Opinion
A few weeks ago there was a significant development in the integrity of Australian sport. Swimmer, Shayna Jack, made her return to the pool after almost three years out of competitive sport due to a doping ban.
The problem is, no one wanted to cover this story, or at least, cover it properly.
In essence, Jack made a bid to return to competition at the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide. Not only did she secure a spot back on the Dolphins Squad, but she also won the 50m Freestyle with a personal best time, becoming the new Australian champion in this disciple.
Yet when I shared this news update on my Instagram Story, a friend replied asking, ‘why are you putting your name to a post that supports a ‘drug cheat?’
After reflecting on this question for a good hour, I felt irritated because on legal grounds, Jack had cleared her name.
Jack has endured two hearings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), a feat that cannot be underestimated, in and of itself. One of these hearings was an appeal whereby a panel of three arbitrators found that Jack did not intentionally take the banned substance of Ligandrol.
Moreover, CAS found that she was ‘an honest and credible witness’.
But to many within the mainstream media and the Australian public, Jack’s name is and always will be tainted by the label ‘drug cheat’.
Shayna Jack (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
This is a problem. Doping allegations fundamentally ruin sporting careers. While positive test results must be critiqued to the highest level, for without this sport would lose its integrity, I wonder if we must also ruin the lives of athletes during this process?
Shayna Jack did not deserve the treatment she received when this story broke and she was 20 years old. And how are we treating her today? While she soaks in the personal glory of a remarkable sporting and mental comeback, many of us still feel entitled to call her a drug cheat.
Shayna Jack is not a drug cheat; Lance Armstrong is.
Did we roll out this phrase for Willie Rioli when he returned to the AFL after he was caught using a Gatorade bottle to conceal cannabis in his system? No we did not. As a nation, we collectively laughed at Betoota Advocate headlines and made memes.
Most importantly, we forgave him — both in the media, and in the minds of the collective public psyche.
So why is it that female athletes, particularly younger women or athletes of colour, are treated in this way? I would argue that it is because no one inside the top ranks of Australian Sports Administration or Sports Media is writing from the lived experience of Shayna Jack.
But it’s not just Jack that I am worried about. Doping allegations aside, the fundamental issue here is how we are treating young women more broadly in Australian Sport.
Remember Maddie Groves? Another incredibly brave swimmer who alleged she was bullied and sexually harassed by a male coach employed by Swimming Australia (SA).
The response at the time by Kieran Perkins (President of SA), was quite frankly, appalling. Publicly, he demonstrated a lack of empathy and understanding, even calling into question Groves’ past medical issues. The fact Groves suffers from two chronic illnesses (endometriosis and adenomyosis), has nothing to do with the factual basis of her assault complaint.
Additionally, Perkins convened a ‘female only panel’ to investigate. This decision was celebrated by many people in the media. To me, it says Perkins is snubbing this issue off as a ‘women’s problem’. The only prerequisite for a person to be selected on an employment law panel should be that they can bring an objective mind to the role. Investigating right & wrong has nothing to do with gender.
If you listen, you will see this pattern is present in others sports too.
Less than a month ago, Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) referred three cases to Police after two former Matildas players, Lisa De Vanna and Rhali Dobson, alleged historical allegations of sexual harassment, indecent assault, grooming, predatory behaviour and bullying.
Shayna Jack. (Photo by Delly Carr/Getty Images)
If this is what is happening to our young female athletes in the highest echelons of Australian Sport, what the hell is going on at the grassroots level where high-performance, visibility, sponsorship money, and gold medals can offer no protection?
The administration of Sport in this country and the way we consume media around Women’s Sport, demands a serious re-shuffle.
The fact that Kieran Perkins handled the Groves’ complaint so poorly is not because he is an awful person. It is because he is ignorant to that lived experience – something he did not have to deal with in his own sporting career.
The fact that Shayna Jack’s name remains tarnished, yet Willie Rioli’s does not, is because so many of the writers with secure jobs in traditional newsrooms lack the perspective of a 20 year-old girl. Need I point to the way that Megan Barnard was spoken about by her OWN colleagues at Fox?
Ultimately, all I am saying is there is a lesson to be learnt here.
Meaningful organisational change by employing more women in Sports Media and Governance roles will take time. However, what we can change right now is the way we respond to athletes when they have a story to tell us, the Australian public.
We need to offer more empathy and forgiveness before we ruin the career, and most importantly, the LIFE of another young woman.
What’s your best bet? For great odds on all your favourite sports check out PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Olympic swimming legend and Australian Sports Commission boss Kieren Perkins has warned that "someone will die" if a multi-sport event that allows athletes to…
Peter Bol will return to racing in Australia next weekend for the first time since his provisional doping ban was lifted. Bol will race…
The South African former Paralympic star has been granted parole effective from January 5
Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum has shattered the men's marathon world record, winning in two hours, 35 seconds in Chicago to beat compatriot Eliud Kipchoge's previous mark by…
With Budapest 2023 run and won, the world's best now turn their attention to the Diamond League final in mid-September as they prepare themselves…
"The nightmare of Eugene has followed him here to Budapest" came the call from Rob Walker in the commentary box as the men’s 1500m…
