salty

To be fair I did stress that the report only came from the Ward camp. The sub judice nature of the case has meant that all we have learned (or been told) since last August has come from the Ward side. Edit: Reply to Starry - rightly so. The FIM have maintained silence over the matter which is absolutely they way it should be until they have a decision to impart. Once lawyers are involved then it is the only way to be.

To be fair to Middlo and Ward the reports after the hearing were that they would be told within a week what the outcome was. Although again that has only been reported via the Ward camp, nothing from the FIM. Quote from Middlo in last weeks Star "They did say they would give a decision this week" However, Middlo also says they "could take two months if they want - it's up to them" which suggests numeracy might not be his strongest subject.

I can't believe we allow someone in an "UNOFFICIAL" capacity to put those names on the board after the draws for the semi-finals and final. No wonder the sport is such a shambles...

I don't think anyone is seriously suggesting Ward was falling down drunk, we are just illustrating that nobody truly knows the extent with which he was over the limit. The fact remains that he apparently was over the limit and that is the crucial fact. All comments following the test have come from the Ward camp. Totally agree with you that his legal team are probably raging that Darcy did his interview - my understanding is that rule 1 from any lawyer is "say nothing!!!" Since then your magazine has given Neil Middleditch plenty of opportunities to air his views on the matter, yet obviously we have heard nothing from the FIM. A lot of the 245 pages on this thread has been a reaction to Middleditch's (and Ford's) comments.

Fair play to you Starry. A true Speedway fan putting the sport before their individual club.

So you agree a 2 year ban for Ward then? Surely as you are so keen to root out these type of misdemeanours you can agree that an example needs to be made?

Maybe the FIM will grow a pair and ban Ward for 2 years. Sending out a clear message that alcohol and Speedway don't mix. Surely anyone who doesn't agree can't call themselves a true Speedway fan. Would have far more effect than tinkering with the testing.

Totally agree. I was mocking Middlo's latest diatribe. Given his oft mentioned role as Darcy's "surrogate father", is it possible the FIM will take a dim view of his witterings and accusations in all forms of media? Hard to see a "lesson being learnt" when someone so close to the rider is unable to grasp the gravity of the riders misdemeanour. A more thoughtful and considered response from someone in Middlo's position might have used the words support and rehab, rather than poor kid and disgrace.

Harsh words. Anyone can see that what Darcy is being put through is akin to "mental torture", which is clearly "disgraceful". It really is "dreadful", what with him having to pay to travel to Geneva for the hearing.

Unless it's a (Forth) team tournament.

No Bernie???? Given that Michanek only rode part of a season before being sacked I wouldn't contemplate putting in a Heathens septet. Probably put John Boulger in before Wiggy. 1. Persson 2. Penhall 3. Gundersen 4. Hancock 5. Hamill 6. Janno 7. Johnny B

To be fair to Middlo he didn't call you retarded, he asked if you were retarded. Which is slightly different, but the whole tone of his exchange left no doubt of the offensive nature. For a team manager to conduct himself in such a manner is pretty demeaning, you would never expect people in similar positions in other sports getting so personal and offensive. As others have said, riders have been punished for bringing the sport into disrepute on social media and if the SCB have any regard for the public image of the sport one would expect Middleditch to be brought to book for his comments. The Poole management haven't covered themselves in glory throughout the Ward fiasco. From Middlo's initial "mitigating circumstances", to Ford "Hopefully he'll get off" to Middlo talking about "lots of grounds for appeal" whilst at the same time saying he didn't know what the alcohol readings were. We then had the tweet on Friday - "No decision till next week!!!What the hell is going on! #fimareajoke" which showed Middlo had no idea of the disciplinary process. One would have expected someone in his position to be familiar with FIM Anti-doping code so that he would have known there would be a period of deliberation before a decision was known.

Right, so Phillip Rising who has been involved with the sport as a journalist for the best part of 40 years has "no idea". I might not agree with some of Phil's views but I think it is fair to say he has a pretty good idea how things work within the sport. Certainly more than "Mr Disapline and Mr Gaul" - to pick two of your more comical mistakes in the past 24 hours.

Always thought the bikes were stolen prior to the 1972 Final.

Hold on my friend, I'm not saying I believe what was written. I merely reproduced what was written.

I was reading an article on Bob Andrews (ex World Finalist in the 60's) earlier today and there was this mention of cheating...... "There followed discussion on cheating in speedway and Bob told of working on the motor of a prominent Kiwi and he trued the flywheels then the piston would not fit and he checked and it was a 750cc barrel and piston! “At Wembly in the old days cheating was rife. Imagine this. A story I was told years ago by an International rider. It’s World Final time and a rider has a 750cc and a 500cc. For practice on the Thursday, he runs both bikes but only gets the 500cc scrutineered. They write down all the frame and engine numbers. So both bikes have the same numbers. “Then on race night he rides the 750cc and cleans up in the heats then wins his last race, which may be heat 17 in a 20 heat meeting, and while the celebrations are going on, on the track, the winner is thrown up in the air, photographs are being taken and his bike is wheeled away down the ramp to the gates where his 500cc has been warmed up outside the track, the bikes are swapped, and the 500cc.is brought into the pits. It still has dirt on it from the practice, so the winner’s mechanics are cleaning the bike. Then the scrutineer seals the bikes engine and takes it away for checking and the ‘big’ bike is on a trailer heading South or North.” I wonder did that ever happen.??"

Yes, guilty as charged. Thats what comes of glancing at a post whilst cooking the tea.

Sorry? Not saying I'm a legal expert, but I can read the relevant passage out of the FIM Anti-doping code, which says notification of a decision will be in writing within 45 days.

Don't know why Middlo's flabber is so gasted. If he'd bothered to read the FIM Doping code he would have seen..... 8.2.1 The International Disciplinary Court (CDI) shall issue a written decision within 45 days from the date of the end of the hearing or from the date the case has been referred to the panel when the hearing has been waived in accordance with Article 7.10.2. The decision shall include the full reasons for the decision and for any period of Ineligibility imposed, including (if applicable) a justification for why the greatest potential Consequences were not imposed. The decision shall be written in English or in French. But as he says in this weeks Speedway Star (albeit in a different context) "I really don't know the legal system"

Absolutely. This is so unfair. Surely #EnoughisEnough.

Seriously??? The "poor Darcy" hype is making me want to guff.

Which would explain Starry's belief it might happen.

The current FIM Anti-doping code merely says that "hearings shall be scheduled and completed within a reasonable time". Reasonable is a wonderful word as it is open to a multitude of definitions (a bit like on this thread where we have a wide range of "reasonable" punishments). One suspects in this case the FIM's definition of a reasonable time is quite different to those supporting Ward. But once you enter the legal world then time has a rather abstract feel to it especially when you are paying by the hour!

Do you really think that Ward's legal team would make such a move? Woulod be quite risky going up against the FIM in such a manner. What Alan Jones "writ" (nice freudian slip given the legalistic nature of the thread) was just a copy of the FIM regs, not a figment of his imagination. But we will wait and see who is right and who is wrong.

Starry, as Alan Jones pointed out last week (in the above quote) - Darcy will not have a claim.