Leonard Harkless commented on this article (and he posted also on facebook) ► Alexander Filimonov: WAF Money Crisis, Doping Control, Uncontrolled Spending

Leonard Harkless – facebook: ” I will respond to the referee portion of this letter. The referee fund that is given to the referee panel is distributed to the referees for help in paying back some of the costs of travel for the referees. This is given out based on a point system. The referees get points based on their referee level and how many days they work. This system ensures that the Master level referees would get more travel money than the Senior level. The Junior level receives no travel money and is there to help in the staging area. This is a huge incentive for the referees to get better and test for a higher level.
The total points are added up and divided into the pool of money collected for the referees from the entry fees. A referee can only receive up to the total cost of transportation, so for instance if the referee earns 800.00 based on the points and their travel is only 150.00, then they only get 150.00 and the extra money is used for other referees travel. We have master referees with travel costs of 1800.00 and they only get 900.00, The referee panel and myself have been using this system since 2002 when the referees first started receiving some of their travel expenses. I know that there is arguments about other issues with money but other than some of our money being used last year for the technical staff, which I was very upset about, the referees should be left out of these discussions.

Leonard Harkless
WAF Head Referee “

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Click to see all articles about #36th World Armwrestling Championships 2014 (WAF)

Last month on 01 Octomber 2014, Alexander Filimonov, who is the Vice President of European Armwrestling Federation (EAF) and President of Russian Armsport Association (RAA), sent an official letter (in English language) to Assen Hadjitodorov (WAF and EAF President): Letter regarding the 36th World Armwrestling Championships 2014 WorldArm.

Now, a month later after sending the official letter, Alexander Filimonov still didn’t receive any answers.

Alexander Filimonov states that is still not clear what constitutes an amount of 250 Euro per sample, therefore he asks Assen Hadjitodorov to provide an official document from the WADA accredited laboratory in Greece, where WAF handed (according to Assen Hadjitodorov) 62 samples from the 36th World Armwrestling Championships 2014 (WAF), Lithuania.

This document must contain, among other things – the amount of payment and details of who will pay. Having the document is important so we can easily calculate the cost per sample. This document is important also because the majority of WAF members (including Alexander Filimonov) are skeptical that all 62 samples were transferred to the laboratory and paid.

According to Assen Hadjitodorov the payment, for the doping control of the 62 samples was made at the expense of the Lithuanian Armwrestling Federation (but this was still not proved with an official document from from the WADA accredited laboratory in Greece).

This is a surprising fact, for several reasons: 1. Firstly, the payment of doping control is always performed at the expense of WAF-EAF (as the organizer of the European Championship in 2010, Alexander Filimonov can confirm this!).

2. Secondly, it is unclear where and how the sum of 15 500 Euros (62 samples * 250 euros = 15 500 Euros) appeared in the Lithuanian Armwrestling Federation, because doping control it was not its duty (this is always the responsibility of WAF). After all, we have witnessed the President of the Lithuanian Armwrestling Federation, who told us about his financial insolvency!

There are many other issues reported by Alexander Filimonov, you can read them below, Google translate is not perfect but you can get the idea:

Source: armsport-rus.ru │ Google Translate:

Press Service of the PAA recalls that placement of these materials due to the lack of confidence in the president WAF, Assen Hadzhitodorovu, and we consider it necessary to voice community sports official position of the Russian Association armsport (PAA) for each problematic sectors vital WAF separately. 

Member of the Directorate of  WAF, first vice president  EAF, Aleksandr Filimonov’s financial situation. 

Here we come to the most important issue.

Money WAF.

Whereas before, when he was president of the board of the previous WAF, to understand where the money is spent overall, and on what basis – it was very difficult, but now it has become even more difficult to do!

Financial resources EAF and WAF is now concentrated in the same hands – Assen Hadzhitodorova. This has never happened in the history of our sport. I think that in other sports such combination is unlikely.

As can be seen from recent events – it is absolutely not acceptable!

The man was not able to properly assess the crisis situation in the world championship in Lithuania and plucked, as is now obvious, the main event of the year. Spit on athletes and deprived them of opportunities to get the blood and sweat, medals conquered!

So, we shall understand the main problem areas of the budget WAF.

 

1. This, of course, pay the costs of organizing doping control at European and world championships.

It is still not clear of what constitutes an amount of EUR 250 per sample. On my repeated requests to President WAF provide relevant documents – silence.

A document need only one – for example, from the WADA-accredited laboratory in Greece, where WAF handed (according to the most Assen Hadzhitodorova) 62 samples from the World Championship in Lithuania.

This document must contain, among other things – the amount of payment and details of who will pay. Having the document so we can easily calculate the cost per sample.

This document is important also because the majority of members of the WAF (including myself) are skeptical that all 62 samples were transferred to the laboratory and paid. Can only be part of the samples (you can guess from 6 to 62) is passed, and the other is not.

According to Assen, the payment of research in 62 samples of Greek laboratories was carried Lithuanian federation. This is a surprising fact, for several reasons:

Firstly, payment of doping control is always performed at the expense of WAF-EAF (as the organizer of the European Championship in 2010, I can confirm this!). The organizer was obliged to provide for its own account only the group “officers” WADA, with the appropriate equipment (containers, drinking water, etc.);

Secondly, it is unclear where in the Lithuanian federation appeared sum of 15 500 euros (62 samples multiplied by 250 euros) is not scheduled for doping control (remember, it has always been an area of ​​responsibility WAF)? After all, we have witnessed in the wings of the Lithuanian federation president, who told us about his financial insolvency!

I suggest to remember also, the episode a year ago, when the Congress WAF Poland Brazilian World Cup organizer Mr. Pantsetti was asked a similar question: “In which the laboratory and for what sum was made the analysis of doping samples from the last World Cup in Sao Paulo?” . Documents confirming this procedure – out!

Pantsetti long explained that the laboratory is very far and get the documents from them is very difficult! Funny, is not it?Nevertheless, he set a deadline of three months to ensure that it is related to this “distant” Laboratory and submitted the necessary financial documents.

It should be noted that in most of Brazil WADA-accredited laboratory is not! This can be easily checked

No documents not. A similar situation was in America – the amount of the doping control in financial reports is – financial documents, confirming the data of waste – no.

But in Lithuania, the situation is quite complicated. On what basis, suddenly, the Lithuanian Federation paid a drug test?What changed the contract for the organizer European and World Championships? Why is this no one knows?

I asked Assen send me a contract with WAF Lithuanian Federation for organizing the World Championship in Lithuania (note that this is public information) – in response to the silence.

But to remain silent on all issues at Assen Hadzhitodorova fail. We have, after all, a democratic organization, albeit with a tilt towards the usurpation of power by one person!

 

2. Uncontrolled spending WAF.

For all the participants of the Congress WAF in Lithuania became a surprise graph in financial report for 2013, where the expenditure was specified amount – minus 18, 000. To the representative of the United States – “Who paid the money?”, Assen, not embarrassed, replied – “I am.”

This means that Assen, in principle, could write in the report, minus 100, 000 or a million, and announce that it is his and he is spending, for example, took out a loan and now we have to pay interest to the bank. All of us!

But why? Who authorized him to invest in the WAF their own money? At what point WAF lose their independence and become a debtor Assen Hadzhitodorova?

This is completely unacceptable!

Assen is not entitled to invest in our common organization of personal funds without public discussion!

To exclude such a situation in the future, you must enter the position of Treasurer! Money should not be the president of the organization. This practice is all normal federations! Moreover, the Treasurer must be from another country.

This eliminates the danger of temptation president of the organization to spend money in its sole discretion!

 

3. Spending on refereeing.

Fully closed topic. Known only to the sum of percent of the total contributions of the championship, which is passed to the Chief Judge.

Then everything is clear. How much, to whom, for what and why – he knows only one man – Leonard Harkles. He alone decides who pay for air tickets, accommodation, food and work, and who only work.

This is not correct. Everything must be known in advance and agreed with the Treasurer. Nothing else.

 

In conclusion, once again refer Assen Hadzhitodorovu questions: 

1 month from the date of completion of the World Championship in Lithuania took place. Where medals ?! 

2. The results of the doping control are known. Where an official document from the laboratory, showing the amount of payment for this procedure ?! 

3. Where information Pantsetti punishment for misconduct at the World Championships in Lithuania ?!

Where a public apology (Online WAF) Mr Pantsetti for publicly insulting the girls at the World Cup, or he did not repent of their deeds ?! 

4. On what basis doping control paying federation of Lithuania? 

5. As will be punished for the failure of the Lithuanian Federation World Championship in Lithuania? Apart from anything else, there was a television broadcast, and after all due to the failure to organize a live television broadcast, the US delegation has lost the right to host the World Cup 2015 in Las Vegas!

Source: armsport-rus.ru │ Google Translate

World Armwrestling Federation WAF (31 October 2014):

COMMUNICATION FROM DOPING CONTROL COMMITTEE /

RESULTS AFTER DOPING CONTROL AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2014 IN VILNIUS
Here is the list of positive cases at the last WORLDARM 2014 in Vilnius.

LIST OF POSITIVE CASES AT WORLDARM 2014 in Vilnius // 62 tests have been made in total

There are 4 positive cases, ( A-sample) and 2 atypical findings with high T/E ratio.

For the 2 atypical values, we must wait for an extra IRMS analysis.

I will send the notification letter to these athletes, and they are under provisional suspension from 1 NOV 2014.

The athletes and their National Federation will get an e-mail and a letter of notification for the Positive case findings.

J-F ANDRE
Director of Doping Control Committee

See ► POLL: Who is to blame for the mess at the 36th World Armwrestling Championships 2014 (WAF) ?

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