Mary Decker Slaney

[Jeffreyw5000]

So, I was sitting with my teammate at Millrose, and we agreed that when Mary Decker Slaney was announced, we would boo her for her past as a convicted drug cheat. And thus, when she did, we booed, I booed very loudly. About 3 minutes afterward, someone sitting in front of me, turned around, and said "Mary is a friend of mine. I didn't appreciate that." I responded "She was convicted of steroid use", and he turned around and we didnt say anything else to eachother.
Thoughts? I think its disgusting that we still honor a drug cheat. Why not give Regina Jacobs and Justin Gatlin awards too??

[Tiocfaidh Ar La]

Not exactly steroid use, they didn't find a drug in her urine. It was an elevated T:E ratio which usually indicates steroid use. A technicality.

[CGBatch]

Yeah I didn't have time to boo people but I really wouldn't anyway. While I understand what she did I do not think that should be the she is remembered. She was a terrific runner (and don't say it was just the drugs) and that should be honored.

[kingcoe]

So, I was sitting with my teammate at Millrose, and we agreed that when Mary Decker Slaney was announced, we would boo her for her past as a convicted drug cheat. And thus, when she did, we booed, I booed very loudly. About 3 minutes afterward, someone sitting in front of me, turned around, and said "Mary is a friend of mine. I didn't appreciate that." I responded "She was convicted of steroid use", and he turned around and we didnt say anything else to eachother.
Thoughts? I think its disgusting that we still honor a drug cheat. Why not give Regina Jacobs and Justin Gatlin awards too??

While I agree that folks convicted of steroid abuse should not be honored (and I don't think we need to worry about Justin or Regina showing up for any awards any time soon) I think to lump Decker Slaney in with them isn't appropriate.

She failed a test at a point in her career when she not competitive and if I remember correctly it only implied steroid use it did not prove it.

Was she taking steroids at age 16 when she was running internationally for us? Was she taking steroids when she won two Golds for the USA in Helsinki at the inaugural World Championships over the Russians? She had a wonderful career with many bright moments and her test was long after her prime and if she was taking something I can't imagine why as she was not going to be competitive again. That being said, she failed a test so it is a taint on her resume to be sure.

But boo her? Seems a little silly. How about simply not standing or not clapping.

[the_youthful_cane]

I met her.

[Marrow2000]

Ridiculously childish.




So, I was sitting with my teammate at Millrose, and we agreed that when Mary Decker Slaney was announced, we would boo her for her past as a convicted drug cheat. And thus, when she did, we booed, I booed very loudly. About 3 minutes afterward, someone sitting in front of me, turned around, and said "Mary is a friend of mine. I didn't appreciate that." I responded "She was convicted of steroid use", and he turned around and we didnt say anything else to eachother.
Thoughts? I think its disgusting that we still honor a drug cheat. Why not give Regina Jacobs and Justin Gatlin awards too??

[Joe Lanzalotto]

While I agree that folks convicted of steroid abuse should not be honored (and I don't think we need to worry about Justin or Regina showing up for any awards any time soon) I think to lump Decker Slaney in with them isn't appropriate.

She failed a test at a point in her career when she not competitive and if I remember correctly it only implied steroid use it did not prove it.

Was she taking steroids at age 16 when she was running internationally for us? Was she taking steroids when she won two Golds for the USA in Helsinki at the inaugural World Championships over the Russians? She had a wonderful career with many bright moments and her test was long after her prime and if she was taking something I can't imagine why as she was not going to be competitive again. That being said, she failed a test so it is a taint on her resume to be sure.

But boo her? Seems a little silly. How about simply not standing or not clapping.

100% agree and the statement that was made by the original poster than she was "convicted" was 100% incorrect. The woman was running internationally at 14 when the only ones taking (the crudest) steroids were in eastern Eurpoe and largely weight people and sprinters. To boo her for a failed test that proved little and occurred 10 years after she began competing at the elite level is just not justified.

[GeorgieTheK]

The woman was running internationally at 14 when the only ones taking (the crudest) steroids were in eastern Eurpoe and largely weight people and sprinters.


I agree with your thoughts on Slaney, but this simply isn't true. Others - including Americans, were using PEDs, and had been. And it wasn't just weight people or sprinters, distance runners did illegal stuff too.

The difference between eastern Europeans and the western doping is that the former was state sanctioned and systematic while the later was not - largely individual. While I agree that is a significant difference, it's not the case that there were a bunch of crooked communists vs. clean westerners.

[Samurai_Runner]

Rude, disrespectful behavior and uninformed conclusions. Know the facts before condemning someone. She is in the Track & Field Hall of Fame and deserved and earned that honor.

[sjm1368]

Don't be so harsh on the original poster. You can disagree with the booing and all, but those of you who are saying 'know the facts' should take some of your own advice.

She FAILED an accepted drug test. The doping law states that if someone fails the test that is used, then they have a positive drug test and are banned. Is the test unfair? I don't know enough about it, except that the test is still used today, so she must not have changed anything.

In fact, she failed the same test that Floyd Landis failed. It lost Floyd the Tour de France. I sure hope you guys defending her didn't villify Landis (who I think is a dirty cheat by the way...).

and at a point when she was less than competitive? She got stripped of a silver medal in the world indoor championships because of the test. I'd say that's pretty darn competitive!


Sorry, but I can definately see where the first poster was coming from.

Just my opinion, but she probably doesn't deserve to be in the track HOF or be rewarded.

It's similar to Regina Jacobs in a way. She didn't get busted until way late in her career. Surely she didn't use when she was a stud when she was little? Well it doesn't matter. She used, made a mistake and has to suffer the consequences. It's also like arguing that Barry Bonds should get into the baseball HOF because he was a HOF player before he used drugs. Well who cares, he chose to use drugs.

[Joe Lanzalotto]

I agree with your thoughts on Slaney, but this simply isn't true. Others - including Americans, were using PEDs, and had been. And it wasn't just weight people or sprinters, distance runners did illegal stuff too.

The difference between eastern Europeans and the western doping is that the former was state sanctioned and systematic while the later was not - largely individual. While I agree that is a significant difference, it's not the case that there were a bunch of crooked communists vs. clean westerners.

I've never seen any proof and few, if any allegations about distance runners way back then. Where's the proof or at least an article or two that alledges drug use amongst distance runners back in the 60s and early 70s? Since we know the eastern Europeans had a "successful" program back then, why weren't they dominating distance running? The first real instance of this stuff I recall is about the '76 Olympic marathon when Shorter felt he got cheated.

[Kniteryder]

Not exactly steroid use, they didn't find a drug in her urine. It was an elevated T:E ratio which usually indicates steroid use. A technicality.

Same thing Gatlin was positive for, contrary to the belief that he tested for a steroid, fyi. Just adding that info.

[Jeffreyw5000]

Don't be so harsh on the original poster. You can disagree with the booing and all, but those of you who are saying 'know the facts' should take some of your own advice.

She FAILED an accepted drug test. The doping law states that if someone fails the test that is used, then they have a positive drug test and are banned. Is the test unfair? I don't know enough about it, except that the test is still used today, so she must not have changed anything.

In fact, she failed the same test that Floyd Landis failed. It lost Floyd the Tour de France. I sure hope you guys defending her didn't villify Landis (who I think is a dirty cheat by the way...).

and at a point when she was less than competitive? She got stripped of a silver medal in the world indoor championships because of the test. I'd say that's pretty darn competitive!


Sorry, but I can definately see where the first poster was coming from.

Just my opinion, but she probably doesn't deserve to be in the track HOF or be rewarded.

It's similar to Regina Jacobs in a way. She didn't get busted until way late in her career. Surely she didn't use when she was a stud when she was little? Well it doesn't matter. She used, made a mistake and has to suffer the consequences. It's also like arguing that Barry Bonds should get into the baseball HOF because he was a HOF player before he used drugs. Well who cares, he chose to use drugs.



Thanks man. I just wanted to defend myself here. In my mind, it doesn't matter when in her career she cheated, but instead that she did in fact use steroids. If you're going to have that attitude, then we should be showering praise and heaping awards and recognition on Justin Gatlin "before" he tested positive. I don't care that she may have done it because she was old and her career was winding down. Once a drug cheat, ALWAYS a drug cheat. It is hypocritcal to praise this woman for her achievements while advocating a zero-tolerance policy. She deserves no exemption because of her age, or when she decided it would be a good idea to cheat. This is why I did what I did. Again, you may be right that it wasn't necessarily the most mature, well-planned way of expressing myself, but I want it known that not only do I not support convicted drug cheats, but I also call them out and condemn them for their actions. It's sickening that her cheating is almost an afterthought in the press and it is unacceptable that it has been glossed over and overlooked. Why should people turn a blind eye on this? If we're going to work toward creating a clean sport, we cannot allow these cheaters to go unpunished.

[MJKruns]

Thanks man. I just wanted to defend myself here. In my mind, it doesn't matter when in her career she cheated, but instead that she did in fact use steroids. If you're going to have that attitude, then we should be showering praise and heaping awards and recognition on Justin Gatlin "before" he tested positive. I don't care that she may have done it because she was old and her career was winding down. Once a drug cheat, ALWAYS a drug cheat. It is hypocritcal to praise this woman for her achievements while advocating a zero-tolerance policy. She deserves no exemption because of her age, or when she decided it would be a good idea to cheat. This is why I did what I did. Again, you may be right that it wasn't necessarily the most mature, well-planned way of expressing myself, but I want it known that not only do I not support convicted drug cheats, but I also call them out and condemn them for their actions. It's sickening that her cheating is almost an afterthought in the press and it is unacceptable that it has been glossed over and overlooked. Why should people turn a blind eye on this? If we're going to work toward creating a clean sport, we cannot allow these cheaters to go unpunished.

I see your actions as similiar to the time Jim Gray asked Pete Rose about his betting on baseball at the all star game a few years ago. It just wasn't the time nor the place to do so. Shows a real lack of class

[sjm1368]

I've never seen any proof and few, if any allegations about distance runners way back then. Where's the proof or at least an article or two that alledges drug use amongst distance runners back in the 60s and early 70s? Since we know the eastern Europeans had a "successful" program back then, why weren't they dominating distance running? The first real instance of this stuff I recall is about the '76 Olympic marathon when Shorter felt he got cheated.

You don't hear much about it because it happened so long ago and it was not technically illegal either. So it's more of a hush-hush attitude towards it. Similar to drug use in baseball. It's been there for a while, but we don't look back in the past to see how long.


Well the east german doping is well documented, as is the USSR drug use. You have to remember that our knowledge of how to use such drugs or blood dope was limited at the time. No one knew the exact physiological mechanisms behind them. Thus timing of use and how much was only learned through trial and error. If you look at their female distance runners during that era, they pretty much dominated. Why? Because a general steroid would be more effective for women b/c of the low testosterone. Using drugs for women was easier to master through trial and error. For example, look at the 3k and 1500 lists for women in the late 60's-early 70s. They are dominated by Russians.

Anyways, I'll give an example of how drug use of that era is ignored. It was well documented that the german/soviet throwers used drugs. Well, the americans were falling behind big time. So, since it wasn't illegal, the americans started taking drugs. Everyone knew it. In fact, they brought doctors in to the national throwing camps to explain how to properly administer the drugs to lesson the danger. They figured, the athletes were already going to do it, so why not try and make it a little safer.

You never hear about that stuff. As a side note, I always got a kick out of that scene in one of the Prefontaine movers where they come back from Munich and Pre says something like "kjesus what got into the thrower. He's throwing like crazy". and bowerman replies, "ever since he got back from the olympics he'[s been a new man." The truth is probably that steroids got into the thrower... always got a kick out of that.

[Joe Lanzalotto]

Convicting people on "probablys" and going back to when they were 14 years old on a retrospective basis with no proof is dangerous stuff.

[run_nyc]

I see your actions as similiar to the time Jim Gray asked Pete Rose about his betting on baseball at the all star game a few years ago. It just wasn't the time nor the place to do so. Shows a real lack of class

a lack of class? She was being honored for achievements, at least a few of which happened while she was on steroids. Even if you don't agree with what he did, how is it a fault of the original poster for verbally objecting to a convicted steroid user getting an ovation?

[MJKruns]

a lack of class? She was being honored for achievements, at least a few of which happened while she was on steroids. Even if you don't agree with what he did, how is it a fault of the original poster for verbally objecting to a convicted steroid user getting an ovation?

How? Like I said there is a time and place for such things. Mary was not the only one being honored that night and to boo any honoree when others are also being honored is not the time to voice such objections. It takes away from the honor bestowed upon all being honored that night. It taints the whole ceremony.

[Brumund-Smith]

I see your actions as similiar to the time Jim Gray asked Pete Rose about his betting on baseball at the all star game a few years ago. It just wasn't the time nor the place to do so. Shows a real lack of class

EXCELLENT POINT! Oh, and Jeffreyw5000, there is a difference between not praising somebody and booing them. You could have just kept your mouth shut. You know, a little silent protest. I'm not saying I haven't ever booed anybody, but I sure as heck haven't done it at a track meet.

[Jeffreyw5000]

They did about a 5 second tribute for each athlete, and I obviously cheered everyone else, considering I'm a big track fan, and I LOVE Coghlan and O'Sullivan. Silent protest was an option, I donno, maybe I just feel stronger about the issue than you guys, I just can't imagine people honoring a convicted drug cheat!

[Joe Lanzalotto]

Life is not black and white. There is a LOT of gray. I'm NOT condoning drug use but I am not going to condemn an antire 20+ year career just because she did something wrong at the end of it while she was desperate to hang on. Everyone deserves a second chance. Almost everyone, anyway.

It's your opinion and that's fine; this is mine and it doesn't mean I am any easier on drug cheats than anyone else.

[mzungu]

when slaney married the british(?) weight thrower, who I believe had a positive test himself (slaney?), that was the era you'd suspect the drugs came in, and considering that she was beating eastern european women sometimes who were documented as drugged beyond belief, and considering that she did test positive for an indicator of steroids later on, it wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that she was on roids from, say, 83 or 84.

[mzungu]

Following a heartbreaking Olympics in 1984, the now Mary Slaney persevered in 1985, establishing a world record in the mile and setting five American records, thus becoming the first athlete to hold every American record from 800 meters to 10,000 meters; a range of excellence unparalleled in the history of track and field. She culminated her undefeated season by capturing the IAAF Grand Prix as the top female athlete in the world.

Records:

1974 Held three World Records
1,000-meters: 2:26.7
880-yards: 2:02.4
800-meters: 2:01.8

1977 1977 Broke her own 1,000-yard record in 2:23.8
1980 Set four World Records
Mile: 4:21.7
Indoor: 4:17.
1500-meters: 4:00.8 (Indoor)
880-yards: 1:59.7

Set American record of 8:38.73 for the 3,000-meters in her first attempt at that distance

Held world records of 2:26.7 for 1,000-meters, 2:02.4 for 880-yards, and 2:01.8 for 800-meters


1982 Set of six World Records
Mile (2 WR)
2,000-meters
3,000-meters
5,000-meters
10,000-meters
1983 Double World Champion in the 1,500-meters & 3,000-meters
1985 Set two World Records
Indoor 2,000-meters: 5:34.2
Outdoor mile: 4:16.7

The only American runner, man or women to hold all American records from 800 to 10,000-meters at the same time

Over a career unmatched by any other runner anywhere: 36 National records and 17 World records

Continues to hold U.S. records for 800-meters, 1,500-meters, 1-mile, 2,000-meters and 3,000-meters

Notable Achievements:

Won international attention in 1973 at the age of 14 with a surprise victory in the 800-meter at a U.S.-U.S.S.R. dual meet

Physical challenges kept her from running competitively for three years, beginning in 1974

Member of 4 Olympic teams

Still training with intentions of competing in the Marathon

Awards and Honors:

Recipient of the Sullivan Award in 1982

Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year in 1983

Named as Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year in 1983

Recipient of the Prefontaine Award

Cover of major magazines: Life, Newsweek,
and Sports Illustrated 4 times