John Coates doesn’t like to be called a ‘veteran’, but that’s what he is. London will be the tenth Olympics he has been involved in, and controversy has started early for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Nestled behind a sea of microphones yesterday, he looked very much like a man who had done this all before.
That is, until we heard something from the AOC chief’s mouth which is very rare from a sporting executive.
“If this has become a bigger problem due to my failure to recognise it, then I’ll take the rap.”
Stop and think how many times you have heard that before, from anyone.
What he was taking the blame for is Stilnox – specifically, the apparent widespread use of the sleeping drug among athletes during big meets.
It’s claimed athletes across many sports have been prescribed the drug as far back as the 2003 swimming World Championships by team doctors concerned at their inability to sleep.
The drug has since been found to cause hallucinations, sleepwalking and ultimately addiction.
Coates and the AOC have now banned it at the London games, and will conduct searches of athletes quarters if they have sufficient reason to believe it’s being used.
This is all fair. If the drug is causing addiction, then take it off the list.
It has been replaced by a less powerful drug, Temazepam, that won’t cause these side effects. But while the conclusion of this issue may be positive in the long term, the way it came to light is a disgrace.
Grant Hackett has been in damage control mode.
It’s a sad story: the drunken rampage, the wrecked apartment, the lies calling it all a ‘misunderstanding’, the suggestions of anger management issues, the divorce.. it makes for tough reading when it happens to anyone, but especially a celebrated Olympian.. one who has made a living from his cleanskin image. It’s all very Tiger Woods-esque.
Hackett is in damage control mode in a big way. He may not be competing, but he has big deals on the line, including with Channel Nine.
But, instead of coming out and admitting he has been a bit wayward and getting on with dealing with the consequences of his actions, Hackett has dragged up a ‘heavy reliance’ on a drug, effectively shifting the focus and the blame, and all this just weeks away from the Games.
Our athletes – quietly striving for Olympic glory – are getting caught in the net.
Hackett’s headline grabbing ahead of the London Games, and causing a ripple effect that draws in all 410 athletes on the team, is selfish. The media focus that Coates and the AOC have endured, the apologies and the grovelling required to get through it, can only cause disruption to a group of athletes in the midst of the most crucial part of a four year buildup.
His actions have suddenly become the AOC’s problem, and right now, the AOC’s only problem should be looking after our Olympic athletes – you know, the ones that are actually competing
Kev
Guest
You're spot on. What irks me is if and I stress, if Hackett mistreated his wife, some will have this pervasive attitude that he owes all women an explanation and apology as if to say that he is responsible to them. Why? Just because he has a high profile doesn't mean he owes the public a single explanation or an apology. It's an issue between he and his wife so let them sort it out. If you have a domestic issue with your wife are you going to hold a press conference apologizing for what happened? This article stinks of this lynch mob mentality that many in the media and public have when it comes to relationship issues and the incessant urge to label someone a drunken wife beater. Will is attacking Hackett's blaming of sleeping pills as an excuse. How do you know that it wasn't a contributing factor? It's easy to jump on the bandwagon but it's quite clear that not all the facts have come out.
Hansie
Guest
Hackett was looking for sympathy, IMHO. He'd be better off using the word 'sorry' and starting to rebuild himself and his life.
Tim
Guest
If you want to be fair then be fair. We don't actually know what happened that night, however if you want to present a balanced viewpoint, one would suggest that if the ex-wife has made the allegations more than 7 months after the event, then this is a witch hunt. I agree with Abby above, this reeks of an angry ex-wife. The fact that the media is all one-sided suggests that they are being fed information by one party. What is lacking to date is any factual evidence. The journalism that Will writes about is fed by the need of the public to see the world in black-and-white terms. . So many of you are ready for the public execution of Grant Hackett, failing to realise that by doing so, you are indulging the perverse need to pick apart someone's life based on information carefully selected by the media to stun. In most instances, there is very little actual fact to support what they are writing. You, the general public, become as deranged and irrational as the ex-wife, and you are as bad as the journalists that force their personal opinions on others as though it is gospel. Why does it have to be his behaviour that broke the marriage down? How do you know what went on behind the scenes? To all the Grant-haters, and to Candice Alley, focus on your own life and stop worrying about how others are living their life. Why does he owe anyone an apology - it was his own furniture that was tossed. Please general public, pull your head in. Grant Hackett hold your head up high, the reason that your sponsors haven't dumped you is because they must know what has really been going on behind the scenes.
Australian Rules
Guest
Agree there Rabbitz. Hackett was a great swimmer...but clearly is a total dill of a bloke. He's a violent drunk and that performance on 60Mins was about him feeling "embarrassed" about the public exposure of those photos, rather than being sorry for being a w*nker to his wife. Staggered that he's still got the Ch9 Olympic gig.
Tim
Guest
I feel sorry for all the Olympians going to London this is not their mess or doing. John Coates should have thought of them in a more respectful way, probably none of them have problems with medication to begin with.
chivasdude
Guest
Having once been a champion athlete does not mean that unacceptable behaviour should be excused or condoned. And his going through a "bitter and public" divorce is no excuse. Why do you think the marriage is in trouble? Could it be his behaviour? The incident in question appeared violent and potentially dangerous to others in the apartment at the time. I do not know why this happened, but the evidence suggests it did. Grant will be better off not looking for excuses and acknowledging that he made a mistake and take steps to ensure this does not happen again. Oh, and an apology to his family (if not fans) would be appropriate to demonstrate contrition. THEN he can start to put this behind him and the press will stop reporting this.
seanmaguire
Guest
I'm not a fan of Hackett but as far as I can tell all he's done is get pissed and trash his house. Hardly the crime of the century and he wouldn't be on the only person out there to react badly to a marriage breakup.
Jackson
Guest
Very well written Will, Hackett is for Hackett should be the headlines, strange timing to release an article about his reliance on stilnox.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Actually, I would suggest that Hackett's media bosses may have leaked the story to protect their image and their media 'property'. As for "once a champion always a champion" what a crock. You can be a champion at a particular event but still be the biggest horses rear end that ever stood upright and drew a breath. Sporting prowess does not make you a good person. Not impressed with your fanboyism Abby
Abby Dexter
Guest
Dear Roar Expert, It never ceases to amaze me the lack of intelligence when writing articles such as this. What I can not fathom is why anyone would believe that Grant Hackett would 'leak' a story about Stilnox - this is the last thing that he would want to be addressing at a time like this. If you do attempt to write further articles regarding Grant Hackett, please ensure that you take into account that he is going through a very bitter and public divorce, and someone other than Grant has more to gain by leaking such a story to the press. Damage control? Please. Not impressed with your lack of insight Will. Grant Hackett - once a champion always a champion.