sports personality of the year

[wolf]

To further enhance my point (I like to be proved right ) here is an article from the BBC.

Welsh Olympic hopeful Tim Benjamin has given his support to world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu and says he has also missed a drugs test.
Ohuruogu last month overturned a ban for missing three drugs tests, freeing her to compete in next year's Olympics.

Benjamin tells the BBC's Sport Wales programme: "People think she ran away from a test, but it's not like that.

"I've got a lot of sympathy for her. Most athletes have got a missed test against them. I've got one."

A 400m runner himself, Benjamin says he believes the public have misjudged the Ohuruogu case and admitted that the unforgiving nature of the testing system means he has one missed test against his name.

He said: "When the public see athletics, and certain things are printed, or talked about on TV, then people can get the wrong impression.

"The best example of that at the moment is Christine Ohuruogu. Drug-testers come to your house and you also have to say where you are for an hour every day.

"She gave her training place, she turned up, but sometimes you find that kids are using the track.

"You think, 'I can't train here. Where am I going to train?' The last thing on your mind can be to remember to tell the drug-testers.

"You have to quickly realise you need to get to another venue, so you get across London to the new venue and suddenly... that's one missed test. Do three of those and it's a ban.

I raced, it was on TV, and so everyone knew where I was. But a drug-tester turned up at my house, I wasn't there, so it was a missed test

"Yes, it was careless. But she certainly didn't run away from a drugs test or anything like that."

Benjamin, who finished fifth at the 2005 World Championships, revealed he has tightened up on informing drugs-testers of his whereabouts.

"Last night, for instance, I was at my parents' house and when it got to midnight I suddenly realised I hadn't texted the drug testers to tell them where I'd be," he said.

"How easy would it have been just to go to sleep? Put yourself in an athlete's shoes. Every single day you have to tell the testers where you are.

"You could go out for a night, have two beers and think, 'I can't drive home - I'll stay at a mate's house.' Then, you're not at your house in the morning and that's a missed test. It's so easy to do.

"With my missed test, I was rung by my agent in 2005 to say there was a Golden League meeting in Zurich. I wasn't going to run because I was due to run in Sheffield and this was two days before.

"I told him I wasn't running but he pestered me and told me I had to run. So, 48 hours before I flew across to Zurich but completely forgot to tell the drug-testers.

"I raced, it was on TV, and so everyone knew where I was. But a drug-tester turned up at my house, I wasn't there, so it was a missed test.

"It's a very strict system, but one I think is needed. The problem is that it's not across all countries and that's something that every athlete would like to get the public to understand."

Come on. Argue back. I dare you.

 

[barmyarmy]

Well if Welsh Olympic hopeful Tim Benjamin has given his support then I'm convinced...

 

[Leicester Fox]

I know she's 99% wasn't on drugs but even so she's stupid, when you've already missed 2 surely you would be extra careful to make sure when its your whole life ? Glad Calzaghe won, he deserved it, I think most of Hattons votes in this thread came as a result of the massive support he had going into the fight.

 

[jordox]

Only know Wilkinson and Hatton.

 

[nffc10]

Calzaghe deserved to win hands down, the guys amazing. He's been unbeaten since he was 17 and defended his wbo titles more times than anyone before him.
All i can say is why hasn't he won it before?

 

[Bilal91]

yup he deserved it...a real proffesional...

 

[w3lshrugby]

He didn't win it last year because the Royal Family fixed it!

 

[Kiko_97]

calzaghe as hes won it already

 

[PhilD123]

bump-ety-bump.

Worst ever.

A) It's in Liverpool
B) It's almost as if BBC only show one meaningful sporting event, oh wait...
C) Cycling and Team GB had two seperate nominations.

And more reasons, how often does a team achieve the league and european cup double? Overlooked in a 1 minute piece, beginning to think I dreamt it. Sir Bobby's piece was good, if not spoilt by the music while the applause was going on, if not also a little tactless.

Hamiliton overlooked for Hoy who is in a sport everyone cared oh so much about before last July.

 

[treva]

Right top 3, wrong order. Should have been: Hoy - Adlington - Hamilton. Must be slightly disappointing for Hamilton seeing as that's twice he's finished second in two years.

 

[Bilal91]

yh should have been hamilton for me too...unlucky

 

[barmyarmy]

C) Cycling and Team GB had two seperate nominations.

I totally agree with you there; thought it was very poor form to have both. As people have been pointing out only about 20 countries even enter the cycling events as opposed to 250-off in the athletics and swimming.
Definitely should have been a nomination for just Team GB and they should have won it.
As for Man Utd not getting recognised; just wrong time wrong place. Had it not been an olympic year Ferguson or the team would definitely have taken an award.

Edit - have just noticed that the poll is from last year Oops...

 

[evertonfan]

Chris Hoye deserved the award. It doesn't matter about the sports popularity, it's about the sporting achievment and Chris Hoye is one of the most phenomonal athletes i've ever seen.

 

[PhilD123]

Yeah but what about Chris Hoy?

 

[Skater]

I was delighted that the public saw sense and gave it to someone who won 3 Olympic gold medals and not for the obvious guy who had the fastest car, lives in a tax haven and gets to jet off round the world. Good stuff.

Colin is right as well. Man Utd would have won team of the year if it wasn't for the Olympics. You'll just have to do the double again...