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  Track & Field Athletics Australia    by Graham Thomas 

 

Controversy Corner

Shots are fired on the trackThere is often controversy surrounding track and field.  As the flagship sport of the Olympic Games, athletics receives much media interest, particularly with speculation concerning drug use and the building up of personal rivalries.

Australian athletics has had its’ fair share of controversy with drug positives, selection dramas and appointments of ex-East German coaches all in the headlines over the past few years.

On 17 April 2002, Olympic silver medallist and Commonwealth Games Champion, Rick Mitchell sent a letter to the Melbourne Age.  This letter attacked the current state of Australian athletics and made some scathing comments about the abilities of some of Australia’s star athletes.

Rick has been attacked himself by current athletes in the general media and also in some of the internet forums available.  I myself posted some contributions to the thread, mainly defending Rick’s track record which should stand for itself.  No matter what you think of Rick’s current comments, he remains as one of Australia’s best ever male athletes.

q       Australian All-Time Top 100 list

q       Complete List of Australian 400m Champions

q       Biographies of the Top Ten Aussie 400m Runners.

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