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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Dysfunction Run Amuck
Part III: USOC Mandates and
A Question of Authority

Posted November 25th, 2008 at 4:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

This is the third article in a seven-part series titled “Dysfunction Run Amuck: USA Track & Field and the Need for Change”.
In case you missed them, make sure to go back and read part one & part two, as well. To view a publication timeline for the entire series, please scroll to the bottom of this article.

From 2003 to 2005, under pressure from the U.S. Congress to clean up its act, the scandal-ridden United States Olympic Committee (USOC) took a number of drastic steps to address its own dysfunction. Among other measures, USOC reduced its board of directors from 123 members to 11.

USA Track & Field CEO Doug Logan told Track & Field News (November, 2008), “the USOC itself went through a very uncomfortable internal restructuring process.” He added, “The Congress required USOC to modify the way they did things, and to restructure [itself] and to modernize into a body that can do the business of sports in the 21st century. They went through huge changes on the governance and management sides, and they have required other governing bodies to follow suit.”

Former USOC General Counsel and sports law expert Mark Muedeking contends that the USOC, “recognized that there needed to be reform and that USOC needed to lead the way … to franchise that reform to the national governing bodies that they regulated.”

But why was reform necessary?

Muedeking, now a partner at the global law firm DLA Piper, added that if money is being wasted, if there are ethics issues, or if there is mismanagement or dysfunction at the national governing body (NGB) for a particular sport, “Then it gives everyone in the Olympic movement a black eye.”
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TFS News Briefs: 10/27/07

Posted October 27th, 2007 at 2:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics, Drugs In Sports, TFS News Briefs, Trail / Ultra

Kenyan Steeplechaser Has Eye Marathon World Record
Boit Kipketer, a 35-year-old Kenyan who is one of just eight men to have finished a 3000m Steeplechase in under 8:00, now has eyes for Haile Gebrselassie’s marathon world-record time of 2:04:26. Read more at: [IAAF]

USOC Chair Ueberroth: Hayward Field Like Wrigley Field
United States Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth visited Eugene, OR, the location of next year’s U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, and made the storied Hayward Field his “first stop.” He compared Hayward Field to Wrigley Field, saying, “this community, with its heritage, with its magical facility, it’s kind of like Wrigley Field. That magical experience can provide a rebirth (and a) regeneration in track and field. I think it really is going to be wonderful.” Ueberroth also apologized to the whole world for Marion Jones’ actions, saying, “we damaged the Olympics. When you do something that hurts the organization, you better stand up and own up to it.” Read more at: [The Oregonian - OregonLive.com, OR]

Chariots of Fire, IRL
Sam Dobin, a 19-year-old economics student at Cambridge, has stolen a memorable scene from the movie Chariots of Fire and made it his own, in real life. You might recall the memorable scene in which Harold Abrahams, a central character in the movie, attempts to run all the way around Trinity College’s Great Court (pictured at right) before the clock finishes striking noon. Well, Dobin has done it, and he has done so in record time, and has been inspired to make a run at the 800m and 1500m runs in the 2012 Olympic Games. Read more at: [Daily Mail]
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TFS News Briefs: 10/21/07

Posted October 21st, 2007 at 12:23 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Olympics, Drugs In Sports, TFS News Briefs

Kinyanjui Runs 3-Minute PB in Beijing Marathon
Kenyan Nephat Kinyanjui bested his previous PB of 2:11:18 by over three minutes in winning the 2007 Bejing Marathon in 2:08:09. Nineteen-year-old Chen Rong won the women’s race in 2:27:05. Read more at: [IAAF]

Kalovics Defends 2006 Win with 2:28:17 Victory in Carpi Marathon
Hungarian Aniko Kalovics, even though she was slowed a bit by problems with her Achilles tendon and with tonsilitis still managed to win her 2nd Carpi Marathon in 2 years with a 2:28:17 win. Kenyan Noah Serem led the men with a PB 2:11:18. Read more at: [IAAF]

Oregon Men and Women Win Team Titles at Beaver Classic
The University of Oregon men’s cross-country team, the #1 ranked team in the nation according to the USTFCCCA poll, took the team title at the Beaver Classic with a near-perfect 16 points. The women Ducks also won the team title, scoring a perfect 15 points.
Read more at: [GoDucks.com]
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