To think Phillips Idowu is a diva who has 'asked for' his recent treatment from the BOA?

[EugenesAxe]

I haven't really thought about it long so for once I will be happy to hear IABU, but every time I've heard his name recently, it seems to have been in relation to some prima donna-ish/ disrespectful behaviour on his part.

In case you haven't heard, he didn't travel to the athletes' training camp because he wished to remain in the UK for treatment of a hip injury. The BOA have 'publicly' asked him to provide details of this injury... presumably either to verify it is real and that therefore he wasn't taking the piss by not going, or to check it won't affect his performance in the Olympics. His agent has said that Phillips is 'deeply offended' (or words to that effect) that the request wasn't made without release of the news to the media.

I want to know why they are dragging them to Portugal just before the Olympics . Surely the travel and hassle won't do them any good.

(I haven't seen the whole story actually).

Agree with you OP. I think he didn't go to camp for both of those reasons - he's not a team player and he's trying to buy time for the injury.

yABU but just because I'm biased and like his individuality.

I agree with comment about Portugal though, most uk athletes have all their professionals over here, why go to Portugal to come back again :)

I don't see why the media have to know anything about it though, surely a person's medical records are private? And their training regime should be between them and their coach too - if they have made the qualifying time/distance or whatever it is, then turn up on the day and perform as best they can, and pass the dope test, what more can the Board require? They aren't slaves or property, they are people
If he'd refused to attend a random dope test then ok, they'd have cause for complaint, but anything else, no - it is not their business to be in the athlete's lives to that extent. How can they demand they leave the country? It's very intrusive and controlling.

I think the idea of a 'team' of athletes from such a wide variety of sports is a strange one TBH. I can see the logic in taking a football or cricket team somewhere for pre match training, and bonding, but is it really necessary for a gymnast and a triple jumper or a swimmer to hang out in one place? I imagine each individual's training regime is exactly that - individual.

And for all we may refer to it as team GB, - realistically they are competing for individual glory first and foremost.

However, my DH shares your view of Phillips Idowu OP

He is an individual, partaking in an individual event. It is down to him to ensure his preparation is the best possible. If he doesn't believe a team building trip is the best thing for him why should he go?

If someone asked for my medical records via the press rather than privately I don't think I'd be too happy either.

In Individual sports, the best individuals in the world should be free to qualify for and compete in the Olympics without interference from governing bodies or governments and they should be free to represent any country they please.

YANBU. I used to like Phillips, both for his athletic ability and his piercings, wacky hair colours and wotnot. But in the last 2 or 3 years he seems to have become a real Charlie Bigbollocks: a year ago (I think) he posted on Twatter that he couldn't be arsed to take part in the Euro team championships (rather than having the decency to inform the relevant authorities). Regarding the current situation, fair enough if he's got a slight injury or whatever, but he treats the whole set-up with disdain. This camp in Portugal gives the athletes the chance to train in warm weather (which until very recently we didn't have any of), and perhaps more importantly gets them away from the massive amount of media hype over here so they can properly focus on their last-minute preparations. Anyway, it's kind of fitting that he's upset with this being made public seeing as he's such a 'me, me, me' blabbermouth when it suits him.

He doesn't do a team sport, so I don't see the point in all these team building pre-Games training camps, particularly in stiflingly hot countries in the middle of summer. His is an individual sport.

Actually StarBall I agree with you. I'm interested in seeing who the best athletes are and how they perform. I really don't care about how many medals "Team GB" gets. I think too much emphasis on this aspect is bordering on racism actually. Some of the comments about East African athletes dominating distance running and how they should only be eligible for limited prize money in non-national events in the athletics magazine verge on racism.

Good points being made - I am pro-team which is I suppose why I feel a bit the way I do. I can't help feeling his actions might bring others down, when everyone else is striving to buoy each other up and get some kind of corporate bubble of support established.

Just for the record, I think his complaint was about the request itself being public, not the details of his medical notes. But in any case we hear about footballers' groins, metatarsals and hamstrings etc., so when he's a professional sportsman I think it is in the public interest to know a bit about what the problem is.

YABU. He is a professional, and one of the best in his (track and) field. He is quite within his rights to cite injury as a reason not to attend, and the BOA are equally right to request medical evidence. What they should not have done is go public - as if each athlete isn't already under pressure to perform at the 'home' games, let alone a medal hope like Phillips.

It smacks of a personal antipathy due to previous disagreements, and nothing to do with what will help him prepare to the best of his ability.

DH treated me to a 15 minute rant on this very subject yesterday evening...

Cool ChairOTB. Did you get some good material for your post?! I am really not being sarcastic; I thought it might sound so without a... darn I've forgotten the word. Kind of like caveat but I don't think that's the one.