tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.comments2024-03-18T00:44:03.742-07:00The Least ThingRoger Pielke, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04711007512915460627noreply@blogger.comBlogger281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-38175681775179277842018-01-10T14:56:25.729-08:002018-01-10T14:56:25.729-08:00I know that the Athletes Council is trying to get ...I know that the Athletes Council is trying to get more people to the meeting this year. They might not get all 20 (Heather O'Reilly has a game in London the next day), but I wouldn't be surprised to see 10 or more. <br /><br />I haven't been able to get a sense about whether the fear of reprisals is genuine or overblown. duresporthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00147767730295597150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-75117202961104615692018-01-10T14:48:56.032-08:002018-01-10T14:48:56.032-08:00Thanks, really excellent comments. Steve Bank alre...Thanks, really excellent comments. Steve Bank already caught the error in MLS players (there are not even 12 men on the Athlete's Council so not sure when that gremlin came from), and I clarified in an update. The action of course will be in the subset chosen to cast the 4 or 6 or ? ballots for the athletes. I'm venturing that half of these will be MLS guys. We shall see.<br /><br />This is a really interesting comment: "Many people haven't wanted to make their opinions public for fear of reprisals."<br /><br />I have no doubt it is true, but it is a really, really sad statement about the actual or at least expected behavior of (some in) USSF.<br /><br />Impossible to read the tea leaves, but I'm guessing Carter wins, not based on any inside info, just because the math appears so favorable to her candidacy if in fact Garber and Gulati are serving as vote whips.<br /><br />Thanks again.Roger Pielke, Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04711007512915460627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-57735154714710436782018-01-10T13:53:35.514-08:002018-01-10T13:53:35.514-08:00Certainly some issues to consider here, but also a...Certainly some issues to consider here, but also a few points to correct: <br /><br />1. The Athletes Council has only seven (not 12) players with MLS experience: Bocanegra, Ching, Guzan, Holden, John, O'Brien and Spector. Of those, only Ching spent more than half his career in MLS. John has spent the last 10 years in Europe; Spector just joined MLS after a long career in Europe. <br /><br />The rest of the Athletes' Council: <br /><br />10 former WNT players: Boxx, Holiday, Hucles, Lindsay, Markgraf, O'Reilly, Osborne, Rampone, Tarpley, Wagner <br /><br />2 Paralympians: Ahrens, Sibayan<br /><br />1 indoor / beach soccer player: Perera <br /><br />2. I'm not sure I agree that the USSF procedure is unnecessarily complicated. There are a lot of stakeholders here. The law requiring 20% representation for athletes is a necessary complication -- they could either try to get hundreds of athletes to show up as delegates so they won't be weighted as heavily or force the states to designate a small number of delegates, which wouldn't sit well. <br /><br />3. The bias against women is absolutely an issue, especially within the states (very few women involved there, which is also why only one woman (Evelyn Gill) has repped the Adult or Youth Council (or the At-Large spot) on the Board in its current incarnation. It's also an issue, as Paul Caligiuri has raised most pointedly, on the Pro Council. It's tough to make a case for more NASL representation, and NISA is not yet operational, but it's tough to defend the limited vote for the NWSL. (Which, to be clear, includes some owners who also own MLS clubs.) <br /><br />4. We've had some interesting debate about open vs. secret ballots. You make the case in favor of open ballots. The case against: Many people haven't wanted to make their opinions public for fear of reprisals. It's a dilemma. <br /><br />5. I will be surprised if Kathy Carter wins. The states have been uneasy for some time, and they have roughly 50% of the vote. The athletes -- again, not as beholden to MLS as one might think -- sound less likely to vote as a bloc, and I can report that there's certainly some discontent with the status quo there. (Also, we have several former athletes running -- athletes may be just as inclined to vote for a former teammate as they would for a past employer who no longer holds any sway over them.) duresporthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00147767730295597150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-23139098564429968772017-11-29T12:21:17.655-08:002017-11-29T12:21:17.655-08:00Is it possible to get the complete scores for USAT...Is it possible to get the complete scores for USATF?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15300414709733147320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-43409083939774513692017-11-07T09:30:31.547-08:002017-11-07T09:30:31.547-08:00Good read, thank you. Quick question: do all colle...Good read, thank you. Quick question: do all college soccer programs offer the maximum number of scholarships?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-23475786134896279482017-08-25T14:00:53.636-07:002017-08-25T14:00:53.636-07:00Thank you for sharing this Roger. In Norway, there...Thank you for sharing this Roger. In Norway, there is a concerted effort to show the athlete, and top level colleagues, as victims of the anti doping authority. The latest thing is how Contador got banned for having one percent of what Johaug was tested for.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15594491007625256772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-65536858070486228732017-08-24T05:43:09.599-07:002017-08-24T05:43:09.599-07:00Roger, if you want an even better example of the i...Roger, if you want an even better example of the inconsistencies and arbitrariness of CAS and if you haven't already, review it's findings in the Essendon Football Club case and compare them to the findings of the Australian Football Leagues' own anti doping committee. One followed the rule of law and evidentiary process, the other was CAS.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12347256797461584590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-63813109453592297212017-08-09T16:53:38.196-07:002017-08-09T16:53:38.196-07:00Thanks for the comment, I've fixed the typo. H...Thanks for the comment, I've fixed the typo. Here at TLT editorial duties are both shared and appreciated.<br /><br />Clearly there are circumstances where an athlete may need to be withdrawn from competition against their will for reasons of health and safety. There is thus a line to be drawn somewhere between Ebola and a runny nose. IAAF would do itself and its athletes a service by making the criteria upon which this line is drawn perfectly clear as well as the process for making such decisions, including rights of appeal. Athletes should probably be involved in the formalizing of such processes. I'd guess that many would trade off a risk of developing the runs a few days after competing in exchange for an opportunity of a lifetime. But we won't know until athletes are involved and there is sunshine on such decisions.Roger Pielke, Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04711007512915460627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-42552161023962139682017-08-09T16:28:51.174-07:002017-08-09T16:28:51.174-07:00Petty comment first: You could have got Dr Venning...Petty comment first: You could have got Dr Venning's name right.<br />Further, guidance in the UK, as you show, is that in the event of D&V an affected person should be isolated until symptom free for 48 hours. Doesn't matter if a schoolchild, doctor or cleaner, those are the guidelines that should be followed to prevent the infection spreading.<br />In this case you can't allow the athlete to compete within his 48 hour quarantine, he could potentially infect many other people, by direct & indirect contact and not just athletes. <br />I don't think you can discount a medical practitioner's history taking as "very little evidence" as its based on the patient's testimony. Neither can you describe national guidelines as "ambiguous criteria" when it is both evidence & practice based.<br />Makwala has not been the only athlete affected by D&V at these championships, nor the only one not to have competed. He is likely to be the only one the IAAF had to withdraw from an event because he was entered in two. If an infected athlete competed, there'll be a reason. Most likely they didn't disclose their illness history. <br />Communication does seem to have been a problem in this case, but as at least six Botswanan officials attended each meeting with IAAF medical staff, perhaps the problem lies with the team rather than the federation?AngryDigithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151197533612139192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-18111554885670828202017-07-09T01:32:20.273-07:002017-07-09T01:32:20.273-07:00I don’t agree that “WADA and IAAF are collaboratin...I don’t agree that “WADA and IAAF are collaborating together to convict of a doping offense [AS]”. <br />They already did it in the sport area (8 years). Now, we are in the civil area. Since doping is a criminal offense in Italy, the Italian police is investigating Alex. AS says he did not dope (now, he admitted it in 2012... and spoke about a lot of things and peoples). The Italian judge requested the ‘proof’, that is: the positive urine. Wada and iaff know that without the proof the civil law cannot convict AS. Even more, I feel that denying the DNA text is to deny a basic human right in justice: to be sure that it is the incriminated people’urine. If wada & iaff are sure that the urine is positive, and that it is the one and only of AS, what is their problem in giving it? The police will find Alex’DNA profile and they won, the case and in credibility… <br />In the e.mails they say that according to all the experts, it is impossible to say if it was an involuntary or voluntary assumption of the substance. For the sport laws, it is not necessary. The burden of the proof is with the athletes and AS did not explain how the prohibited substance entered his body (CAS sentence). But it is important in the criminal case. So, they write that will be very difficult to convict AS in the criminal case, and because of that the DNA text it is not even necessary… Are they really trying to help the Italian police to convict him, or what? <br />And why 3 autonomous entities (Iaff, wada and laboratory) are ‘complotting together’ and not autonomous anymore? Why wada is not preoccupied that all the correct procedures have been duly followed by the iaff personal (there is a lot of complaining in tha CAS award…) and that the urine is the correct one? Should be his job: to oversee… And why the laboratory obey iaff orders and not judge’s orders? ...If it is complying now, in what else they summon together? <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07822127655734613026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-8978631050633638842017-03-17T11:08:51.654-07:002017-03-17T11:08:51.654-07:00It is an interesting presentation. I believe this ...It is an interesting presentation. I believe this is more serious for some sports than others, though. For boxing, wrestling and MMA, unlike track, serious injuries can result from allowing "strong" females to compete. Comments?tarheelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09290212419307030086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-70917519190979662532016-11-02T08:11:00.033-07:002016-11-02T08:11:00.033-07:00As a college athlete I think this would be a very ...As a college athlete I think this would be a very interesting masters program, but my first question would be what jobs could come from a degree like this? It is definitely something I would have heavy interest, as well as most other athletes after playing sports for so many years of theirs lives. So many student athletes major in things that have nothing to do with their sport which almost always sets them back. Because while regular students can focus on their major and do extra activities along with their major, student athletes spend so much time investing in their sport. <br /><br />My biggest concern though as stated before would be what jobs would come from doing a masters in this field. Studenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12007407679110543947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-56850395334232485632016-10-17T12:41:04.912-07:002016-10-17T12:41:04.912-07:00TRUE SCIENTISTS WOULD FOLLOW THE TRAIL ALL THE WAY...TRUE SCIENTISTS WOULD FOLLOW THE TRAIL ALL THE WAY TO ELICIT THE TRUTH. WE HAVE FOUND THAT EXPERTS WILL FACE FACTS ONLY IN CONVERSATION BUT WILL NOT GIVE EVIDENCE BECAUSE THEY ARE PAID BY WADA. WHERE CAN WE GET HELP TO BRING THIS INJUSTICE INTO COURT?................BRENDONAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571394307293857409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-41754641407038110632016-10-14T01:49:07.197-07:002016-10-14T01:49:07.197-07:00Well done Roger. Steven is one hundred percent inn...Well done Roger. Steven is one hundred percent innocent. It beggers belief how WADA, through poor testing procedures, can self appoint themselves as judge and jury. They should not be allowed to get away with destroying the sporting career of an innocent man. The sports council of Ireland have remained silent on the matter also. Maybe they are scared of what is coming down the line. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09364311909280837378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-76893554385765020422016-09-28T09:34:22.065-07:002016-09-28T09:34:22.065-07:00With all due respect Professor Pielke, this is a f...With all due respect Professor Pielke, this is a false argument you are going to lose. The ‘intellectual and emotional truths in sport’ photographs you point to as evidence are quite simply public displays of political and social protest. They have nothing to do with athletic competition, other than the fact that many of them happen to have been televised. In other words, these types of public displays are seen in a multitude of public arenas and forums that have nothing whatsoever to do with sports. This is an unsuccessful attempt to juxtapose the ubiquitous nature of socio-political public demonstrations with sports competitions in hopes of knitting the two together. Well-intended, but it just doesn’t fly.<br /><br />That said, I am wholeheartedly in favor of applying academic rigor and awarding students with the appropriate degrees in any/all of the various management activities required for commercialized sports.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02911218345308925440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-38614850936882567512016-09-19T22:01:47.140-07:002016-09-19T22:01:47.140-07:00Is history repeating itself? I sense a new wave of...Is history repeating itself? I sense a new wave of protests and boycotts coming soon to a sports field near you.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.outsports.com/2016/9/13/12905930/byu-ncaa-north-carolina-gay-lgbt#394613169" rel="nofollow">BYU Protest - 2016</a><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11182895486115228990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-15026512095298290512016-06-14T10:59:12.516-07:002016-06-14T10:59:12.516-07:00Note: Post updated to remove reference to SAFA. Th...Note: Post updated to remove reference to SAFA. Thanks, @NextFIFApresRoger Pielke, Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04711007512915460627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-61733665704773083922016-06-10T07:03:12.118-07:002016-06-10T07:03:12.118-07:00There can be no defensible decision other than to ...There can be no defensible decision other than to ban Russia from Rio. Any hope of IAAF Council credibility will be shattered if they do otherwise.Kirk Maxeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11864529687578909475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-19741781460011769862016-06-02T15:07:46.803-07:002016-06-02T15:07:46.803-07:00far easier to bring in yes men so you don't ha...far easier to bring in yes men so you don't have to sit around debating policy all day...Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15580349973739747085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-18133720625863708732016-05-30T04:53:22.555-07:002016-05-30T04:53:22.555-07:00I corrected this piece to reflect that it was an i...I corrected this piece to reflect that it was an interview with the Times, not an op-ed, given by Dimeo. ThxRoger Pielke, Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04711007512915460627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-48299845732655025932016-05-20T01:34:59.064-07:002016-05-20T01:34:59.064-07:00Tragisk når politikk, dop og sport sauses sammen -...Tragisk når politikk, dop og sport sauses sammen - DDR var (og er) nok ikke enestående i denne sammenhengen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06163288564660582814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-78605913058968380062016-04-28T22:14:14.943-07:002016-04-28T22:14:14.943-07:00"Slightly above" from Mutko means "..."Slightly above" from Mutko means "well over" in reality.Misha Tavkhelidzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04573897630282658039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-80183275747845178672016-04-24T16:27:31.979-07:002016-04-24T16:27:31.979-07:00Someone needs to do a real analyses on the statist...Someone needs to do a real analyses on the statistics in doping and stop listening to WADA's inflated claims. WADA should have oversight and accountability. They're a loose cannon that has ruined the careers of innocent athletes (see finasteride). Enough of them already. Athletes should demand real science, not behind closed doors hunk science. Velo DChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466037080093558947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-13993368296516170262016-04-18T10:19:30.786-07:002016-04-18T10:19:30.786-07:00Question about meldonium and the questions raised ...Question about meldonium and the questions raised of WADA about the validity of the science behind adding it to the banned list. It was the Partnership of Clean Competition that funded the research project that was ultimately key in putting meldonium on that list in the first place. It seems a little odd that an organization dedicated to supporting quality anti-doping research could allow such flimsy evidence to be published. Where does the PCC stand in all of this? Should they be held accountable?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807806767960745481.post-20717876286446573862016-03-29T09:41:03.123-07:002016-03-29T09:41:03.123-07:00Scott, Thanks, I agree on all points.Scott, Thanks, I agree on all points.Roger Pielke, Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04711007512915460627noreply@blogger.com