Bobby Bennett
Nitro Member
Chris,
I will respond to your comments but I will do so to reinforce my opinion without attacking you personally as you chose to do so with me. Nor do I hold any ill-will to you over a clear character assassination for feeling as strongly about your opinion as I did mine.
The piece in CompetitionPlus.com was not a news article; it was an opinion, which I am entitled to regardless of how much you believe I have failed to present adequate factual information.
I have re-read my commentary many times, and nowhere in the editorial did I say this situation was the result of anti-American sentiment from his fellow racers or the race fans of Europe. I really didn’t say it was FIA being anti-American.
I merely asked was this a case of anti-Americanism, arrogance, stupidity or all of the above.
I did get a few correspondences, “You seem to believe that as Americans you can do what you like. Look at your Athletes, repeated drug abuse amongst sprinters etc.”
But then, there were some really good ones of which pointed out the different reasons they felt I was incorrect in my opinion.
Was my editorial perfect and perfect in the way it was presented? No, it wasn't.
I will tell you that I did change one portion of my editorial and admit I made a mistake in the way I addressed something. I should have never said the FIA series was a joke, because this insinuated the European racers and fans are a less than serious and quality racers, which is clearly not the case. Anyone who has known me any amount of time, will tell you if I err on something, I will admit it publicly and this one statement, I misrepresented what I meant with my words.
If you wondered why I covered the FIA event, I did so because we cover drag racing, as we have all season long. My comments were never intended for the racers and race fans, that's why i continued business as usual. Until I saw your comments did I realize my words could have been construed that way.
Now, let’s get to the real heart of the matter and the way the TJ situation played out in the FIA’s court of rules enforcement. I am very much aware the FIA requires a license application, but in addition to this application, you can also submit an NHRA license which vouches for both your driving ability and medical fitness.
I am very much aware that FIA adheres to the WADA regulations.
Let me pose this question.
The FIA, which is very much aware of the NHRA’s unique policies, understands the United States sanctioning body doesn’t follow the WADA regulations.
With this said, why didn’t the FIA mandate Johnson submit to a new physical examination where, at the onset this terrible situation could have been avoided.
Instead, the actions of acceptance, whether intended or not, basically said the medical screening was acceptable.
Had this screening have turned up cocaine other non-prescribed substance in this situation, this would have been a non-issue. However, the Dexedrinbe in Johnson’s system was medically prescribed, and had been so since he was 18 for a condition diagnosed by a doctor.
This Therapeutic Use Exemption document can be argued until as we say in the States, the cows come home, but the fact is, he had filled one out under the NHRA sanction, just not under the FIA arena. This is where the problem is, when the FIA accepted the NHRA’s physical fitness certification, didn’t they accept the NHRA’s TUE?
The interesting thing about this form, is Johnson found out about it when he submitted to the FIA’s random drug screening when he offered his prescription and the doctor diagnosis. What we all should find out even more interesting is that Graham Light, the chairman of this ACCUS/FIA drag racing commission, found out too.
I only wrote my commentary after the FIA had an opportunity to do the right thing and realize their grayed area of the rules left room for confusion but they didn’t in the rules process. Though they acknowledged Johnson never used the drug in a performance enhancing capacity, they could have reduced the sentence fairly to a suspension as time served through the appeals process and a monetary fine. Instead, they offered a reduced sentence of more time which inevitably cost the Andersen team and TJ fans, not to mention a heartbroken TJ, a championship they had not only earned the right to challenge for but also deserved to continue racing for.
What we might never know is if FIA was willing to hand down a lesser punishment only to be strong-armed by WADA?
Furthermore, if we are to mention the Mike Strasburg case as rules enforcement to justify how the NHRA followed the case to the letter of the law, I would be more than happy to present the facts there too.
There’s no argument that Strasburg lollygagged when it came time to visiting the center within the prescribed 24 hour time period, but he DID present a sample. He just didn’t present TWO samples to fulfill the requirement within the 24 hour period, where at least 12 of those hours the facility is closed.
The NHRA, by the letter of the law, rightfully suspended Strasburg, pending an appeal to present his innocence.
However, when Strasburg, spending his own money, chose other forms of testing, which can’t be cheated to prove his innocence, the NHRA studied the evidence before them and let common sense prevail that he was not guilty of being a doper [which carries no offense for a first time positive test with rehab], he was just guilty of being slack in taking a timely urination.
Using this precedence, the FIA could have acknowledged the clear evidence before them and likewise reduced the sentence to a crime fitting of someone guilty of a paperwork violation and not a doper who intended to skirt the rules.
Whether I read the FIA/ACCUS' application or not, doesn’t mean the system isn’t flawed. Even if I read it 10,000 more times, it still won’t change the fact the system needs reworking.
As far as I am concerned, you can point out how wrong I am in my opinion. You can paint me as a racist and make the ludicrous accusation I hate the rest of the world and judge others by the color of the skin.
The bottom line, in my opinion, is this situation was handled poorly and no amount of rose colored glasses can make this clear.
I will respond to your comments but I will do so to reinforce my opinion without attacking you personally as you chose to do so with me. Nor do I hold any ill-will to you over a clear character assassination for feeling as strongly about your opinion as I did mine.
The piece in CompetitionPlus.com was not a news article; it was an opinion, which I am entitled to regardless of how much you believe I have failed to present adequate factual information.
I have re-read my commentary many times, and nowhere in the editorial did I say this situation was the result of anti-American sentiment from his fellow racers or the race fans of Europe. I really didn’t say it was FIA being anti-American.
I merely asked was this a case of anti-Americanism, arrogance, stupidity or all of the above.
I did get a few correspondences, “You seem to believe that as Americans you can do what you like. Look at your Athletes, repeated drug abuse amongst sprinters etc.”
But then, there were some really good ones of which pointed out the different reasons they felt I was incorrect in my opinion.
Was my editorial perfect and perfect in the way it was presented? No, it wasn't.
I will tell you that I did change one portion of my editorial and admit I made a mistake in the way I addressed something. I should have never said the FIA series was a joke, because this insinuated the European racers and fans are a less than serious and quality racers, which is clearly not the case. Anyone who has known me any amount of time, will tell you if I err on something, I will admit it publicly and this one statement, I misrepresented what I meant with my words.
If you wondered why I covered the FIA event, I did so because we cover drag racing, as we have all season long. My comments were never intended for the racers and race fans, that's why i continued business as usual. Until I saw your comments did I realize my words could have been construed that way.
Now, let’s get to the real heart of the matter and the way the TJ situation played out in the FIA’s court of rules enforcement. I am very much aware the FIA requires a license application, but in addition to this application, you can also submit an NHRA license which vouches for both your driving ability and medical fitness.
I am very much aware that FIA adheres to the WADA regulations.
Let me pose this question.
The FIA, which is very much aware of the NHRA’s unique policies, understands the United States sanctioning body doesn’t follow the WADA regulations.
With this said, why didn’t the FIA mandate Johnson submit to a new physical examination where, at the onset this terrible situation could have been avoided.
Instead, the actions of acceptance, whether intended or not, basically said the medical screening was acceptable.
Had this screening have turned up cocaine other non-prescribed substance in this situation, this would have been a non-issue. However, the Dexedrinbe in Johnson’s system was medically prescribed, and had been so since he was 18 for a condition diagnosed by a doctor.
This Therapeutic Use Exemption document can be argued until as we say in the States, the cows come home, but the fact is, he had filled one out under the NHRA sanction, just not under the FIA arena. This is where the problem is, when the FIA accepted the NHRA’s physical fitness certification, didn’t they accept the NHRA’s TUE?
The interesting thing about this form, is Johnson found out about it when he submitted to the FIA’s random drug screening when he offered his prescription and the doctor diagnosis. What we all should find out even more interesting is that Graham Light, the chairman of this ACCUS/FIA drag racing commission, found out too.
I only wrote my commentary after the FIA had an opportunity to do the right thing and realize their grayed area of the rules left room for confusion but they didn’t in the rules process. Though they acknowledged Johnson never used the drug in a performance enhancing capacity, they could have reduced the sentence fairly to a suspension as time served through the appeals process and a monetary fine. Instead, they offered a reduced sentence of more time which inevitably cost the Andersen team and TJ fans, not to mention a heartbroken TJ, a championship they had not only earned the right to challenge for but also deserved to continue racing for.
What we might never know is if FIA was willing to hand down a lesser punishment only to be strong-armed by WADA?
Furthermore, if we are to mention the Mike Strasburg case as rules enforcement to justify how the NHRA followed the case to the letter of the law, I would be more than happy to present the facts there too.
There’s no argument that Strasburg lollygagged when it came time to visiting the center within the prescribed 24 hour time period, but he DID present a sample. He just didn’t present TWO samples to fulfill the requirement within the 24 hour period, where at least 12 of those hours the facility is closed.
The NHRA, by the letter of the law, rightfully suspended Strasburg, pending an appeal to present his innocence.
However, when Strasburg, spending his own money, chose other forms of testing, which can’t be cheated to prove his innocence, the NHRA studied the evidence before them and let common sense prevail that he was not guilty of being a doper [which carries no offense for a first time positive test with rehab], he was just guilty of being slack in taking a timely urination.
Using this precedence, the FIA could have acknowledged the clear evidence before them and likewise reduced the sentence to a crime fitting of someone guilty of a paperwork violation and not a doper who intended to skirt the rules.
Whether I read the FIA/ACCUS' application or not, doesn’t mean the system isn’t flawed. Even if I read it 10,000 more times, it still won’t change the fact the system needs reworking.
As far as I am concerned, you can point out how wrong I am in my opinion. You can paint me as a racist and make the ludicrous accusation I hate the rest of the world and judge others by the color of the skin.
The bottom line, in my opinion, is this situation was handled poorly and no amount of rose colored glasses can make this clear.
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