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NCAA blogger Josh Centor posted the following October 10 on the Double-A Zone (http://www.doubleazone.com), the official blog of the NCAA.
Should Marion Jones’ relay teammates from the 2000 Olympic Games have to give up their medals because of her recently admitted steroid use? For some it may seem a harsh punishment for athletes who had nothing to do with the choices Jones made; for others, one ineligible athlete should signal immediate disqualification for the entire team. It is a contentious issue currently being discussed among representatives of the International Olympic Committee.
We all have conversations in our heads, so I figured I might as well make mine public, as I had an interesting one with myself about this very topic. For clarity, I will call one of the voices Bosh.
Josh: It really stinks that Marion Jones’ teammates might have to give up their medals. They spent their whole lives training for the Olympics and after achieving their dreams, may have to part with their success for the indiscretions of one? That’s just not fair.
Bosh: It may not be fair, but is there really a way around it? Jones was juiced up. If she had been clean, would the team still have won a medal? Her performance impacted the results; you can’t assume it would have happened without her.
Josh: But this is seven years ago. Does it really matter if her clean teammates part with their medals? What harm does it do to leave them as Olympic winners?
Bosh: It’s about the integrity of the event, the integrity of competition. Jones cheated, and by relation, her teammates cheated, too.
Josh: I don’t know if I can get there. Your words make sense, but it just doesn’t seem right. What if you were on the team? You had done everything asked of you, and done it right for years, and now something you had no control over ruins everything. How is that appropriate?
Bosh: I would be angry and disappointed, but cheating is cheating. If one member of a team isn’t eligible and competes, the entire team should be out.
Josh: This isn’t the only instance of forfeiting medals or victories. We’ve seen this at the college level, as teams have competed with ineligible players and had to vacate wins years later. I hate when that happens, too. Why should an innocent backup linebacker have to give up a bowl victory because of the indiscretions of another player?
Bosh: This isn’t a fun thing. Nobody smiles when it happens, but what other way is there to prevent it from happening in the future? Taking away medals or victories is harsh. Others may stay within the rules in order to make sure that doesn’t happen to them.
Josh: I don’t think we’re going to agree on this one. There has to be some compassion for the innocent.
Bosh: You were always a bit more sensitive than me, but I do understand where you’re coming from. There’s no doubt about it — it’s a tough situation.
Josh: Thanks for chatting it out.
Bosh: I’m always here.
Should Marion Jones’ relay teammates from the 2000 Olympic Games have to give up their medals because of her recently admitted steroid use? For some it may seem a harsh punishment for athletes who had nothing to do with the choices Jones made; for others, one ineligible athlete should signal immediate disqualification for the entire team. It is a contentious issue currently being discussed among representatives of the International Olympic Committee.
We all have conversations in our heads, so I figured I might as well make mine public, as I had an interesting one with myself about this very topic. For clarity, I will call one of the voices Bosh.
Josh: It really stinks that Marion Jones’ teammates might have to give up their medals. They spent their whole lives training for the Olympics and after achieving their dreams, may have to part with their success for the indiscretions of one? That’s just not fair.
Bosh: It may not be fair, but is there really a way around it? Jones was juiced up. If she had been clean, would the team still have won a medal? Her performance impacted the results; you can’t assume it would have happened without her.
Josh: But this is seven years ago. Does it really matter if her clean teammates part with their medals? What harm does it do to leave them as Olympic winners?
Bosh: It’s about the integrity of the event, the integrity of competition. Jones cheated, and by relation, her teammates cheated, too.
Josh: I don’t know if I can get there. Your words make sense, but it just doesn’t seem right. What if you were on the team? You had done everything asked of you, and done it right for years, and now something you had no control over ruins everything. How is that appropriate?
Bosh: I would be angry and disappointed, but cheating is cheating. If one member of a team isn’t eligible and competes, the entire team should be out.
Josh: This isn’t the only instance of forfeiting medals or victories. We’ve seen this at the college level, as teams have competed with ineligible players and had to vacate wins years later. I hate when that happens, too. Why should an innocent backup linebacker have to give up a bowl victory because of the indiscretions of another player?
Bosh: This isn’t a fun thing. Nobody smiles when it happens, but what other way is there to prevent it from happening in the future? Taking away medals or victories is harsh. Others may stay within the rules in order to make sure that doesn’t happen to them.
Josh: I don’t think we’re going to agree on this one. There has to be some compassion for the innocent.
Bosh: You were always a bit more sensitive than me, but I do understand where you’re coming from. There’s no doubt about it — it’s a tough situation.
Josh: Thanks for chatting it out.
Bosh: I’m always here.
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