The world record for Women’s class 56 is back to German thrower
temporarily. A change in my prescribed pain meds caused a doping violation with
the World Anti-Doping agency so my last 2 meets have been sanctioned. I have
resolved all my USADA issues and am good to go for Paralympic trials June
28-July 1 in Indianapolis Indiana.
So my friends please don’t be getting
panties twisted or cry fowl. Ultimately it is the athlete responsibility to
make sure all of the required paperwork is done promptly and properly. If I or
any athlete has difficulty reading and understanding something because of poor
vision or like me with my Myasthenia Gravis and does not completely understand
it they/ I should ask for help. It’s not like I am surrounded by illiterate
people. Most of the reason why I am successful at what I do is because I take
responsibility for my actions or inactions. The process of filing for a
Therapeutic Use Exemption form which allows athletes to take prescribed
medications was rushed through for me before Para Pan American Games so what I
did not understand was that it would not cover any changes made until after I
received the violation. The Punishment fit the violation and it is done.
Now I
am all squared away and ready to compete again.
Not all doping violations are
trying to cheat or enhance performance and some are just honest mistakes with
real life issues for athletes with disabilities. Most people do not know that
Paralympics is the top level and world stage for athletes with disabilities
just like the Olympics. We all train and work hard and we all blog and talk
about our achievements and not some of the other aspects of sport at that
level. So FYI we go through the same testing and reporting procedures as
athletes fill out all of the same paper work and have all of the same
responsibilities and duties as Olympic athletes. When we get to London we
compete in the same venues, stay in the same athlete housing and compete
against all the same nations top athletes. It is the world stage and it is a
great honor to represent the USA at both the Paralympic and Olympic level.
Olympic day is coming up on June 23 so I just received my video and speakers
information pack for some events I am attending and I am realizing that I have
made another mistake. At Parapans I did not shake a few people’s hands
including an official because I had something on my hand. After watching the
Kick boxing I now realized that I could have easily bowed. It never occurred to
me at the time that I could have issued a respectful bow instead. I always
teach in rowing “it is not about not making mistakes; it is about recovering
from them gracefully”, Next time I will bow. 52 and still learning!
