TFAA blasts USATF for canceling meeting

The battle between USA Track and Field (USATF) and the Track and Field Athletes Association (TFAA) that came to head last month in Albuquerque continues to rage, with the TFAA blasting USATF on Wednesday over a meeting between the two groups that was canceled by USATF earlier this month.

(In case you missed the controversies from Albuequerque, here’s a quick rundown of what occurred: In the women’s 3,000 meters, Gabriele Grunewald was controversially stripped of her title before having it reinstated a few days later. The USATF did not offer a satisfactory explanation as to why she was disqualified in the first place. Also, in the men’s 3,000 meters, Andrew Bumbalough was unfairly disqualified despite there being no video evidence that he made any infractions during his race.)

You should really read the TFAA’s statement in full, but excerpted below is a good summary of the organization’s grievances (emphasis TFAA’s):

"The lack of action is the most recent in a long-string of failures to engage in meaningful dialogue with the TFAA and the AAC.  We’ve identified a number of issues that would enhance the professional side of our sport: improved transparency in the processes for protests, greater visibility into the bid processes for national championship sites, revenue-sharing opportunities and more. We support USATF in their mission of driving “competitive excellence and popular engagement in our sport” and we recognize them in their role as a national governing body, but we do not agree with the tactic of shutting out THE ATHLETE VOICE.It is unacceptable for the collective voice of the athletes to be disrespected and dismissed."

If you want to contribute to the TFAA’s cause, share the article (linked below) on Twitter with the hashtag #USATFChange.

[Source: TFAA.org]