News
A note to everyone who’s wondering what’s going on.
Greg told me Thursday morning that he had read in the Mercury News online that Jessica Hardy, one of the girls who finished ahead of me at Trials, had tested positive for a banned substance. The media was also reporting that the roster for the Olympic Team had already been finalized and that I could not be added to the team.
I had and still have many questions pertaining to the timeline of events and the results of these tests. I feel certain that someone along the way failed me and Lara, who would have been named to the team in the 50 free. The results of the drug test should have come back earlier, at least in time to name alternates to the team. It has, after all, been three weeks since the tests were taken. Did they come back earlier? If so, why am I just hearing about it by reading the newspaper and why am I not on the team? If not, why did they take so long?
I emailed USA swimming but did not get a response over the day.
In the evening I called Lea, my coach, who was trying to figure out exactly what had happened. It seemed that people were simply saying the deadline had passed and that we had to move on. That answer was not good enough for either of us. It is not acceptable to us that the dreams and work of four hard years be shrugged off on a technicality.
I called the head of USA swimming and left a message. He called me back and said that they were following entry procedures and that it was too late to add me to the team and that Jessica would be going through appeals for her drug test. I asked him to make an appeal to change the final roster and, after a long and emotional plea, he agreed.
That is where I am at right now. Before today I had thought that responsibility for me not making the team rested on my shoulders. If I had just swum to my abilities I would have made the team. It was a difficult situation but one in which I could only look within for answers. Today the situation seems much more gray. The fault now lies on many shoulders and I fear that incompetence, laziness and deceit may have played a role. That is much harder to take. Regardless of intent, mistakes were made and I am paying for them.
People I trusted to do their jobs and to ensure the working order of the system we put in place for our sport failed me. I hope that I am not being unreasonable in my analysis of the situation. But I just cannot stand the thought of these organizations, which are supposed to protect me, sitting on their hands while my dreams are being ripped away. I cannot go quietly away in this; I’ve worked too hard. I hope that you support me.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:43 am
100% support Tara. Good Luck!
July 25th, 2008 at 9:04 am
You’re not being unreasonable at all, Tara. I fully support you and hope that you will be added to the team.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:14 am
If there is a spot available, it should be yours Tara. Good luck. As soon as I heard this on Wednesday, I sent out a little prayer for you.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:45 am
You have EVERY right to be livid over this. I don’t think the culprit here is JH necessarily, its not like her times were super improved at trials and its even more mind-boggling that the positive test came after her best event. However, all organizations (USA Swimming, Advocare, etc) have dropped the ball royally and for that that you should not have to pay. You finished ahead of JH at worlds last year in the 100, and countless times you have come through for the US. Many people I have talked to have said their hearts go out to you and Lara, and honestly, a whole lot of people might be looking at some hefty lawsuits very soon. Good luck.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Tara, you are not being unreasonable. I think you (and Lara) have been made victims of a system that should be supporting you. The naming of the team should have been subject to passing all drug tests. USA Swimming shoud have ensured there was adequate time for the tests to come back BEFORE the team was finalized. They know how long these things take - they should have moved Trials back one week if the July 21 date was necessary.
When this situation broke, I too thought of you. Please know there are alot of people out there supporting you.
Good Luck.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Obviously for many reasons this is a travesty. Concerning you Tara, our hearts are with you and Lara.
Should a petition be started? I’m sure many in the online community (and others) would support you absolutely.
The powers that be need to know that everyone needs to be held accountable for their actions and that MANY do not approve of how decisions/events were handled after the positive result(s) in JH’s tests were brought to light.
I read that Jessica was informed on Jul 21st, the same day as the deadline for adding new athletes? Don’t know if that is accurate but if so…
Anyway, Tara, we feel for you in the whole rollercoaster of emotions that you must be going through since trials, the ride which doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon. Hang in there. We’re behind you.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I think you will find a great many that support your position and do not think you are being unreasonable. There should be some way to allow you to be on the team. Why it took so long for the results to be revealed is beyond anyone’s comprehension and I hope you do get to swim in Bejing.
Good luck.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I felt SO bad for both you as a veteran and Lara after this came up! USA Swimming needs to work for its swimmers to get these tests back sooner! I have been behind you 100% of the way, even before Trials! Good luck in everything!
July 25th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Tara, I agree 100% and you are not being unreasonable. I and many others in the community support you in this and hope it works out in your favor.
July 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Tara, I also thought immediately of you when I read the news, and I was appalled that USA swimming was taking the position that nothing could be done. I understand they have selection procedures in place, but if they are going to do drug testing to make sure that all swimmers are eligible to compete, then they should make sure that the results are analyzed in time to rectify situations such as this. Don’t stop fighting, and I wish you the best of luck.
July 25th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
What has been was done to you and Lara is criminal. USA Swimming is culpable, not only in the delay of the testing, but in a system that leaves little or no room to maneuver when something goes awry. You are a tremendous swimmer, student, and role model for thousands of young swimmers…..especially young girls. You are an inspiration to us all….keep the faith!
July 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Dear Tara You have earned your spot on the team.
The system’s flaws turned against you.
I wonder what is the purpose of performing tests if only negative results are accepted by the system?
Test results should be a question mark, a decision making point.
In this case “they” delivered test results after the deadline. Why did they bother to test at all if they knew that they will not be delivering test results on time for replacements?
This kind of unjustice is impossible to forget, very hard to forgive, but I believe in you. Keep your composure, show them how wrong they all are! Get in the pool and get ready for the next season, next worlds, next Games! London is already around the corner.
Let others help you with this situation, but start geting yourself ready now.
You have an advantage over “them” - while they have to do the Bejing, you have extra weeks to prepare for the next race. Show them who you really are and what you really can do! I am your fan already. I am sure, many more will join me!
Good luck!
Truly yours.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
hey tara! this is your old freshman AA from Stanford
just wanted to say hi and tell you that when i read about this kind of stuff happening, especially to people that i know personally, it makes me really upset. you’ve worked so hard… and you wanted to go so badly… there’s not much anyone can say to alleviate the disappointment but just know that you have a lot of supporters and we feel for you. i hope that you can see it with a new perspective tomorrow. in the meantime, hope you’re enjoying ireland. congrats on your engagement!
-catherine
July 25th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Tara -
I’ve always wondered why US Swimming held the trails so late. (And don’t get me started on having the finals in the evening for this years games). When I heard about the positive test, my first thoughts were for you and Lara. US Swimming is 100% responsible for this one (well, that and Jessica if it proves to be a true doping issue). To have the results come back AFTER the names have to be submitted is nothing short of a stupid error. I understand wanting to see where individuals are performance wise, but we are talking about 3 days.
My heart is with you. I have followed your career (and your Master’s thesis is a particular research interest of mine so I think is that is how I became a ‘fan’ of yours!) and when I saw the .01, it reminds me of how much I hate swimming at time. It’s like the ACL in basketball.
I hope you take your time to heal and grieve in Ireland if the USOC can’t get you on deck in China. If you decide to compete again, I hope it is for you, for your love of the sport and for the joy it brings you.
And I’m sorry that whatever the outcome of this back and forth is, that you had to go through it. It never should have had to come down to this. And I’m still happy you swam the 200.
July 25th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Good luck in your efforts! You and Lara deserve to represent the US on the Olympic team. Surely USA swimming received preliminary test results well in advance of the deadline. I can’t understand why they made no plans for what they would do if the confirming tests were positive. Regardless of how this turns out, my thoughts are with you. Hope to watch you in Bejing!
July 25th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Tara,
As many people have already told you, you are not being unreasonable at all. I agree with you completely in everything you said. Regardless of whether Jessica meant to have a banned substance or not, she still failed the test. You and Lara deserve to be on the team. I was very upset when I found out about it. If they knew the tests were going to take that long, they should have had the trials earlier. I am keeping both you and Lara in my thoughts and I wish you both the best of luck.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Tara,
This is Gabe. You MUST continue to fight for the spot which you have EARNED!!!
Use your famous resiliance and do not let it go. This is your entire sport life on the line. Money, fame, endorsements, pride, satisfaction, you name it.
The situation is horrendous, however, you are not the guilty one. You have done everything you could to do it right.
Remember me quoting Winston Churchill?
Never give up! Never, ever give up! Never, ever, EVER give up!
Love,
Gabe
July 25th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Hi Tara,
We just “met” you for the first time tonight, watching your What Not to Wear episode on TLC. Of course, we have now found out what happened at the trials (and the subsequent revelations) and wanted to tell you that we are 100% behind you, and will write to USA Swimming to urge them to amend the team roster.
You are so down-to-Earth and likeable; I’m sure you made a lot of new friends tonight.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Tara, it was your great swimming and terrific smile that first drew my attention to you. Since then I have followed your career. You seem like such a friendly, caring person. I was so disappointed for you with the .01 third place at trials. I cannot imagine how it felt for you. However, you have written eloquently about the pain and your determination to overcome it with grace.
Now you face a trial of grace under pressure with the latest events. I thought of you immediately when I heard the news about the positive drug test results and assumed you would be named to the team. The turn of events with the deadline is unacceptable and unbelieveable! USA Swimming expects its elite swimmers to pay for their own training at great sacrifice for four long years, and then USA Swimming has a selection timeline that does not allow for proper selection of the best swimmers, which means both in swim times and in clean drug test results. The timeline must allow for both!
Making timeline changes for next time does not help you, so I applaud your determination to challenge USA Swimming to make an appeal on your behalf. (It is actually on the team’s behalf in my opinion.) You do deserve to be on the team. I believe NBC wanted the selected dates for Trials. However, that does not matter at this point. The Olympic Committee should be able to review an appeal like yours and make a decision that is in the best interest of the clean swimmer and the sport. Such a decision would go a long way to encourage swimmers to swim clean and not dope.
I wish you the best of luck with this appeal. By the way, I watched your “What Not to Wear” episode tonight, and you were wonderful, bright smile and great friends and family. That Greg is a good guy to take you to Ireland. The Irish do know a little bit about being treated unfairly, and they also know how to fight for what is right. May your dreams come true. Be well.
July 26th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Definitely support you 100 percent. Definitely give it all with regards to petition and definitely use some potential legal options (perhaps Stanford can provide some legal resources from their law school). Good luck and hopes and prayers are with you.
No matter what happens your accomplishments are still incredible. I feel that this has a significant chance in working out in your favor.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:48 pm
You own it, you deserve it and best of all, YOU know it. That is all that matters. Swim on Sister!
January 16th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Tara: For months, I’ve read your blogs with sympathy. I’ve never posted to any blog before, but want you to have my support (consider this for all the others that are unspoken at this point). Don’t back down. Don’t be intimidated. While I don’t profess to know the deatils of your case, I’m sure that your attorney has told you that if they ask for attorney fees and have any justification for asking for fees, you have a reciprocal right to ask for your own fees from USA Swimming. They probably have much more exposure than you do. As someone who has been paying into USA Swimming for years, you have my blessing to ask for your fees back! (In addition to being a swimmer and a mom, I’m an attorney.) Best of Luck to fix this for the future!