Tim Montgomery’s 9.78 seconds had him on top of the world.
He didn’t know that his fall would be just as fast.In September of 2002, on a track in Paris, France, Montgomery crossed the finish line in the 100 meters faster than any man has ever had. But according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, he never made it.
CAS stripped him of the world record, medals and prize money earned over a five year period; essentially making him nonexistent.
Not for “actually” taking anything, but just for possibly “thinking” about it.
It is reported that Montgomery, along with Barry Bonds, fellow track athlete Kelli White and three time Olympic champion Marion Jones were listed as clients of Victor Conte, owner of Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, which was raided by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service criminal investigations unit and the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force for the distribution of illegal substances.
And even though Montgomery never tested positive for any illegal substance, he is banned from competition for two years with every accomplishment he had every acquired wiped away like a stain on a glass window.
No one really knows if Montgomery in reality got chemical assistance to gain the claim as the world’s fastest man or he did it with good ol’ hard work and determination.
And like the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and CAS, we can only go by hear say. But the fact still remains, that for one day in 2002, Montgomery ran like no man has ever done.
And if he did cheat, he deserves the punishment handed to him.
But if he didn’t, it is one the most unfortunate stripteases in sports history.
4 replies on “Speed Strip”
Confused… Paris, London?
kelli white is the story pick a side – he deserves to be stripped of everything, or not. also, this seems like only half the story, as Montgomery was found guilty mainly based on the testimony of Kelli White, who plea bargained her punishment in order to help the case against Montgomery. Montgomery had an opportunity to go to the witness stand to refute her testimony, but chose not to, leaving her account basically uncontested. why didn’t he take the stand?
Just Cause Reflecting on what you said, it does seem like I’m on the fence.
But my column isn’t about whether or not I believe he’s guilty or not but it’s more about just cause, if you will.
My column is directed towards the system. The IOC, CAS, and USADA all are the governing body of track and field, like the government is over us, the American citizens. There have been plenty of times when the so-called justice system have wrongly jailed someone for a crime that they didn’t commit.
This could be the same case.
How would you feel if you were jailed because of what someone ELSE said? How would you feel if someone testified that you committed a crime that you didn’t commit?
I am stating that they shouldn’t strip someone of their livily hood just because of something SOMEONE ELSE claimed they said. Who is to say that Kelli didn’t lie?
Didn’t Palmerio lie to congress?
If Montgomery cheated, fine. He should be stripped of everything.
But if he didn’t and there isn’t without a shadow of doubt that he did, then he shouldn’t.
Maybe Montgomery was wrong for not testifying but that doesn’t take away from the fact that there isn’t 100 percent solid evidence that he did cheat.
And yes, Kelli is the REAL story.
dude, spellcheck unfortnate is not a word.