Who to follow on #CleanSport. Let’s #MakeRioGreat
The corruption that is currently gripping the sport of Track & Field is nothing less than the terrorism of our sport. We have criminal and questionable leadership (Diack, Coe), inept governing bodies (IAAF), and entire nation states (Russia, Kenya) all working together to subvert the system and deny the efforts of those who train and race clean.
To top it off, our domestic governing body, the USATF, seems to feel more strongly about saving its own beleaguered position - and often encourages its athletes and members to keep quiet and reduce press coverage on charged issues.
First off, concern over appearances seems to have come and gone. Second, a governing body that doesn’t encourage its members to be vocal about important issues, and lacks the ability to conduct self-analysis and receive feedback, is not a governing body worthy of its position.
Fast forward to next summer. The Summer Olympics of 2016. In Rio, millions of people will tune in and billions of dollars will be made. Track & Field, as usual, will be the crown jewel of the games. These events will deliver huge, soaring, beautiful and inspirational MOMENTS. They will lift our collective consciousness to an over-arcing story of humanity and what’s possible through hard work and perseverance.
Unfortunately, some of these moments will be completely false.
Drug cheats will podium. And true talent will be pushed down.
A lifetime of work extinguished.
So what can we do in the face of what feels overwhelming and out of our control? Like talking to my kids, I tell them, a) we need to care – and take an interest in the stories, and b) we need to be vocal about the changes we’d like to see made real.
I’ve compiled a relatively short TWITTER LIST of notable people (athletes, journalists, orgs) who are vocal on the issue of #CleanSport. If nothing else, following these individuals, reading the links they tweet – to news articles, reports, events – helps me feel connected and up to date. (If you have nominations for notable people to add to the list, I’d love to grow it.)
From there, I want to be involved in the conversation. I want to ask that the governing bodies do their jobs to keep the sport clean, to catch and punish the cheats, and to make what we’ll all watch next summer is as close to truth as possible. To make the sport great. To make Rio great.
#CleanSport #MakeRioGreat
Thank you to Lauren Fleshman, Kara Goucher, and Sarah Lesko for helping me compile the Twitter list of clean sport advocates.