Lane 9 News Archive: <i>Swimming World Magazine</i> Media Round Table: Jessica Hardy, NCAA Swimsuit Decision

Swimming World Magazine Media Round Table: Jessica Hardy, NCAA Swimsuit Decision -- July 29, 2008

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 29. WITH all the storylines surrounding the sport of swimming recently, Swimming World Magazine decided to arrange a special round table with representatives who cover the sport in various formats.

Erik Boal, who is a sports writer with the Los Angeles Daily News and is a special correspondent with the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, joined us along with Dan Albano, a sports reporter with the Orange County Register.

Additionally, we invited University of Pennsylvania assistant coach Chris DeSantis, who blogs at Floswimming, to participate in the discussion as well.

During the hour-long chat, we spoke about some of the issues in the Jessica Hardy case, while also discussing the NCAA's recent decision to potentially continue its ban on the use of the new high-tech swimsuits.

[Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine] Starting off our initial media round table, we can't ignore the elephant in the room. What are some of your thoughts on the Jessica Hardy situation? Let's start off with Erik.

[Erik Boal, Los Angeles Daily News] My initial thoughts are we have less than 10 days to the opening ceremonies and still no arbitration hearings have taken place, so in the remote scenario that she might be allowed to compete, the window of opportunity doesn't seem to be in her favor.

[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] As a reporter, like Erik, who has covered her since her days of setting a national high school record in the breaststroke at Long Beach Wilson High in Southern California, I was totally shocked by the news.

[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] It's shocking to me how unprepared USA Swimming was for this contingency. What if the other breaststrokers had also tested positive? Would we have a medley relay in Beijing? If they knew it would take this long for arbitration, why didn't they have a plan?

[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] While I understand doping is a tricky subject, I pretty much agree with Chris and what Jason Marsteller wrote in terms of the timing of trials. USA Swimming should have a better backup plan in place. The trials were too close to Olympic deadlines.

[Erik Boal, Los Angeles Daily News] Jason outlined it quite well in his story about USA Swimming being "between a rock and a hard place." Sure, it's been 20 years since Angel (Martino) Myers, but as fierce as USA Swimming is on the front of Anti-Doping, you have to expect the worst ... And, obviously, the reported fact that Jessica received the news on Monday, July 21, which was also the deadline for USA Swimming to finalize its roster, was the worst-case scenario for them. They even had two extra days, I believe, to submit the final roster to FINA.

I hope I'm not mistaken on that last fact, but there was a window of opportunity, albeit not for reasons they had envisioned, and proverbially speaking, they slammed that window on their fingers and left Tara Kirk and Lara Jackson on the outside.

[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] I totally agree. Tara and Lara got completely jobbed, and I might add that finishing third was basically the end of Tara's career.

[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] We still don't know how this story will end for Jessica. With the supplements angle out there, which the OC Register is still following, Jessica could emerge with an explanation. But, I do really see Tara and Lara as big-time victims already. And those are two big-time talents, too. Lara was awesome at Trials and Tara gets out-touched at the wall.

[Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine] Appreciate your thoughts on the Jessica Hardy situation all, but let's move to our second topic of the day. Word out of Indianapolis has the NCAA continuing its ban on the high-tech suits. What is your take on the move, Chris?

[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] Absolutely necessary. I say that despite the fact that I work at a school, University of Pennsylvania, that would have no trouble stomaching the cost of the suits and would be able to use them for a competitive advantage. But my alma mater, Colby College, would be left completely unable to field a team with these suits. They couldn't even fund the Fastskin suits when they first came out. I think it is a legitimate fear by coaches that athletic directors will look at the suit costs and decide that they cannot field a competitive team. Then, we will be looking at more cuts in the sport.

[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] The NCAA is wrong on this one. I think the apparel companies can meet the demand and the collegiate swim world needs to step up and get the deals done. If the college basketball teams can get shoe deals, why can't the swim teams get suit deals?

[Erik Boal, Los Angeles Daily News] I agree, in part, with both of my colleagues. Since they already decided to not allow the suits to be used for the past season, it doesn't surprise me that they made the decision to continue that stance for another year, whether it's for financial costs or otherwise.

But I think it's going to be impossible for them to ignore it past next season, and plus it gives the NCAA and its participating programs more time to devise ways to fund the cost of the suits, as well as prepares the governing body to create a whole new section of the swimming record book, since most all of the men's and women's records will likely be taken down in the first year or two of competition using the new suits.

But athletes like Rebecca Soni at USC, Christine Magnuson at Tennessee and Cesar Cielo at Auburn have all won NCAA titles without them, so it's not like athletes with remaining eligibility couldn't come back and win them again next year without the suit.

[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] Shoe deals in a sport like basketball that is one of the big three in the United States make complete sense. Also, realize that the cost of a basketball shoe is typically around $200, whereas, with the LZR, we are talking about $550 in a sport with way less money involved. Athletic directors will not approve extra funds for these suits, leaving teams to fundraise on their own. I realize that economic gaps already exist in funding for teams. This will only make it worse. I realize also that it will separate the NCAA from the rest of the swimming world. If manufacturers could greatly reduce the cost of the suits, then I think they could be allowed in.

[Dan Albano, Orange Country Register] If collegiate swimming really has turned into more of the minor leagues ala baseball -- a last stop before a professional career -- it's time for a sometimes ignored sport to think big. Yes, the suits need to come down in price, but college swimming needs to change with the times and give their athletes the best equipment available.

If you want to stay small time, act small time. College swimmers train hard and should be able to blast as many records as possible. Rewrite the record book? Sounds like some headlines and exposure, right? That would be great for collegiate swimming.

[Chris DeSantis, Floswimming] I think that the record book we are talking about is the short course yards book, which is increasingly irrelevant both internally and internationally. If the NCAA wants to go big time, let's have a long course NCAA Championship. Only problem is that a lot of teams would not have the facilities to train at that distance. College swimming is in trouble because of the way we as members of the sport have treated it - I don't deny that. I just think that we're getting ahead of ourselves if we put the suits in before teams can handle the costs.

[Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine] We really appreciate all the time you three have given to a fun conversation. We are looking forward to having more in the future. Thanks for joining this round table.

Check out the following links to read our panelists' latest articles on the world of swimming:

Erik Boal - Press-Telegram

Dan Albano - Orange County Register

Chris DeSantis - Floswimming

Premium Members - Search More About: Jessica Hardy

Reaction Time Comments

July 29, 2008 I starting to think that JH knowingly cheated. This story has stopped dead in the water, not a pun.

I hope I am wrong.
Submitted by: wek5000

July 29, 2008 wek5000 - It could have stopped moving along because no new news has come out and everyone is waiting to see what happens. How many different ways can people say 'tainted supplements' or '3rd party'. If you want something new, here's a link to an article about a new interview with her and her family: http://www2.presstelegram.com/ci_10028188
Submitted by: Ako

July 29, 2008 Thanks for the link to that article, Ako. For what it's worth, I am about as cynical as a person can be, but I really do believe that she didn't knowingly cheat. That being said, if it showed up in her drug test, she has to face the consequences. Its a harsh system but it has to be that way.
Submitted by: mjb

July 29, 2008 Let's see.....

Her step father is a lawyer (aka professional liar) and she's as clean as a whistle.

Hmmmmmm

Has anyone in the history of sport ever admitted using drugs when they are caught?

Marion Jones, Rafael Palmeiro, Lyle Alzado, Ben Johnson, Mark McGuire, etc. The list is endless.

Submitted by: WEK5000

July 29, 2008 OTrials should be held on the date that will produce the best results at the Olympic Games-period. If 4 weeks is that spot then so be it. Allowing time for appeals to a suspension should have nothing to do with setting the dates.
Submitted by: Rev

July 29, 2008 You're welcome mjb. I do understand why the system has to be the way it does. But it doesn't mean we have to judge her. It's hard enough already. And I'm still not convinced someone didn't do this to her. I've read a lot, and I don't think it's that 'out there' to think it could be a reasonable explanation. Unfortunately, proving something like that is a whole other ball game, and sadly for Jessica, it's not likely they'll have a way to gather evidence this much after the fact. My gut just keeps telling me someone is getting away with killing her dream and nobody can do anything about it. I may be in the minority about this one... but I really don't understand why the possibility isn't being explored more.
Submitted by: Ako

July 30, 2008 Ricardo Ricco admitted when he was caught.
Submitted by: run4yrlif

July 30, 2008 Ako - who has the motivation to intentionally taint her drug test? It would have to be someone who would benefit from her not making the team, therefore one of her main rivals in the 100 breast or either of the sprint freestyles - is it really plausible that someone connected with one of these other swimmers tried to go out and ruin someone else's life? This seems like a longshot at best, especially with the current set of facts where there isn't one piece of evidence suggesting sabotage.
Submitted by: FatDrew

July 30, 2008 How could there be evidence considering the lag time between the test and the results? Any evidence there may have been would be LONG gone by now. It doesn't mean it didn't happen... it would almost make it a perfect scenario for someone who wanted to do it (much smarter than taking drugs to cheat yourself would be). I'm just saying that given the strange results (neg-pos-neg, what the drug is, the timing of the results), it's not THAT out there to think that someone connected to a person who would benefit could have it in them to do this to her. I just keep thinking... "Is there someone out there who COULD have done this... someone that would have had the knowledge, access, and motive?" People do crazy things... this could be one of them.
Submitted by: Ako

August 1, 2008 Shame on you Ako! There IS evidence of hardy doping with the positive test. There is NO evidence of kirk or others sabotaging Hardy!!! I know you don't want to believe it but don't smear others to try to save her reputation!
Submitted by: waterwatch

August 1, 2008 Woah, I NEVER said a word about Kirk!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think she had anything to do with anything!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by: Ako

August 2, 2008 Loved the round table discussion Jason. Great idea!
Submitted by: Michelle

August 2, 2008 But instead of continuing to appeal (and therefore keep her name on her roster until she's exhausted her appeals process)she has withdrawn her name from the roster.

As a person who believes 100 that Jessica did not do this on purpose (maybe it was a bad decision to take suppliments if that's what caused the positive, but it was definitely not a calculated desision to cheat), I think that she's being incredibly selfless and handling this entire really awful situation with a lot more grace than almost anybody in her position ever would.

I'm proud of how she is representing the US (and herself) right now. She has definitely earned a lot of respect in my book.
Submitted by: Ako

August 4, 2008 Sadly, many of the arguments regarding money, long course vs. short course, doping, etc., are just a rehash of the same discussions held 20 years ago. It reminds me of the old joke about swimming: same four strokes, up and down the pool, not necessarily in the same order. Until the sport is readly to upend the status quo, these same discussions will go on for another 20 or more years.
Submitted by: pastprime

August 4, 2008 There is ONE common indirect factor between THIS female swimmer testing positive and another female swimmer testing positive in 1988. Both when Angel Myers tested positive in '88 (in sprint freestyles) and when Jessica Hardy tested positive in the sprint freestyles, Dara Torres was in those races.

I don't believe that Hardy intentionally took drugs, and am inclined to believe the supplement theory. But Myers did look huge at Trials that year.

I found it interesting that I haven't seen anyone bring that up.
Submitted by: Park528

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