I am tired of reading news releases about USATF hinding behind lawyers to itself and its reputation and to protect dirty athletes. Athletes that essentally took USATF money (in the form of cash, training facilities, medical staff, and testing services) to cheat their way into sports contracts. USATF has pr personnel/laywers that are paid out of your contributions and it goes to stuff like this instead of being put back into the sport. They do have grants for athletes that show promise at being the USA's best, but most of the athetes don't need really need the money because many of them have some support through other sponsorship. It keeps the money at the top of the running food chain and lets the others struggle. Compairng it to those highschool footlocker athletes that get all the attention, but come a few year into college you never hear of again. Yes, those at the top do deserve help, but the programs are mainly geared at keeping those individuals at the top, not creating new ones. The last thing i read was that USATF was to impose a lifetime ban for steriod use, that will only take effect if the IAAF will go along with it. Not likely. And what about other drugs that are easly gotten by vets and trips to Mexico. Just window-dressing and pr bull that tarnishes all USA track athletes. If someone does well out of hard work and sacrifice then the nay-sayers will say "that man/woman is doping, those USA people can get away with anything" F-ing Americans. I don't want to be apart of any organization that would gladly disqualify/suspend a foreign athlete, but adamanatly defend a USA athlete.
Money makes the world go round and sports are essentially an investment. It is all about money and selling tickets to USATF meets and TV sponsorship, so they try to keep the big names negative and running.
I think that a combined effort of athletes can make a difference. The only problem is that those who may have the loudest voices are those athletes at the top, and those who rely on USATF money. But they are a minority of those people who contribute and make up the financial structure of USATF. And it is all about money. Good publicity is the life-blood of a charity and USATF has already hurt itself, a little more by athletes could initiate a change.
Unless you are running in the Olympic Trials, voice your message, do not re-new your USATF membership this year.
Money makes the world go round and sports are essentially an investment. It is all about money and selling tickets to USATF meets and TV sponsorship, so they try to keep the big names negative and running.
I think that a combined effort of athletes can make a difference. The only problem is that those who may have the loudest voices are those athletes at the top, and those who rely on USATF money. But they are a minority of those people who contribute and make up the financial structure of USATF. And it is all about money. Good publicity is the life-blood of a charity and USATF has already hurt itself, a little more by athletes could initiate a change.
Unless you are running in the Olympic Trials, voice your message, do not re-new your USATF membership this year.
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