What constitutes "Cheating"…?
I was at IMAZ this weekend to watch several friends race..GREAT TIME!!! Around three months ago one particular friend started posting on Instagram/FB how he was suddenly going to IMAZ. I assumed this was a charity spot since I knew it soldout in a matter of minutes. Last week I found out this person was going to race under another person's bib number. Apparently, the person who registered didn't feel like racing but didn't want his registration to go to waste and approached the presient of his tri club to see if anyone wanted it. One of my friends was offered the bib but declined, he didn't feel it was right since it was against WTC rules, the other friend accepted. Fast forward to Thursday, person flies to Phoenix, checks-in and hands over his bib. This starts sinking in and I'm starting to have some real problems with this, more so than I was having earlier in the week, probably because this is the first time I'm realizing the enormity of a WTC/IM event. As we are walking around race day, we actually run in the person who didn't feel like racing, he's jolly as Santa Claus walking around with his camera equipment….WTF!!!
As the day goes on I'm just getting pissed. Why, because this goes against WTC rules. I'm grappling with is this cheating or not. I feel it is. So I ask several people thier opinion. One response I received, "WTC has the audacity to ask for money a YEAR in advance, what happens if I get injured…money goes to waste. They make enough money they won't miss it, it's unfair they do that anyway….." My response "it's their race, they make the rules, if you don't like them or are worried about injury or life happening then you have the option not to sign up, there are plenty of other events you can do…." Another argument I received when asked their finish time of 12+ hrs.. "oh well he's a MOP, since he's not qualifying for Kona it doesn't matter. MOP/BOP don't' really matter." Again, WTF!!!! Dude really, are you fucking kidding me MOP or BOP don't matter?? Just because someone isn't qualifying for Kona doesn't mean their overall ranking in div, doesn't matter to them. Another example is the now infamous "T3" scandal…supposedly she was just a few minutes off from the 500,000 IM finisher, could you imagine if she was!!! What a mess that would have been, same goes for racing under another persons name. I don't even want to think had this person racing IMAZ been in an accident.
Now I'll be honest here, my emotions are a little involved on what to do. This person is a little bit of a pompous douche. All he ever talks about how he never gets passed on the bike and how fast he is. In fact as soon as he finished he was gloating about only 5 people passed him on the bike (yeah, he counted…WTF) what he failed to recognize was it was because everyone passed him on the swim (ok, that's me being mean, but still). This person is bragging about racing posting pics of his finishers medals including IMAZ. He's also a founding member of a group who "inspires athletes". I guess he's encouraging and inspiring athletes all over the world to partake in breaking the rules.
My question to all of you is, do you consider racing under another persons bib a form of cheating?
PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A LANCE THREAD!!!
EDIT: I want to make myself clear the actions of both original bib owner and the person who raced are equally in question. I do not know if these two people are friends or acquaintances. This transaction was facilitated by the president of their tri club, who also raced this weekend.
"Though she be but little, she is fierce" ~Shakespeare | Powered by HD Coaching | 2014 Wattie Ink Triathlon Team | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
I was at IMAZ this weekend to watch several friends race..GREAT TIME!!! Around three months ago one particular friend started posting on Instagram/FB how he was suddenly going to IMAZ. I assumed this was a charity spot since I knew it soldout in a matter of minutes. Last week I found out this person was going to race under another person's bib number. Apparently, the person who registered didn't feel like racing but didn't want his registration to go to waste and approached the presient of his tri club to see if anyone wanted it. One of my friends was offered the bib but declined, he didn't feel it was right since it was against WTC rules, the other friend accepted. Fast forward to Thursday, person flies to Phoenix, checks-in and hands over his bib. This starts sinking in and I'm starting to have some real problems with this, more so than I was having earlier in the week, probably because this is the first time I'm realizing the enormity of a WTC/IM event. As we are walking around race day, we actually run in the person who didn't feel like racing, he's jolly as Santa Claus walking around with his camera equipment….WTF!!!
As the day goes on I'm just getting pissed. Why, because this goes against WTC rules. I'm grappling with is this cheating or not. I feel it is. So I ask several people thier opinion. One response I received, "WTC has the audacity to ask for money a YEAR in advance, what happens if I get injured…money goes to waste. They make enough money they won't miss it, it's unfair they do that anyway….." My response "it's their race, they make the rules, if you don't like them or are worried about injury or life happening then you have the option not to sign up, there are plenty of other events you can do…." Another argument I received when asked their finish time of 12+ hrs.. "oh well he's a MOP, since he's not qualifying for Kona it doesn't matter. MOP/BOP don't' really matter." Again, WTF!!!! Dude really, are you fucking kidding me MOP or BOP don't matter?? Just because someone isn't qualifying for Kona doesn't mean their overall ranking in div, doesn't matter to them. Another example is the now infamous "T3" scandal…supposedly she was just a few minutes off from the 500,000 IM finisher, could you imagine if she was!!! What a mess that would have been, same goes for racing under another persons name. I don't even want to think had this person racing IMAZ been in an accident.
Now I'll be honest here, my emotions are a little involved on what to do. This person is a little bit of a pompous douche. All he ever talks about how he never gets passed on the bike and how fast he is. In fact as soon as he finished he was gloating about only 5 people passed him on the bike (yeah, he counted…WTF) what he failed to recognize was it was because everyone passed him on the swim (ok, that's me being mean, but still). This person is bragging about racing posting pics of his finishers medals including IMAZ. He's also a founding member of a group who "inspires athletes". I guess he's encouraging and inspiring athletes all over the world to partake in breaking the rules.
My question to all of you is, do you consider racing under another persons bib a form of cheating?
PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A LANCE THREAD!!!
EDIT: I want to make myself clear the actions of both original bib owner and the person who raced are equally in question. I do not know if these two people are friends or acquaintances. This transaction was facilitated by the president of their tri club, who also raced this weekend.
"Though she be but little, she is fierce" ~Shakespeare | Powered by HD Coaching | 2014 Wattie Ink Triathlon Team | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Last edited by:
KyraMorgan: Nov 20, 12 12:27