Ted Clarke sanctioned by USFSA?

[IgglesII]

I know this has popped up on the SkateFans mailing list - half-expected to find a long thread about it here, but don't seem to find one at all.

So my question for the USFSA -- what the h*ll is this??

http://www.worldskating.org/news/clarke-sanction-23jul2003.shtml

You have got to be kidding me. An organization that can't seem to keep rogue coaches from keeping their hands off their skaters, and which seems destined to inevitably have a skater carted off by ambulance at Nationals due to ALCOHOL poisoning, instead spends it's time worrying about BS like this??

They have completely lost their minds.

[Phuket]

I also noticed the article stating that Ted Clarke was sanctioned in the latest Skating Magazine. I wondered what the deal was. My first thought was this *can't* have anything to do with his support of the World Skating Federation? Surely not....but I guess I was wrong. :roll:

[Skatewind]

I guess I'll be one to disagree. That case, which was about things like non disclosures & organizational interests vs individual special interests, was fairly cut & dry.

Regarding the rogue coaches, the USFSA has a harassment policy now but they need the victims to file grievances & report it to their local authorities in order for it to be effective. Recently, this has been happening & it looks like things are improved in this area.

[adrianchew]

I'd have to disagree with Skatewind's assessment... its not the simplicity or otherwise, but that procedural rush of the process that took place in this matter too. You get the sense that the USFSA rushed this process as quickly as they could - expediting the process. The process in itself seems rather unfair, and one-sided.

In comparison, there is always due diligence and process shown in the cases about rogue coaches. One might even suspect at times given how slow this issues are to resolve, that the USFSA is protecting some of these rogue coaches.

It is these inherent inconsistences that makes it not nearly as simple a comparison, and suggests that the top executive have their priorities very messed up, which is rather unfortunate, but not at all surprising given the power games that seems to be in play right now.

I suspect some officials are taking the opportunity and fear of ISU reprisals as methods to get others out of the USFSA, so they can bring in their obdient lieutenants as replacements, thus consolidating the power of those who are willing to play such games.

[adrianchew]

In case you missed it, there's an letter writing campaign to reinstate Ted Clarke...

http://www.worldskating.org/action/clarke-reinstatement.shtml

[IgglesII]

I used the letter-writing function this morning. I had an additional question beyond just the letter that the WSF wanted sent, though - I'd like to know where the people on that letter writing list with East-coast connections or connections to the SCOB were while this was happening. Were they standing up for Ted, or stabbing him in the back?

[Skatewind]

I know people on the list who have East Coast connections & I don't they use their location to determine whether or not there have been improprieties before, during or after a grievance procedure, at least not the ones I know. That really shouldn't have anything to do with whether or not someone did the right thing for their organization.

[Scott]

All I can say is what total BS! The only one engaging in activity harmful to the sport is the ISU!!!! Sanctioning a person who has been a true gentleman and supporter of the sport for so many years is beyond the realm of reality. Particularly if he didn't enage in any actual activity that had harmful results. However, why am I not surprised at this action by a group of vindictive folks who only want their opinions heard and enforced? Shameful!!

[Tigger]

Does anyone know if Canadians can take part in the letter writing campaign? While that might sound like a fairly obvious thing to figure out, this is something happening w/the USFSA. On the other hand...This is part of such a bigger overall thing. Just wondering...

Not going to comment on what has happened because so many others above me have covered it better than I could have. I will say I can't believe how stupid all of this is. It's garbage like this happening that's dragged skating into the gutter lately.