wealdstone Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 See Poole and Ward seeking to abrogate responsibility by claiming test improperly carried out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 See Poole and Ward seeking to abrogate responsibility by claiming test improperly carried out. link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Why should they be 'iffy'? It's not as if they started doing this the day Ward turned up half p#ssed for a meeting. It's been tried and tested for a long time and I presume accepted by all. The only way it will be deemed 'iffy' is if the powers don't want Ward to be punished because of his position in the hierarchy which is wrong on all levels. It does not matter who he is punishment should be the same. If it's classed as a doping offence then give him the appropriate penalty for that offence. Set a precedent with Ward and the whole testing system might as well be thrown in the bin. Phil Rising posted about this a few days ago now. There was possibly a question about the testing procedure bearing in mind the last minute switch of venues and some of the chaotic arrangements that were having to be made to switch the meeting eg, was the test done in an area where there was methanol which could have affected the reading? Was the machinery used properly calibrated? Were other tests ie urine, blood also carried out? etc etc. Not saying any of it was right or wrong - just being questioned, as it has to be fair, whatever people think of Ward!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Whether Ward gets a big ban, a small ban, or no ban at all, the important thing is, will he learn from all this. As others have said, and as I believe the answer would be no, so in all likely hood its only a matter of time before Ward does something that lands him in bother yet again. Why should he? If he keeps being 'let off'. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Central Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 (edited) I do not believe that the correct outcome in this case is the one that is tailored to suit the learning ability of Darcy Ward. He should grow and develop as a human being in his own time and no one should expect the FIM to take it on 'in loco parentis'. He should get exactly the same treatment as any other rider who found himself in this position. Be it Greg Hancock or Darcy Ward. The speedway-wide, and indeed motorcycle sport-wide, thing of most importance is that the FIM carry of their judicial role here scrupulously and fairly. Nothing more. The case against Ward was substantial enough to convene a hearing and as an anti doping offence carries a likely ban their worldwide suspension was totally appropriate. If a ban were to be imposed it would doubtless start from the date of the suspension. If Ward chooses to use the defence that the testing had not being done properly then his advocates would need to tread carefully. He has openly admitted imbibing the night before - and even offered mitigation as to why this may have been to excess. So the coincidence of having a 'faulty' test twelve hours later be the cause if his' positive blow' seems to stretch credulity a trifle too far. To lose his case after claiming that as his defence may only lengthen the ban the hearing would impose. That would not be a wise move at all. The last thing we need is to find that the anti doping procedures are poorly carried out at GPs. We need to know that they are robust and trustworthy. Let us hope that the hearing gives us that confidence, at least. If Darcy knows he had 'one too many' perhaps the next step on his learning curve would be to plead guilty, offer his mitigating circumstances, give a thousand words on his lessons learned, make earnest promises on future conduct. And then, this time, actually follow through. . Edited September 5, 2014 by Grand Central 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Why should he? If he keeps being 'let off'. For this particular offence he is suspended prior to any ban being handed out so he hasn't yet been let off. He was arrested, charged and convicted of a drug offence while at home, so he was hardly let off for that. Lets see what happens with the FIM decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 If the test was faulty, how come nobody else failed the breath test? And what is the coincidence that it was Darcy who "happened to have" a faulty test? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 I doubt that anyone passing the test would test its validity even if they thought something might be wrong. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 If the test was faulty, how come nobody else failed the breath test? And what is the coincidence that it was Darcy who "happened to have" a faulty test? How accurate is the equipment? When the police do roadside checks with handheld equipment, I think that's just to give an indication of the alcohol level and the actual legally admissible specimen has to be taken on a more complex machine back at the station. Ward's reading was fairly low wasn't it, and he gave a zero reading later (?) so maybe the argument is that the equipment used was insufficient accurate or not calibrated correctly. There will be some degree of error in any measuring equipment, and if you're close to a particular threshold then it might be argued the benefit of the doubt is given. Not defending him because it's not very professional to put yourself in that position, but there's degrees of difference between being slightly over a zero limit and actually turning up drunk. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandorum Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 (edited) If the test was faulty, how come nobody else failed the breath test? And what is the coincidence that it was Darcy who "happened to have" a faulty test? They had hydrated Phil Rising posted about this a few days ago now. There was possibly a question about the testing procedure bearing in mind the last minute switch of venues and some of the chaotic arrangements that were having to be made to switch the meeting eg, was the test done in an area where there was methanol which could have affected the reading? Was the machinery used properly calibrated? Were other tests ie urine, blood also carried out? etc etc. Not saying any of it was right or wrong - just being questioned, as it has to be fair, whatever people think of Ward!! How could anyone prove that one way or another. Methanol fumes are pesky critters as they don't stay where they are supposed to be. I actually enjoy watching Ward race as he is rather BRILLIANT but this is all nonsense as it looks like the conspiracy theorists are actually correct. He should immediately sue them for loss of earnings as they were obviously hasty suspending him when they were employing idiots who had not a clue how to use defective equipment in the correct area. He even admitted the offence on camera but still he will get off with a slapped wrist. Luckily speedway is a silly inconsequential sport and no one will really notice what a joke it has let itself become. Edited September 5, 2014 by pandorum 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 All the talk of Darcy "learning his lesson". From what I can see all he seems to have learned so far is to use a high powered legal team to try and find a way of - to paraphrase Matt Ford - getting away with it. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 There are far bigger sports who have had the same issues. In MLB, an all star by the name of Ryan Braun tested positive for PED's and was suspended. He appealed and got of because the correct 'protocol' wasn't followed to the letter in the process. He was, of course, guilty despite his protestations of innocence at the time... A year later he was busted by MLB and finally suspended.. at which point he issued a grovelling apology of course. So, far bigger sports and far bigger names have had such issues... speedway being a 'joke' doesn't come into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 All the talk of Darcy "learning his lesson". From what I can see all he seems to have learned so far is to use a high powered legal team to try and find a way of - to paraphrase Matt Ford - getting away with it. Surely until the FIM have announced their decision, Ward has got away with nothing, he is at the minute suspended from speedway pending his hearing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 All the talk of Darcy "learning his lesson". From what I can see all he seems to have learned so far is to use a high powered legal team to try and find a way of - to paraphrase Matt Ford - getting away with it. Two things angered me about this Case. One was the 'getting away with it' statement by Mr. Ford, the other was, it seemed to me, the total lack of sincerity when Mr. Ward gave his so called apology on television. For this particular offence he is suspended prior to any ban being handed out so he hasn't yet been let off. He was arrested, charged and convicted of a drug offence while at home, so he was hardly let off for that. Lets see what happens with the FIM decision. Thing is - he admitted it. No Case to argue really - is there? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wealdstone Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Why are all these nasty people being so beastly to poor little Darcy, when I am sure all he did was take some medicine for his poor little sore throat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Why are all these nasty people being so beastly to poor little Darcy, when I am sure all he did was take some medicine for his poor little sore throat. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww - BLESS!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Central Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 There are far bigger sports who have had the same issues. In MLB, an all star by the name of Ryan Braun tested positive for PED's and was suspended. He appealed and got of because the correct 'protocol' wasn't followed to the letter in the process. He was, of course, guilty despite his protestations of innocence at the time... A year later he was busted by MLB and finally suspended.. at which point he issued a grovelling apology of course. So, far bigger sports and far bigger names have had such issues... speedway being a 'joke' doesn't come into it. Quite right. I do not remember Braun going public with anything about his parents splitting up and explaining that bad news had led him to overdo things, though. He just denied it. Full stop. Darcy seems to gave got himself into a very different position with any hopes of blaming the protocols. Best fess up and hope that it would be taken as a very positive sign by the tribunal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wealdstone Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 The positive from all this is that Darcy has created a wonderful euphemism for being pissed "failed to re hydrate" 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 The positive from all this is that Darcy has created a wonderful euphemism for being pissed "failed to re hydrate" See how far that gets you in a Court of Law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wealdstone Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 "I resent very strongly being accused of being drunk when in actual fact I merely failed to re hydrate" 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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