Darcy Ward

[Vince]

^{I can't see Poole could really sack him when he was available to ride and had yet to actually be found guilty of anything.}

 

^{Doesn't appear to be any reason why the FIM didn't issue an automatic suspension until his hearing immediately he failed the test. That seems to be what other sports do, then again they probably have a lot more confidence in their testing procedures.}

 

^{Poole knew he was unlikely to be available so they are mad if they haven't spent their time preparing a replacement.}

[Wackie]

^{I can't see Poole could really sack him when he was available to ride and had yet to actually be found guilty of anything.}

 

^{Doesn't appear to be any reason why the FIM didn't issue an automatic suspension until his hearing immediately he failed the test. That seems to be what other sports do, then again they probably have a lot more confidence in their testing procedures.}

 

^{Poole knew he was unlikely to be available so they are mad if they haven't spent their time preparing a replacement.}

 

He was found guilty, hence the fine and ban from riding in Latvia.

 

It's not unusual for FIM to allow competitors to carry on competing for a while before handing out suspensions. With tests being carried out by different people at every SGP they probably want to dot the i's and cross the t's, as someone else said, to ensure their procedures have been followed correctly.

 

Honestly, do people really think there's some big conspiracy going on because of who Darcy Ward is, or who he rides for? The FIM won't give a crap about Matt Ford, Poole Speedway or the GP series. Ward will be treated the same way as any other competitor who failed their anti-doping tests, but these cases aren't open and closed over night.

[Dodger Blue]

 

Probably on the other side of the world, as Darcy was 16/17 when he first came over to England. I Don't know if either or both parents came over with him then, though. Perhaps someone can confirm.

 

Think they were, did'nt he live in a caravan behind the Kings lynn pits when he first came over?

[stevehone]

 

did'nt he live in a caravan behind the Kings lynn pits when he first came over?

 

yeah, with his dad

[StevePark]

 

Think they were, did'nt he live in a caravan behind the Kings lynn pits when he first came over?

 

 

 

yeah, with his dad

 

Cheers for the info.

[jim3751]

Can anyone steer me towards the official declaration that Darcy Ward is finally suspended. I've searched for it on the SGB and Sky sites but can't find it anywhere

[Jacques]

Can anyone steer me towards the official declaration that Darcy Ward is finally suspended. I've searched for it on the SGB and Sky sites but can't find it anywhere

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BwIHeUICIAAk3zE.jpg:large

 

http://speedwaygp.com/news/article/3627/fim-statement-darcy-ward

Edited August 29, 2014 by Jacques

[waiheke1]

Link is posted at least twice earlier on this thread

Edit: jacques beat me to it and even provided the link

Edited August 29, 2014 by waihekeaces1

[Ghostwalker]

Can anyone steer me towards the official declaration that Darcy Ward is finally suspended. I've searched for it on the SGB and Sky sites but can't find it anywhere

 

This is the official FIM document about Darcy's suspension: http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/alfresco/FIM_Anti-doping_Controls_-_Speedway_Grand_Prix_World_Championship_-_Darcy_Ward_provisionnally_suspended.pdf

[f-s-p]

I think the FIM are playing a game here. They may have Ward's legal team stating issues with the test. So what do they do? Suspend him until they investigate the legal claim which will run to the end of the season then clear him for the start of 2015.

A classic game of chess

I spoke with Finnish antidoping office today. So far we know, that Darcy has broken FIM rules regarding alcohol by giving a breath test over the limit. Thats DOES NOT MEAN he has made a doping violation. Theres a different limit for that one. I dont know what it is, did not ask but probably higher than the zero tolerance FIM has. So comparing him to Dudek is not right, Dudek broke the WADA rules of doping, Darcy has SO FAR only broken FIM rules.

 

They said they would need all the reports and receipts of the story to make further calls on the subject. I guess they'd need pee or blood to have a so called B-sample. If they dont have that, cant see how they could get him for a doping offense? Other than the report from the scene saying how much the alcometer showed when the test was given.

 

From the discussion we had, so far things have gone pretty much according to the books. The grapevine says FIM could have been harder on him in Daugavpils. Also morally maybe MA could have revoked his start permit. Neither of them did, so Darcy has been able to make some money for ten days to have a few drinks on his hols...

[Ghostwalker]

I spoke with Finnish antidoping office today. So far we know, that Darcy has broken FIM rules regarding alcohol by giving a breath test over the limit. Thats DOES NOT MEAN he has made a doping violation. Theres a different limit for that one. I dont know what it is, did not ask but probably higher than the zero tolerance FIM has. So comparing him to Dudek is not right, Dudek broke the WADA rules of doping, Darcy has SO FAR only broken FIM rules.

 

They said they would need all the reports and receipts of the story to make further calls on the subject. I guess they'd need pee or blood to have a so called B-sample. If they dont have that, cant see how they could get him for a doping offense? Other than the report from the scene saying how much the alcometer showed when the test was given.

 

From the discussion we had, so far things have gone pretty much according to the books. The grapevine says FIM could have been harder on him in Daugavpils. Also morally maybe MA could have revoked his start permit. Neither of them did, so Darcy has been able to make some money for ten days to have a few drinks on his hols...

 

 

Actually F-s-p, you are not correct. The FIM anti-doping rules (under which alcohol is included) is the same as WADA's rules and according to WADA's anti-doping rules alcohol is considered to be doping and

is forbidden during competition for competitors who's sports are belonging to any of the following sport federations: http://list.wada-ama.org/prohibited-in-particular-sports/prohibited-substances/

 

 

 

• P1. Alcohol
• Alcohol (ethanol) is prohibited In-Competition only, in the following sports. Detection will be conducted by analysis of breath and/or blood. The doping violation threshold is equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 g/L.
  • Air Sports (FAI)
  • Archery (WA)
  • Automobile (FIA)
  • Karate (WKF)
  • Motorcycling (FIM)
  • Powerboating (UIM)

 

So if FIM came to the conclusion that the tests were accurate. Darcy Ward has judging by Wada's rules violated Wada's doping rules and is to be considered as doped.

 

Compare this to FIM's rules and as you can see FIM uses the exact same phrasing as WADA: http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/alfresco/6572010_ang_ANTI-DOPING.pdf (page 65).

 

 

 

SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED IN PARTICULAR SPORTS

P1. ALCOHOL

Alcohol (ethanol) is prohibited In-Competition only, in the following sports. Detection will be conducted by analysis of breath and/or blood. The doping violation threshold is equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 g/L.

• Air Sports (FAI)

• Archery (WA)

• Automobile (FIA)

• Karate (WKF)

• Motorcycling (FIM)

• Powerboating (UIM)

 

Also (I don't have a link at the moment) it is my impression that the local jury in Daugavpils did not have the mandate/authority to hand out a more harder penalty

then they did since a €3000 fine and a suspension from that race was the maximum penalty allowed for a local jury to hand out.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Ghostwalker

[f-s-p]

 

 

Actually F-s-p, you are not correct. The FIM anti-doping rules (under which alcohol is included) is the same as WADA's rules and according to WADA's anti-doping rules alcohol is considered to be doping and

is forbidden during competition for competitors who's sports are belonging to any of the following sport federations: http://list.wada-ama.org/prohibited-in-particular-sports/prohibited-substances/

Should have written in clearer, sorry.

 

This from Pirjo Ruutu, Finnish Antidoping ry. :"By giving a positive breath test regarding alcohol, he might not yet have breached the alcohol limits when doping violation is concerned. We would need all the reports of the incident to investigate the matter and then decide after careful examination whether a doping offence has actually happened. Still, it's always better to give the breath test, since by not giving it you are in reality saying no to a doping test, so you would therefor fail one and be guilty of a doping offense."

[bigcatdiary]

I think the FIM are playing a game here. They may have Ward's legal team stating issues with the test. So what do they do? Suspend him until they investigate the legal claim which will run to the end of the season then clear him for the start of 2015.

A classic game of chess

I think you are giving far too much credit to the FIM

 

Let's be honest he should have been banned by the FIM jury at the Latvian GP, who had the power to give him a straight 28 day ban as well as a fine, the fact that it's taken the FIM nearly 2 weeks to do what should have been done immediately doesn't show them as ultra professional either.

 

It's a PR disaster all round because Ward is a great rider and deserves to be in the GP,s on merit.

[E I Addio]

 

He was found guilty, hence the fine and ban from riding in Latvia.

 

It's not unusual for FIM to allow competitors to carry on competing for a while before handing out suspensions. With tests being carried out by different people at every SGP they probably want to dot the i's and cross the t's, as someone else said, to ensure their procedures have been followed correctly.

 

Honestly, do people really think there's some big conspiracy going on because of who Darcy Ward is, or who he rides for? The FIM won't give a crap about Matt Ford, Poole Speedway or the GP series. Ward will be treated the same way as any other competitor who failed their anti-doping tests, but these cases aren't open and closed over night.

 

 

That seems about right to me.

 

I stand to be corrected if anyone knows otherwise but it seems that the FIM Jury now dealing with the case is no longer a speedway -specific jury but one looking at motor-cycle sport as a whole , so that any penalty would be consistent with any drink/drug offences in other branches of the sport. That would explain why the original jury at the GP only had limited jurisdiction.

[Gavan]

I think you are giving far too much credit to the FIM

 

Let's be honest he should have been banned by the FIM jury at the Latvian GP, who had the power to give him a straight 28 day ban as well as a fine, the fact that it's taken the FIM nearly 2 weeks to do what should have been done immediately doesn't show them as ultra professional either.

 

It's a PR disaster all round because Ward is a great rider and deserves to be in the GP,s on merit.

spot on he should have had an immediate worldwide ban until the case was heard. Should not have been allowed to ride for any of his clubs.

 

The fact Ward is a great rider is irrelevent

The fact Ward should be in the gp's is irrelevent.

 

The stature of a rider who fails a breath test should have no bearing on the outcome.

 

I have no issue with Ward riding in next years gp's either by holding on to a top 8 place or a wildcard, but he should be banned for the rest of this season as a minimum.

 

<trolling removed>

[salty]

 

<trolling removed>

Seriously!

Gater with his "Darcy wasn't drunk, Darcy didn't hydrate" garbage was bad enough.

Maybe even Starry has learnt that you can't defend the indefensible (though it hasn't stopped him before). Maybe he's on the charabanc over to Zielona Gara as the patched up Pirates (and guests) bid for Matt's "Holy Grail" of world domination?

[bigcatdiary]

That seems about right to me.

 

I stand to be corrected if anyone knows otherwise but it seems that the FIM Jury now dealing with the case is no longer a speedway -specific jury but one looking at motor-cycle sport as a whole , so that any penalty would be consistent with any drink/drug offences in other branches of the sport. That would explain why the original jury at the GP only had limited jurisdiction.

The FIM jury at Latvia had the power to suspend him for 28 days.

[PHILIPRISING]

The FIM jury at Latvia had the power to suspend him for 28 days.

THAT'S true but what is still not clear is whether that would have been the end of it and no further punishment available to the FIM. Now his case will be heard by the International Disciplinary Commission at which from what I can gather in Gorzow today Darcy will be entitled to attend with legal representation. Very costly of course but if he feels that all the correct procedures were not strictly adhered to he might consider it money well spent.

[screm]

THAT'S true but what is still not clear is whether that would have been the end of it and no further punishment available to the FIM. Now his case will be heard by the International Disciplinary Commission at which from what I can gather in Gorzow today Darcy will be entitled to attend with legal representation. Very costly of course but if he feels that all the correct procedures were not strictly adhered to he might consider it money well spent.

 

If it gets back to his league racing this season, and keeps him in SGP for next season it would be money well spent, though in cases like this the one big winner will be the legal teams on either side.

[SPD444]

I think you are giving far too much credit to the FIM

 

Let's be honest he should have been banned by the FIM jury at the Latvian GP, who had the power to give him a straight 28 day ban as well as a fine, the fact that it's taken the FIM nearly 2 weeks to do what should have been done immediately doesn't show them as ultra professional either.

 

It's a PR disaster all round because Ward is a great rider and deserves to be in the GP,s on merit.

 

Your last sentence needs two words adding to it - alcohol free