FM Bill Kelleher has just submitted a report to the USCF Executive Board
about the latest FIDE meeting.

Here is the response I sent to Bill and the rest of the Executive Board:

Bill,

Thank you for your detailed report.

With all due respect, and please don't take this personally, I think you and
the rest of our FIDE "Team" should resign, for failing to pursue vigorously
your instructions from the USCF Delegates to campaign actively against drug
testing.

I note in particular the following items from your letter:

" ... all drug offences will fall into the unintentional category. The
penalties for these unintentional offences a 1st Offence, warning; 2nd
Offence, 2 year ban from competition, 3rd Offence: lifetime ban."

"Therefore the Executive Board should seriously consider requiring
prospective Olympiad team members to sign a waiver agreeing to be tested."

It is not acceptable to me that U.S. chessplayers should face possible
sanctions, including 2-year bans or lifetime bans from chess competition.

Therefore, I will introduce a motion at the next Executive Board meeting, as
follows:

"That the USCF dismiss all its representatives to FIDE from their duties,
and replace them with persons who will carry out the USCF Delegates' mandate
to campaign vigorously and effectively against drug testing for
chessplayers."

Tim Hanke

On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 17:47:49 GMT, "Tim Hanke"
wrote:

Therefore, I will introduce a motion at the next Executive Board meeting, as
follows:

"That the USCF dismiss all its representatives to FIDE from their duties,
and replace them with persons who will carry out the USCF Delegates' mandate
to campaign vigorously and effectively against drug testing for
chessplayers."

Tim Hanke

Excellent.

From: Mike Murray
Date: 18/11/03 17:56 GMT Standard Time
Message-id:

On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 17:47:49 GMT, "Tim Hanke"
wrote:

Therefore, I will introduce a motion at the next Executive Board meeting, as
follows:

"That the USCF dismiss all its representatives to FIDE from their duties,
and replace them with persons who will carry out the USCF Delegates' mandate
to campaign vigorously and effectively against drug testing for
chessplayers."

Tim Hanke

Excellent.


Yep. I agree wholeheartedly.

Mark Houlsby

THE HANKE MOTION

By Larry Parr

Tim Hanke's motion to force the resignation of our entire FIDE
"team" (meaning Steve Doyle, Bill Kelleher and Robert Tanner) will likely not
be voted on by the Board -- up or down. It will be tabled, referred to some
committee and the like.

Still, the vote on not voting on the resolution will tell us a lot.
It will tell us whether the time has come for a major petition campaign against
what our FIDE "team" is attempting to foist on U.S. chess.

Mr. Hanke mentions that our "team" has made no real effort to
campaign against drug testing. He's right.

Our "team" has done none of the following:

1. It did not send out a circular letter to the FIDE nations explaining the
USCF position;

2. It did not hold any seminars or meetings against drug testing;

3. It produced no position papers;

4. It held no press conferences;

5. It issued no statements over the Internet to the major chess outlets
around the world;

6. It did not even produce a single-page flyer for the FIDE Congress meeting;

7. At the FIDE Congress, it hosted no special meetings devoted to campaigning
against drug testing in chess.

Instead, our "team" claimed to make two speeches at the Congress
proper. It also supported a resolution on drug testing calling on FIDE to keep
testing at a minimum unless otherwise required by the IOC.

Our "team," under Resolution No. 64, was called upon "to actively
campaign at all FIDE meetings against the practice of requiring drug testing at
any chess tournament or match."

So, then, our "team," which was instructed "to actively campaign"
against drug testing "at any chess tournament or match," ended up SUPPORTING
drug testing in any of the instances that FIDE would deem necessary.

Moreover, we now know which instances that FIDE may deem necessary.
Article 3.1 of the FIDE Drug Code reads, "FIDE is entitled to carry out doping
control on any competitor in any FIDE Competition."

For the moment, FIDE does not have the power to enforce this universal
writ. But their intention is clear.

If we do not have a wholesale change in the FIDE "team" very quickly,
then there will have to be a nationwide petition campaign that will prove,
unfortunately, very messy and costly for everyone.

We know that an astonishing number of USCF members feel very deeply on
this issue, and we believe many will reassess their commitment to the
Federation rather than support an organization involved in undermining basic
privacy.

Drug testing is about careers for our FIDEistas and about members of our
"team" fitting in at FIDE meetings with the other politicians -- such as the
instance in which Bill Kelleher in one of his reports could dismiss the
disappearance of 250,000 Swiss francs from FIDE coffers as "a minor scandal."
It is about this special mindset. It is about being one of the boys. Drug
testing is not about what players want.

TIM REDMAN'S REPORT

By Larry Parr

I’m in between meetings and end-of-semester work so I will reply at length
later. I will note one clarification, however. There will be no drug testing
of children under these regulations. I’ll comment on other matters at a
later date. -- Tim Redman in a mass e-mail to USCF insiders. My reply is
followed by a report by Mr. Redman, who just got back from the FIDE meeting in
Greece (at whose expense?) and a response to him by Timothy Hanke.

Dear Mr. Redman,

You write, "There will be no drug testing of children under these
regulations."

The regulations appear as Annex 46a of the last FIDE Congress
papers.

It may be that no children will be tested right now, but your claim
that the testing will not or cannot (?) occur under the regulations runs
contrary to what the regulations actually say.

Once again, I quote from Articler 3.1: "FIDE is entitled to carry
out doping control on any competitor in any FIDE Competition."

The phrase, "on any competitor," does not add, "except for those under
age 12" or some such. The phrase "in any FIDE Competition" does not exempt
this or that tournament. The phrase in Article 3.4, "all other events," leaves
open the prospect of univeral drug testing once FIDE can summon the power to
enforce its writ.

If your argument amounts to "it can't happen here" or that "I have
been assured by Dr. Bellin and by ...," etc., then we each grant those
assertions the credulity that we may each believe they deserve.

Given the nature of the drug regulations, several of the pro-drug
testers have taken to arguing that FIDE has yet to do this or that, though it
has the sanction under the regulation. Right. We all understand that FIDE
cannot rush into the U.S. Scholastic Championships. It currently lacks the
power, though under Article 3.4, both FIDE and the USCF may undertake such drug
testing.

Still, Tim, I think the issue is clearly going to the USCF
membership. What we write here will not make much difference.

There is a pro-drug testing majority on the Executive Board which is
prepared to ignore the will of American players in service to FIDE.

The last opportunity for such a battle not to take place will be
whether the Board clearly rejects the FIDE Code and replaces the current
pro-drug testing "team."

That will almost certainly not happen, and the lines will
unfortunately be drawn. One wishes to avoid such a damaging conflict -- and it
will prove damaging -- but too many members of the current Executive Board are
thinking about their future prospects in FIDE or simply desire to stay friends
with old comrades.

Players will have to decide whether they wish to support an
organization, the USCF, that clearly intends to foist drug testing on American
players when the moment becomes ripe.

Yours, Larry Parr

TIM REDMAN'S REPORT

It is difficult to think of what we might have done. It turns out that I was
on the Medical Commission, though no one had told me about that and I didn’t
find out until I arrived in Helkidiki. Luckily I found out before the
Commission meeting so I could attend. I did introduce three wording changes
that made the intent clearer. John McCrary I knew was on the Commission, but
he was not there and I don’t know what he did for the past year. I also
attended the Commission meeting in Bled, so I knew the history.

What actually transpired was that as soon as the WADA regulations were
proposed, FIDE President Ilyumzhinov signed an agreement to follow them. That
was, I believe, last March; FIDE was one of the first of the international
sports federations to sign on to the agreement. At that point the Chair of
the Commission, Dr. Bellin, a physician, Women’s International Master, and
former member of the British Women’s Olympiad Team, and another commission
member worked together to devise the absolute minimum testing the FIDE could do
an still remain in compliance with WADA. In that Dr. Bellin was very
effective. If the Presidential Board approves the amended regulations, they
will go to WADA for its review. If they pass that, they will go into effect
August 1, 2004.

Chess has become part of the Continental Games, a subset apparently of the
Olympic movement, in both Asia and most recently in Africa. Many national
chess federations rely upon their national Olympic committees for monetary
support, as John Fernandez documented in his report in the last Delegates’
Call. My report on the meeting in Bled is also there. The practical problem
facing the delegation is twofold. The first is that we were presented with a
fait accompli. The second is that there is no support in FIDE for withdrawing
from the IOC and WADA.

Although I no longer visit rec.games.chess.politics, I remember past posting on
it and within the FIDE Advisory Committee last year, largely from my friend
Larry Parr, who is vigorously opposed to drug testing on coherent ideological
grounds. The problems with Larry’s posts is that he has never to my
knowledge actually attended a FIDE meeting, and so he has little understanding
of what the U.S. can and cannot do there. FIDE is committed to IOC. The USCF
can choose to withdraw from FIDE, but that is our only option.

When the FIDE drug testing rules are approved by WADA, I told Beatriz that I
would be willing to write an article for Chess Life reporting on what has
happened over the past couple of years since the Delegate motion in, I believe,
Framinghan.

At the same time you should know that although I’m not wildly enthusiastic
about drug testing, I think it is inevitable, and I think that the strong
players themselves will eventually raise the question again. You may have seen
the article in the September issue of Scientific American, “In Quest of the
Smart Pill.� The authors document the many ongoing attempts to develop drugs
that enhance memory and cognition. I was aware of these efforts, that enjoy
considerable commercial funding, because, aided by a colleague in biology here
at the University of Texas at Dallas, I did a literature search more than a
year ago that made me aware of the many efforts being made. Forbes, I recall,
also did an article about a year ago about the major commercial firms engaged
in this research. With the aging of the baby boomers, these firms see enormous
profits potential in such drugs.

The question for chess will then be to what extent such drugs, as they are
developed, should be allowed. Already the illegal use of Ritalin to improve
performance on tests is widespread on many college campuses.

The Executive Board is free to appoint or dismiss its representatives as it
sees fit. But I think that Bill Kelleher and Robert Tanner are an effective
FIDE team for the USCF (and, unlike Larry Parr, I have been attending these
meetings on and off since 1981), and I was happy to help them out when I could.

Cordially,
Tim Redman

TIM HANKE TO TIM REDMAN

Thank you for your thoughtful remarks.

Unfortunately, I am not interested in thoughtful remarks. I am interested in
seeing our FIDE representatives do their clear duty--mandated by the USCF
Delegates--which is to vigorously oppose drug-testing of chessplayers.

At present, FIDE rules state that two unintentional drug-testing "violations"
will get our players banned from international chess for 2 years--and a third
"violation" will get our players banned from chess for life!!!

It is not necessary to withdraw from FIDE over this issue, as you suggest
(though I do support withdrawing from FIDE, for this reason and because of
FIDE's overall corruption and malfeasance).

It is enough to state that USCF is completely opposed to drug-testing
chessplayers, and we will not submit to it.

That is what I would do, and that is what USCF would do if I were surrounded by
other responsible individuals with a backbone, instead of spineless politicians
and FIDE apologists.

Wanna buy some mandies, Larry?

"Parrthenon" wrote in message
...

TIM REDMAN'S REPORT

By Larry Parr

I'm in between meetings and end-of-semester work so I will reply at
length
later. I will note one clarification, however. There will be no drug
testing
of children under these regulations. I'll comment on other matters at a
later date. -- Tim Redman in a mass e-mail to USCF insiders. My reply is
followed by a report by Mr. Redman, who just got back from the FIDE
meeting in
Greece (at whose expense?) and a response to him by Timothy Hanke.

Dear Mr. Redman,

You write, "There will be no drug testing of children under
these
regulations."

The regulations appear as Annex 46a of the last FIDE Congress
papers.

It may be that no children will be tested right now, but your
claim
that the testing will not or cannot (?) occur under the regulations runs
contrary to what the regulations actually say.

Once again, I quote from Articler 3.1: "FIDE is entitled to
carry
out doping control on any competitor in any FIDE Competition."

The phrase, "on any competitor," does not add, "except for those
under
age 12" or some such. The phrase "in any FIDE Competition" does not
exempt
this or that tournament. The phrase in Article 3.4, "all other events,"
leaves
open the prospect of univeral drug testing once FIDE can summon the power
to
enforce its writ.

If your argument amounts to "it can't happen here" or that "I
have
been assured by Dr. Bellin and by ...," etc., then we each grant those
assertions the credulity that we may each believe they deserve.

Given the nature of the drug regulations, several of the pro-drug
testers have taken to arguing that FIDE has yet to do this or that, though
it
has the sanction under the regulation. Right. We all understand that
FIDE
cannot rush into the U.S. Scholastic Championships. It currently lacks
the
power, though under Article 3.4, both FIDE and the USCF may undertake such
drug
testing.

Still, Tim, I think the issue is clearly going to the USCF
membership. What we write here will not make much difference.

There is a pro-drug testing majority on the Executive Board which
is
prepared to ignore the will of American players in service to FIDE.

The last opportunity for such a battle not to take place will be
whether the Board clearly rejects the FIDE Code and replaces the current
pro-drug testing "team."

That will almost certainly not happen, and the lines will
unfortunately be drawn. One wishes to avoid such a damaging conflict --
and it
will prove damaging -- but too many members of the current Executive Board
are
thinking about their future prospects in FIDE or simply desire to stay
friends
with old comrades.

Players will have to decide whether they wish to support an
organization, the USCF, that clearly intends to foist drug testing on
American
players when the moment becomes ripe.

Yours, Larry Parr

TIM REDMAN'S REPORT

It is difficult to think of what we might have done. It turns out that I
was
on the Medical Commission, though no one had told me about that and I didn
't
find out until I arrived in Helkidiki. Luckily I found out before the
Commission meeting so I could attend. I did introduce three wording
changes
that made the intent clearer. John McCrary I knew was on the Commission,
but
he was not there and I don't know what he did for the past year. I also
attended the Commission meeting in Bled, so I knew the history.

What actually transpired was that as soon as the WADA regulations were
proposed, FIDE President Ilyumzhinov signed an agreement to follow them.
That
was, I believe, last March; FIDE was one of the first of the international
sports federations to sign on to the agreement. At that point the Chair
of
the Commission, Dr. Bellin, a physician, Women's International Master, and
former member of the British Women's Olympiad Team, and another commission
member worked together to devise the absolute minimum testing the FIDE
could do
an still remain in compliance with WADA. In that Dr. Bellin was very
effective. If the Presidential Board approves the amended regulations,
they
will go to WADA for its review. If they pass that, they will go into
effect
August 1, 2004.

Chess has become part of the Continental Games, a subset apparently of the
Olympic movement, in both Asia and most recently in Africa. Many national
chess federations rely upon their national Olympic committees for monetary
support, as John Fernandez documented in his report in the last Delegates'
Call. My report on the meeting in Bled is also there. The practical
problem
facing the delegation is twofold. The first is that we were presented
with a
fait accompli. The second is that there is no support in FIDE for
withdrawing
from the IOC and WADA.

Although I no longer visit rec.games.chess.politics, I remember past
posting on
it and within the FIDE Advisory Committee last year, largely from my
friend
Larry Parr, who is vigorously opposed to drug testing on coherent
ideological
grounds. The problems with Larry's posts is that he has never to my
knowledge actually attended a FIDE meeting, and so he has little
understanding
of what the U.S. can and cannot do there. FIDE is committed to IOC. The
USCF
can choose to withdraw from FIDE, but that is our only option.

When the FIDE drug testing rules are approved by WADA, I told Beatriz that
I
would be willing to write an article for Chess Life reporting on what has
happened over the past couple of years since the Delegate motion in, I
believe,
Framinghan.

At the same time you should know that although I'm not wildly enthusiastic
about drug testing, I think it is inevitable, and I think that the strong
players themselves will eventually raise the question again. You may have
seen
the article in the September issue of Scientific American, "In Quest of
the
Smart Pill." The authors document the many ongoing attempts to develop
drugs
that enhance memory and cognition. I was aware of these efforts, that
enjoy
considerable commercial funding, because, aided by a colleague in biology
here
at the University of Texas at Dallas, I did a literature search more than
a
year ago that made me aware of the many efforts being made. Forbes, I
recall,
also did an article about a year ago about the major commercial firms
engaged
in this research. With the aging of the baby boomers, these firms see
enormous
profits potential in such drugs.

The question for chess will then be to what extent such drugs, as they are
developed, should be allowed. Already the illegal use of Ritalin to
improve
performance on tests is widespread on many college campuses.

The Executive Board is free to appoint or dismiss its representatives as
it
sees fit. But I think that Bill Kelleher and Robert Tanner are an
effective
FIDE team for the USCF (and, unlike Larry Parr, I have been attending
these
meetings on and off since 1981), and I was happy to help them out when I
could.

Cordially,
Tim Redman

TIM HANKE TO TIM REDMAN

Thank you for your thoughtful remarks.

Unfortunately, I am not interested in thoughtful remarks. I am interested
in
seeing our FIDE representatives do their clear duty--mandated by the USCF
Delegates--which is to vigorously oppose drug-testing of chessplayers.

At present, FIDE rules state that two unintentional drug-testing
"violations"
will get our players banned from international chess for 2 years--and a
third
"violation" will get our players banned from chess for life!!!

It is not necessary to withdraw from FIDE over this issue, as you suggest
(though I do support withdrawing from FIDE, for this reason and because of
FIDE's overall corruption and malfeasance).

It is enough to state that USCF is completely opposed to drug-testing
chessplayers, and we will not submit to it.

That is what I would do, and that is what USCF would do if I were
surrounded by
other responsible individuals with a backbone, instead of spineless
politicians
and FIDE apologists.

"Angelo DePalma" wrote
Wanna buy some mandies, Larry?


I asked as nice as I could
If my job could
Somehow, be finished by Friday;

Well, the whole damn weekend came and went, Frankie...

(You wanna buy some mandies, Bob?)

And you know what? They didn't do nothin'.
But they charged me double ... for Sunday!

MESSAGE FROM BRITISH GM RAYMOND KEENE

America is the most powerful and richest nation by a huge margin that the
world has ever seen both in absolute and comparative terms. It, therefore,
constantly amazes me that the uscf has so little impact on the international
chess arena -- in this case fide! Your politicos truly are invertebrates. If
they acted according to the democratic mandate of uscf members over drugs, for
example, they would suddenly discover they have an awful lot more muscle than
they think they have!!

-- Ray Keene

It's pretty funny, we've had anti-doping in chess for at least eight years,
this "universal testing" has yet to even come close to happening. I wonder
why... maybe it was just all a lie to start with?

Scare tactics are the best tactics they say..


John Fernandez

Therefore, I will introduce a motion at the next Executive Board meeting, as
follows:

"That the USCF dismiss all its representatives to FIDE from their duties,
and replace them with persons who will carry out the USCF Delegates' mandate
to campaign vigorously and effectively against drug testing for
chessplayers."

Tim Hanke


Tim,

We may disagree on methods but I must applaud your efforts to be responsible to
the wishes of the USCF Board of Delegates. I would hope our leaders would be
equally concerned about all types of improprieties including not following
federal or state law, not following the bylaws, not following delegate
mandates/EB instructions, not resolving conflict of interests, as well as
improper financial oversight. The time for accountability has come.

Regards,
Wayne Praeder