Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Too Much! And Too Little!

Too much what?


  • money being spent on the G8/G20 Summit
  • copy about the summits in the nespaper
  • whining about Canada
  • men making decisions about the Hockey hall of Fame

Too little/few?

  • women in the Hockey hall of Fame. Angela james and Cammi Granato are overdue in the hall. Let's hope that next time around, the suits will choose more women (and not call them a "subcategory") and pick the correct men. Dino C? What a joke.
  • sincerity in the apology to families of those killed in the Air India disaster 25 years ago, yes 25! Why did it take so long? The federal government is embarassingly partisan, operating only when it sees something to be gained, for itself. There is no acting on something because it is the right thing to do.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

A Controversial Decision

I don't know anyone who would support the use of performance-enhancing drugs, in sport or anywhere else.

But, has the punishment here exceeded the crime?

Should all the current players be penalized for the mistakes, poor judgement, possibly criminal activities of a few?

There are precedents. In the cases of medallist Olympians, the medals have been taken from whole relay teams. At least one of those and possibly two of those, are being challenged. If one relay team member cheats, should all the others of the team have to pay the price?

Consider, in the Waterloo, case, the incoming students who were recruited for football, who expect to play on the team (or at least be red-shirted) who now are without that team.

Consider too the support staff of the team: assistant coaches, therapists, sport psychologiests, trainers, etc who now do not have their team. Recognize that support staff usually are sport-specific; these people are trained in football.

The action of the AD is too severe for the mistakes. Too many people are paying the price. It is unfair, mostly to the athletes.

Not complicated to do more tests on more athletes next season. Costs money, but then, think of the lost money when the team doesn't participate. A few well-heeled alumni will keep their wallets closed.

Over-reaction by the AD.


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Doping Control Test results on University of Waterloo football team announced


(Waterloo, Ontario) – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), the University of Waterloo and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) held a media conference in Waterloo, ON, to announce the results of the doping control testing which was conducted on the University of Waterloo football team on March 31, 2010.
When the University of Waterloo was informed that one of their former football players (Nathan Zettler) was under investigation related to trafficking banned substances (human growth hormone and steroids), the university took immediate and unprecedented action by requesting that the CCES immediately test the entire Waterloo football team.
“The CCES would like to congratulate the University of Waterloo and its Athletic Director, Bob Copeland for taking such bold and decisive action – requesting that the entire team be tested,” said Paul Melia, CCES President and CEO. “CIS and its member institutions have always been strong leaders in the fight against doping in sport, they were the first to institute mandatory education for all of their student-athletes and they continue to work with us to try and create a stronger testing and education program.”
On March 31st, the CCES conducted or attempted to conduct a total of 82 sample collections on 62 University of Waterloo football players. Sixty one (61) of those sample collections were for urine and 20 were for blood. Some athletes provided both blood and urine samples. Blood testing is conducted in order to determine the presence of certain substances, for example human growth hormone (HGH). The CCES is still awaiting all of the final results of the blood tests.
From the 62 urine sample collections attempted, the CCES is managing a total of nine potential anti-doping rule violation cases which include: one asserted refusal; a total of four admissions of Use – two admissions occurred prior to the testing procedures and two admissions occurred at the time of sample collection; three adverse analytical findings; and one case is pending additional police investigation.
The CCES is committed to transparency and public disclosure, but will at all times ensure the rights of the athlete(s) to confidentiality and due process. CCES will only disclose an athlete’s name in the event the athlete has been asserted to have committed an anti-doping rule violation resulting in a sanction and has either signed a waiver accepting the consequences of the violation proposed by the CCES or, completed a hearing procedure that has resulted in an arbitrator’s decision to uphold the assertion and impose a sanction.
"Naturally we're very disappointed in the results of the tests, but from the beginning Waterloo initiated testing the team in the belief it was the right thing to do. We have worked with CIS and CCES and thank them for everything that's been done, and we look forward to moving ahead," said Bob Copeland, Director of Athletics, University of Waterloo.”
A first year linebacker, Jordan Meredith’s urine sample returned an adverse analytical finding for Tamoxifen, a prohibited substance according to the 2010 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor, which is commonly used by athletes as part of a post cycle treatment to combat the side effects of steroids. Mr. Meredith's urine sample only returned an adverse analytical finding for Tamoxifen.
In response to the CCES’ notification of the adverse analytical finding, Mr. Meredith waived his right to a hearing and acknowledged the commission of an anti-doping rule violation. Mr. Meredith has received a sanction of a two-year period of ineligibility.
Joe Surgenor, a 2nd year linebacker from Barrie, ON admitted to use of a steroid at the time of doping control. Mr. Surgenor has accepted a two (2) year sanction and waived his right to a hearing.
The CCES is also continuing to monitor the ongoing Waterloo Regional Police investigation into former University of Waterloo football player Nathan Zettler who has been charged with possession of steroids for the purpose of trafficking. As trafficking in prohibited substances is also an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, the matter is in the process of review and may result in a further assertion.
“This is the most significant doping issue in CIS history, and we’re taking it very seriously,” said CIS Chief Executive Officer, Marg McGregor. “This situation illustrates that the CIS doping control program needs to be strengthened to ensure a level playing field and protect the rights of the vast majority of student-athletes who respect the rules and complete clean.”
At the time of the Waterloo testing, the CCES conducted other doping control tests at the University of Guelph and McMaster University. There are no further adverse analytical findings to date from those schools tested – samples may be held for eight years and retroactively tested.
With the assistance of CIS and its member institutions who have provided athletes’ performance records and information on their home locations, the CCES has been conducting more unannounced home visits which have to date resulted in one potential anti-doping rule violation. More information cannot be provided at this time as the case is under review.
“I want to assure the Canadian public, that the CCES, the CIS and its member institutions, are taking this situation very seriously, said Mr. Melia. “We are applying all of the powers of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program including investigation, testing and education. We will continue to keep you informed as information becomes available either through media conferences or media releases.”
“If we are going to be effective in determining the extent to which this may be an issue in CIS football and possibly the sport of football, we will need the support of all of our partners in sport including the provincial and federal governments to work together to find the resources to investigate this situation, increase testing, and provide education earlier to our young athletes so that they don’t grow up believing that the answer to winning in sport is using performance enhancing drugs.” Mr. Melia concluded.
About the CCES
The CCES is an independent, national, non-profit organization. Our mission, to foster ethical sport for all Canadians, is carried out through research, promotion, education, detection and deterrence, as well as through programs and partnerships with other organizations.
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-two universities, 10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca.
About The University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle, is one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities. Waterloo is home to 30,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students who are dedicated to making the future better and brighter. Waterloo, known for the largest post- secondary co-operative education program in the world, supports enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. For more information about Waterloo, visit www.uwaterloo.ca.
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Monday, June 07, 2010

Why Host the Big Events?

$614,000 is not small change!!!

Hockey hall in works for Sask.

Canwest News Service June 7, 2010 2:09 AM

The Saskatchewan Hockey Associated received $614,000 from Hockey Canada as its share of the profits from the 2010 world junior championship in Saskatoon and Regina.
The SHA, which had its annual general meeting during the weekend in Regina, is using a portion of the money to create a post-secondary scholarship that will be available to graduating midget AAA players from Saskatchewan who stay in the province either by going straight to school or moving to the SJHL.
SHA general manager Kelly McClintock also hinted some of the money from the world juniors will be put toward the creation of a hall of fame in time for 2012, which is the 100th anniversary of hockey in Saskatchewan.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Why Humboldt?

Site selection for any big sporting event is a political decision. like it or not.

One has to wonder if the Kingston bid committee and those in the hockey "community" did enough on the political side. The franchise holder needs to know the people it might have to work with, the people behind the people, who has (either or both) influence and power. For a franchisse holder, this is a big deal. Those in the franchise must know the people, not just as they appear at the bid meetings, but over a period of time.

So, if Kingston might consider bidding again (and there's a lesson here for the Frontenacs and their interest in hosting the Memorial Cup), they need to keep involved in hockey at the national level, keep in touch with those who make the decisions in Hockey Canada. Show your interest in more than their treasures (these big events); be interested in the organization, get involved in it.

A second point that is a real negative for Kingston is its appalling air service. Don't be too quick to condem Humboldt......there is excellent air service to Saskatoon. It is frequent, it is from all over the country (and internationally) and there are at least 2 major airlines that serve the area. Humboldt is about 115K east of Saskatoo on what is esssentially a straight highway across the prairie (few if any annimals to cross the road, etc!!). It takes about one hour to get there from the Saskatoon airport. Frankly, a lot of those who go to the RBC Cup may stay in Saskatoon.

So...keep the politics going, and for heavens sake, let's get half-decent air service to Kingston! Just ask around the community if this isn't a BIG problem.

p.s. Surely no one thinks that when the site of the Olympics or Olympic Winter Games is chosen, that IOC members made their decision on the day of the formal bid presentation? Good. Most of them decided a long time ago!