I initially posted because I, like a lot of other professionals as well as some age groupers, have had a direct relationship with Brett in terms of coaching. That being my two year term on TeamTBB in 2010 and 2011. At that time it was "the most winning team in triathlon", and TBB was a retail/distributorship in SE Asia. The team didn't have at that time social programs. Based on Brooks posts, some of them may have been there in the past in the past in Brazil. But, in 2010/2011 there were no youth or other social programs discussed. We were in Thailand and Swiss, and there were not social programs being actively pursued or developed. The team was built on sponsors and age group coaching. It was a team of adult professionals. And, by and large, the professionals who were on the team present and past, spoke well of Brett. We knew his history, he made sure of it. As adults we chose to be members of the team. Being a member of the team didn't, in my opinion, mean that I was condoning what Brett did in the past. And, like Jonnyo, based on our collected information it was an isolated incident. If I wasn't clear in the first post, I do not think that what Brett did in the past was acceptable in any way.
There is a fair bit of irony in this thread, there always is. A lot of the comments I expected after I posted. There was a poster who has posted in just a few threads over the past week or so who saw fit to tear me apart as well as ask Alex Bok for some outlandish challenges. The same poster who on another thread said that LA really didn't do anything that bad to anyone else and should be allowed to race as soon as possible. And, posted a veiled threat to call sponsors of ours. And, I suspect I'll get another scathing review here. So, that is why I disappeared. Not because of TravisT, Zing, Pick6, NAB, Always, or any number of other posters.
I admit that the question of doping in triathlon is a gray area. I mused about a no-tolerance policy in my interview. I mused that because WTC can be nimble in their rules/dealings with pros. A good example is the under investigation clause in our pro membership contract. But, I don't know if that is the answer. I really don't, and I know that there is irony in my stance on Brett coaching adults and my stance on doping.
I posted that our decision to leave the team had more to do with my results, or lack of results or improvement, over 2 years. It also had more to do with the management of the team than with Brett, which I also posted. While I appreciated Alex's words of support for myself, Jordan, Jonnyo...some of his answers and posts raised more questions that they provided answers. The best way to avoid a bad situation, posting on this thread as an example, is to simply not put yourself in that situation. Having any sort of dealings with minors of any type is not a good idea and one that I think TeamTBB should stay far away from. Brooks raised some very good points and questions regarding the social programs and youth coaching. Questions that I think should be answered. And he posted about the 'learning' or 'teaching' aspect of that possible situation as well, a very good point. I don't think that Brett posing for a picture with young kids is a good idea at all. Someone asked who the hell is driving the bus over there, it's a question that I thought as well.
The current iteration of TeamTBB is not the same as it was when we raced on the team. I have tried to keep my comments related to my experiences with Brett as a coach as well as his ideas about the sport of triathlon. And, really a lot of those ideas, if presented properly and listened to, could have positive impacts for pros and age groupers alike. If I wasn't clear enough in my initial post that what Brett did in the past is terrible, then I should be clear for the 2nd time in this post that I don't condone it in any way, shape, or form.
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