I worked as a volunteer at IM Chattanooga two weekends ago and
signed up for next year's race. During the bike to run transition,
American Pro Barrett Brandon, who ended up 4th overall in the race,
stopped as soon as he entered the change tent and urinated on the floor.
He did so in a location such that every other person in the race, some
2500+ were forced to run through his urine into the change tent. There
were no officials present in the change tent, only volunteers as far as I
could tell.
I understand the Pro Athletes compete for a living, but that does
not make them immune from the rules. As I understand the rules of every
triathlon I have competed in for the past 20 years, when a race provides
restroom facilities and you fail to use those, you are penalized. In
fact there are at least two USAT rules which apply to this situation:
3.3 General Conduct. At or during an event, or while at the event site,
all participants must:
b. Conduct themselves in a manner that is not offensive in any way to
fellow participants, spectators, officials or volunteers and is considered
reasonable and acceptable in the community
and
3.4.1 Endangerment. No participant shall commit any dangerous act which
could cause injury to any participant. Any violation of this Section shall
result in disqualification.
It cannot be said Mr. Brandon?s conduct was acceptable to the community.
Further, contaminating a public area with urine is clearly a dangerous act
which could compromise the health and safety of other entrants and
volunteers alike. Either of these two rules would prohibit Mr. Brandon
from urinating literally in the door of the change tent, especially when
there were port-a-lets within a few feet of the exit from that tent. He
should have been disqualified or at a minimum assessed a time penalty.
IM Chattanooga was wonderfully organized. In fact it would have
taken Mr. Brandon, no more than perhaps 10 additional seconds to use the
facilities provided.
Barrett Brandon was an embarrassment to himself and all of the
volunteers, several of whom who were forced to literally step back to
avoid getting splashed with his urine. I was embarrassed and outraged. I
am not sure if anything can be done to Mr. Brandon at this point. But
this sort of conduct by the Professional athletes or anyone else should
not be tolerated.
bb
signed up for next year's race. During the bike to run transition,
American Pro Barrett Brandon, who ended up 4th overall in the race,
stopped as soon as he entered the change tent and urinated on the floor.
He did so in a location such that every other person in the race, some
2500+ were forced to run through his urine into the change tent. There
were no officials present in the change tent, only volunteers as far as I
could tell.
I understand the Pro Athletes compete for a living, but that does
not make them immune from the rules. As I understand the rules of every
triathlon I have competed in for the past 20 years, when a race provides
restroom facilities and you fail to use those, you are penalized. In
fact there are at least two USAT rules which apply to this situation:
3.3 General Conduct. At or during an event, or while at the event site,
all participants must:
b. Conduct themselves in a manner that is not offensive in any way to
fellow participants, spectators, officials or volunteers and is considered
reasonable and acceptable in the community
and
3.4.1 Endangerment. No participant shall commit any dangerous act which
could cause injury to any participant. Any violation of this Section shall
result in disqualification.
It cannot be said Mr. Brandon?s conduct was acceptable to the community.
Further, contaminating a public area with urine is clearly a dangerous act
which could compromise the health and safety of other entrants and
volunteers alike. Either of these two rules would prohibit Mr. Brandon
from urinating literally in the door of the change tent, especially when
there were port-a-lets within a few feet of the exit from that tent. He
should have been disqualified or at a minimum assessed a time penalty.
IM Chattanooga was wonderfully organized. In fact it would have
taken Mr. Brandon, no more than perhaps 10 additional seconds to use the
facilities provided.
Barrett Brandon was an embarrassment to himself and all of the
volunteers, several of whom who were forced to literally step back to
avoid getting splashed with his urine. I was embarrassed and outraged. I
am not sure if anything can be done to Mr. Brandon at this point. But
this sort of conduct by the Professional athletes or anyone else should
not be tolerated.
bb
