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Hello, Elle!
If you saw the documentary on Budd/Decker and the treatment dished out to Zola when she was young it would turn you off "sport".
Used by her father and the Daily Mail for financial reasons.
Must have been awful for her.
Her father was murdered, you know, and left instructions in his will that forbade Zola attending his funeral.
I admire Zola Budd.
A fine woman.

Hi, Rusty!
So is the investigation on Lizzie still ongoing?
Might she yet lose her place on the GB team?
I have just been reading an interview she gave "explaining" how she came to miss the three tests.
Taken individually, each reason/excuse sounds (almost) plausible - but taken collectively the "excuses" surely become inviable.
She had to be aware of the implications and consequences?
Is it likely that Dani King will be offered Lizzie's place on the GB team?
I wasn't able to watch the documentary about Zola and Mary Decker.....but I have read quite a lot about Zola.
She had quite a stressful private life, too, didn't she?
Apart from her struggles on the athletic field (with apartheid etc)

Hi elle
I would prefer to think I am merely indifferent, even if I have given a worse impression! Though if the TV is wall to wall sport and I'm missing Pointless and Eggheads, yes I do get cross. There are some martial arts I have even been known to watch, but only because the participants were relatives!
So many sports seem corrupt from top to bottom, presumably because of the huge sums of money involved. The sum paid for the latest football transfer would feed and educate thousands of children for years!
Do you think proper regulation is possible?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, Zola was booed every time she ran because of apartheid.
This started when she was a young girl.
She grew up with a black South African family.
She could barely speak English then.
And it did not help when Decker fell.
She seems at peace now.
I agree regarding Lizzie.
Anyone can miss ONE test.
But not three, although officially it is now two.
In his book, Tyler Hamilton, the American cyclist, tells how they deceived the testers. They simply hid when they came calling.
Not unlike the "panic room" situation.
Dani is/was on unofficial standby for the games.
She has been in the company of Jo Rowsell (who has defended Lizzie) and Laura Trott, who are heading to the games.
I thought that slightly odd although she used to ride with them.
Then the news of Lizzie broke, and then I realised that she was probably at the holding camp in Newport.
Remember, Lance Armstrong never failed a test, but bribery changed the results of more than one.
There are solutions to every problem!

Good afternoon, Rusty!
I do not know Tyler Hamilton.......but the "hiding" situation, when dope testers come a - calling, rings more than one bell...... not only with Miss Panic Room, but what about Mo Farah not answering his door after - was it seven? - knocks?
I don't think there was ever any follow-up on that?
Mo has spoken out loud and long about being strongly against doping.......but it was odd......even though no one wanted to go down that road......?
This falling of heroes/ heroine from their pedestals is a hard thing with which to come to terms.
But enough!
The sun is shining and the sky is blue!
I am away to walk the dog!
By the time I return, something miraculous might have happened and all will be well in the sporting world!
Ummm.......well, I can but dream......and retain (some) illusions for another few hours.......
Have you yourself been out for a walk?

Hello, Elle,
Tyler rode with Armstrong on the US Postal Team.
He has admitted all his doping.
As far as I can remember Mo had two missed tests leading up to the London Games. Not dissimilar to Lizzie.
The majority of my cycling heros took drugs.
Right back to the days of Fausto Coppi, and Anquetil.
Eddy Merckx was the best rider ever. He failed drug tests.
Lizzie has put a piece on Twitter explaining what happened.
She blames others, and putting her family before cycling.
I think, Elle, there are many doped athletes.
We have a GB marathon runner training in a heat chamber to get ready for Rio. Is that acceptable?
It is a fine day here, so off for a walk.
There is another silly clue in Times Today, but I have forgotten it!

Elle, I meant to say.
BBC have EIGHT dedicated Olympic Red Button channels.
The first action takes place today.
Women's football.

Rusty, I wonder if your 'silly clue' is the same as my silly clue? From today's Times Cryptic...
25 A . Picked up Caribbean island meal? (4,3)

I disliked this intensely!

That is one of them, Malone!
Also,
Driver needs this brown stuff, by the sound of it. (3,3)
Made me growl!

Thanks, Rusty, I too didn't like that second clue. I feel there's some inane stuff appearing in my crosswords these days!