Coach Dennis Mitchell Mix-up

[rainbowgirl28]

Having two people with the same name turns out to be a bit confusing!

http://www.letsrun.com/2006/mitchells.php

[rainbowgirl28]

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/athletics/s ... 76,00.html

US find right Mitchell just in time to avert another drugs storm

Duncan Mackay in Birmingham
Saturday August 19, 2006
The Guardian

An embarrassing error almost resulted in Dennis Mitchell, the Olympic gold medallist who was banned for drugs in 1998 after testing positive for anabolic steroids, leading the United States in the match against Britain at the Alexander Stadium this weekend.
But after the Guardian made inquiries to USA Track & Field, Mitchell, due to be his team's head coach for the Norwich Union international today and tomorrow, has stood down after coming under pressure from the governing body which claimed he had been selected by mistake.

Delegates at the governing body's annual convention thought they were voting for another Dennis Mitchell, a college coach in Akron, to be the head of the team. However, the invitation was sent to the disgraced sprinter, who had claimed he tested positive for testosterone because on the eve of his test he had drunk six bottles of beer and had sex with his wife four times ("It was the lady's birthday; she deserved a treat," he memorably told the disciplinary panel).
It was only when the Guardian and Letsrun.com, an athletics website in the United States, began to ask the USATF why it had appointed someone who had been banned for taking banned substances that the matter was rectified and Mitchell was replaced by his namesake.

"Given the confusion, it was determined it's better to correct the mistake," said Jill Geer, head of communications for USATF. "It was Dennis [Mitchell] the athlete who ultimately said to correct the mistake. In the wake of the Justin [Gatlin] announcement it would be a difficult situation for the team and for Dennis."

Gatlin, the world and Olympic 100m champion and joint world record holder, was supposed to be the main name in the US squad for the richest international on the calendar. However, he had to withdraw after admitting having tested positive for testosterone, a situation which leaves him facing a life ban.

Like Mitchell the athlete he was coached by Trevor Graham, the Jamaican who has also previously trained Tim Montgomery and is under investigation by the International Association of Athletics Federations because of the number of athletes he has worked with who have been banned for drugs.

"It is a case where reality is stranger than fiction," said Geer. "Dennis Mitchell the coach was originally selected but in the ensuing weeks, Dennis Mitchell the athlete became part of the staff rather than Dennis Mitchell the coach. Dennis Mitchell the coach was even receiving congratulations from people when it was announced at our annual meeting.

"When we inquired last week, the mistake was discovered. This was a USATF volunteer committee issue, not a national office issue, so multiple people had to be contacted in order to confirm that Dennis Mitchell the coach was, in fact, originally selected and what the current situation was. Dennis Mitchell the athlete stepped down in order to correct the error.

"In this particular instance, letting this error stand would not have been in the interest of the team or in the interest of Dennis Mitchell the former athlete. Dennis Mitchell the coach was returned as the head coach, thus correcting the mistaken identity problem."

Russia, leading nation at this month's European Championships with 12 gold medals, have had their achievements queried by Jose Maria Odriozola, head of the Spanish federation and leading figure in the IAAF. He said: "They won more than 50% of the medals and it's extremely suspicious." Valery Kulichenko, the Russian head coach, described Odriozola's claim as provocative. He said: "It's not the first case of Odriozola trying to provoke us. Our doping control system has been tested and approved by the IAAF."