.

The Conte Response

Last week I suggested that with the various accusations Victor Conte has thrown out over the years regarding the wide spread use drugs in the sport, perhaps he might be the best source to help develop a system that could fix the problem. And that if he were sincere in wanting to see a cleaner track and field, perhaps he should offer to work with the sport as opposed to criticize it from afar.

Well imagine my surprise when apparently Mr. Conte himself not only read what I wrote but took the time to post a response to it. So following is Mr. Conte’s response as posted on this site:

Hi Conway,
I have met with both USADA and WADA a number of times and provided both agencies with lots of information that could help to reduce the use of drugs in sport. However, I'm just not so sure there is a genuine interest in catching those using performance enhancing drugs. I told USDA to increase their out of competition testing during the fourth quarter of the year because that is when the athletes are using steroids and other PEDs in conjunction with weight training to build the explosive strength base that serves them throughout the next competitive season. However, in the fourth quarter of 2007 before the 2008 Olympic Games, USADA actually reduced the amount of testing done by 50%. Why? I met with Dick Pound from WADA in New York in December of 2007 and provided him with lots of valuable information. Specific information that was never followed up on, because the new chairman John Fahey said that he didn't want to accept information from a "convicted felon." In 2010 I worked again with WADA on another project in which I was trying to help them develop a test for another designer substance. I asked Dick to please obtain a copy of the extensive notes that were taken during our 2007 meeting to confirm what I had told them about this network of people back in 2007 when WADA chose not to use the information. He came back and told me that WADA had "destroyed the notes" from our meeting. So, I question whether or not there is actually a genuine interest by USADA and WADA to catch the many drug cheats out there in sport today. Much of what I hear the officials from these agencies say publicly seems to be more about propaganda designed to deter athletes from using drugs. However, the athletes, trainers and chemists involved in doping are not so easliy going to be deterred by strong talk. Scare tactics have obviously not worked in the past and I don't think they will work in the future either.There is simply too much incentive for the athletes and it is too easy to circumvent the anti-doping procedures in place at this time. In my opinion, the testing procedures need a complete overhaul before there will be a significant reduction in the use of drugs at the elite level of sport. I believe that it can be done, but these agencies will need to learn to judge less and listen more before significant positive change comes.

October 28, 2011 11:38 AM

Now, that’s a lot to digest, because it would appear that Conte has indeed made an attempt to do what I had suggested – work with the acronyms (USADA, WADA, et al) to improve the state of drug testing within the sport.

This, of course is just one side of the conversation, as there is no corroborating information from the USADA/WADA side that these things did indeed happen. Though I would certainly welcome comments from either agency regarding their interactions with Mr. Conte.

I do know, however, that this is a potentially great match for the sport – the pairing of one of the best doping minds the sport has seen with those entities entrusted with catching the very individuals that Conte once assisted! And just as I raised the question of sincerity with Conte, I have to do the same with the agencies whose job it is to bring down the cheaters, because I would think that whether you like Conte or not, obtaining his knowledge on doping would be a tremendous coup.

I also know that some of the things Conte mentioned in his response make sense. I myself have mentioned the need for increased out of competition testing to ensure proper development of “blood passports” to use with a Blood Testing program. As a matter of fact, I will be taking a look at the whole issue of testing and my suggestions to improve the sports’ standing on this matter in the very near future.

For now I would like to thank Mr. Conte for his comments, and would love to hear from USADA and/or WADA regarding their side of the Conte conversation.