USRowing is pleased to announce that the American Arbitration Association has found in favor of USRowing in Case No. 77 190 E 00189 08 JENF, once again confirming USRowing's right to select its boats of four or more people through an open selection camp process and rejecting Mr. Greg Ruckman's claim that he had been denied an opportunity to compete for a place in the lightweight men's four.
The Arbitrator's ruling stated:
Mr. Ruckman's claims are denied in their entirety. Mr. Ruckman has not proved an Article IX claim as he has not demonstrated any denial of opportunity to participate, nor has he asserted, let alone proved, that he made an effort to qualify and rules were improperly enforced against him, preventing him from competing.
The Arbitrator continued:
Vince Lombardi to the contrary notwithstanding, one time-honored quality of an athlete is that he or she be a good loser. While usually limited to the field of play, this quality has wide applicability, including, I suggest, arbitration. Mr. Ruckman has tried mightily to persuade (USRowing) and the USOC of his views and failed. He has also tried mightily to overturn the entire 2008 Selection Procedure in the Booth arbitration, and lost. And, he has tried in this arbitration to get a Speed Order race replaced by open competitive trials, and lost. I respectfully suggest it is time for Mr. Ruckman to select another venue for his arguments.
"We are excited that the arbitrator reaffirmed what the arbitration panel decided 10 weeks ago in Mr. Ruckman's first case involving our open selection camp process," said USRowing Executive Director Glenn Merry. "I believe the arbitrator summarized it very well. It's time to prepare the team for Beijing."
For the full text of the ruling, click here.
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