That night, Warton stopped by Sebastian’s house.
"The International Anti-Doping Agency has co to Arica. They have brought the latest detection technology for illicit drugs. You’ve heard all of this, right?" Sebastian asked awkwardly.
"Yes, I have," Warton looked at Sebastian and asked, "My na was in the investigative report. I’m not going to be caught, right?"
Sebastian thought for a while before saying, "Well, I’m not sure."
"You’re not sure? Why? You told Franklin’s technology was years ahead of the International Anti-Doping Agency and that it would never be detected." Warton beca angry imdiately.
"There was an accident. I didn’t expect it," responded Sebastian.
"What should we do? If I’m found out I’ll be suspended and won’t be able to attend the Olympics." Warton was nervous.
"Calm down." After Warton cald down, Sebastian continued. "I’ve always claid that I’ve never given any illicit drugs to athletes, so if you are found out I want you to take full responsibility."
"? Are you kidding ? I’d be suspended. My whole career would be ruined!" Warton shouted at Sebastian.
"Warton, you are still young. Even after a few year suspension, you’ll still be in your pri. That’s no big loss for you," said Sebastian.
"Not a big loss? It’s funny..." Warton said with a sneer. "You’re just trying to protect yourself."
"You are going to be found out anyway. Why do you want to go down with you?" said Sebastian.
"You gave those drugs!" Warton snorted. "Don’t think you can distance yourself from this."
"You used the drugs to improve your performance then. You couldn’t resist the temptation. Can you really bla ?" Sebastian put on a serious look and continued, "I’m doing this for you. If you take full responsibility, I’ll try to intercede for you. With my personal relationships, you’ll get off easy. You might only be suspended for a year or two. If I’m caught, no one can help you."
"That was what you told to Justin Alexander, right? You shifted all the bla onto the athletes, while you avoided taking responsibility," Warton’s tone was full of sass. "I won’t be as stupid as Alexander. I guess you are also in trouble now, right?"
Sebastian got much more aggressive. He said in a threatening tone, "You better wrap your head around your situation right now. All I have to say is that you used illicit drugs of your own will. I didn’t participate in it and I didn’t know anything. What can you do to ? You have no evidence to prove that I gave you the drugs.
"Why not cooperate with and take the bla? It works out for both of us. You are smart. You must be able to see this is the best option for you."
...
Walking out of Sebastian’s house, Warton was distraught. He didn’t know what to do.
What should I do? Do I really have to take all of the bla? Will Sebastian intercede for ? Will my career be ruined?"
Maybe I should talk to soone. Warton took out his phone and called his agent.
An hour later, Warton t his agent in a small bar. Warton found a small table near the corner and told his agent everything.
"Sebastian wants you to take all the bla? Really?" His agent shook his head.
According to his agent, if Warton was suspended, he’d lose any chance at getting endorsed and the agent would lose lots of money. The longer Warton was suspended, the more the agent would lose. Therefore, his agent didn’t want him to take all the bla. He thought it would an a longer suspension.
"I really don’t know what to do." Warton looked desperate.
Warton’s agent got an idea. "We can strike him first. Sebastian wants to shift all responsibility onto you, right? You should put it all on him instead. We can hold a press conference and admit that you have used drugs, but that Sebastian masterminded eveeything. You were innocent until you were corrupted by Sebastian."
"But I have no evidence," said Warton.
"Your words are all the evidence you need." His agent was serious. "It’s a battle between you and Sebastian. One of you is gonna take the bla, and the other one will be fine.What’s it gonna be?"
...
Williams, the CEO of the U.S. Track and Field Association, was really a successful manager. Since he was appointed to his position, he had signed several large sponsors for the association, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Besides, he had also negotiated with many broadcasters on television relay agreents, expanding the association’s influence.
However, now Williams was facing the biggest crisis since his appointnt.
The drug scandal was a huge blow to the sports world of Arica. It was more like a deadly strike to track and field sports. It was known that drug cases were much more frequent in track and field than other sports.
This ti was no different. The U.S. Track and Field Association was going to lose a lot in this drug scandal.
Williams’ office was closed. Only two people were in the room, CEO Williams and the USA Track and Field’s second person in command, COO Frey.
"Mr. Williams," Frey asked. "Have the International Anti-Doping Agency co to a decision?"
"Yes, but it hasn’t been announced. Since the Olympic Gas are approaching, the International Olympic Committee doesn’t want to make such a big scandal public yet. They instructed the anti-doping committee to downplay this problem," said Williams.
"Downplay this problem. Great. That’s great." Frey heaved a great sigh of relief.
However, Williams wasn’t optimistic. He added, "It will reduce the amount of negative press we get. Our athletes and coaches are still going to face consequences though. Suspension is the best case scenario for many of them, but the Olympics is fast approaching."
Williams picked up a paper on the table and handed it to Frey. "Take a look. This is the list of athletes who have been using illicit drugs. The list has not been published yet. I got it through personal relations. The athletes on the list are definitely not going to attend the Olympic Gas."
Frey took the paper. His expression beca grim as he looked at every na on the list. When he’d finished, he looked absolutely wretched.
"None of them can attend this Olympic Gas?The IOC can’t bend any rules? Every year we give them so much money. Don’t we get special treatnt?" asked Frey.
"I’m afraid not. This ti is totally different. The evidence is overwhelming. If the IOC gives us the green light, other countries will be upset. If it looks like they’re giving us a pass they will lose so of their authority. If they lose their authority then no one will want to host the Olympics anymore," said Williams.
"I rember so of those athletes had falsified dical records so as to use drugs properly. Will they get higher penalties? We can announce to the public that they didn’t falsify dical records," Frey asked.
Williams shook his head and said, "It’d be feasible if we were the only ones involved, but FBI and Arican dical Association are in this now too and the dia has been watching.. Those doctors who prescribed fake prescriptions will eventually confess. Then, we’d get a lot of backlash from the press and we could be sued."
"But so many athletes are on this list. There are 73 athletes from the national team. If they can’t attend the Olympic Gas, we’ll only have half a team," said Frey.
"Therefore, we have to let other athletes take their spots in accordance with the qualifying rules," Williams said. "According to the rules, the top three perforrs at qualifiers are qualified to attend the Olympic Gas. If soone can’t attend, the fourth athlete takes his spot. If the fourth athlete also can’t attend, the fifth one takes his spot and so on. There are so many track and field athletes in Arica. Surely we can find enough."
"I’m not so optimistic. Take the won’s 100-ter dash as an example: two of the top three athletes are on the list as well as the fourth, the sixth and the seventh-place athletes. We might be in similar trouble with other events." Frey sighed.
"We have no choice now. We’re also going to have a hard ti finding a good coach. You should see the list of coaches who are involved. It is more serious than the athletes. All the coaches recruited by the national team are all on the list!" Williams said worriedly.
Looking at the list of nast, Frey said, "How ironic! As the most powerful national team of track and field sports and the biggest delegation of Olympic track and field events, the United States has no suitable coach! All right, the whole world is waiting to laugh at us."
"We will not beco the laughing stock of the whole world. We can never allow it to happen. In addition to athletes, we must recruit coaches imdiately," said Williams decisively.
"It will be more difficult than selecting athletes. All the coaches who attended the interview for the head coach of the national team are on the list!"
"So those coaches are dirtier than athletes! Sports coaches in recent years have been involved in many scandals.They provided illicit drugs for athletes, took bribes and even sexually assaulted athletes..." Williams snorted, "But we really have no choice now. We have to find a coach as clean as possible!"
...
Sebastian hadn’t expected Warton to admit to using drugs but the athlete shifted the responsibility to him.
It was brilliant for Warton to strike first. Sebastian even had no ti to react, and the dia ca to him at once. Sebastian still refused to admit it.
"That’s slander. A rumor! I definitely didn’t give Warton any illicit drugs!"
"Warton lied. He was slandering !"
"Why did he lie? Because he wants to pass the buck! He wants to pass the buck to , so he can get away with it!"
"If Warton thought what he said was true, he should provide enough evidence to prove that I gave him those drugs."
"Warton has no evidence at all. He’s talking nonsense! I’ll hire a lawyer to investigate his legal liability!"
Sebastian’s acting was really good. His solemn and strict expression even made many journalists feel that Sebastian really had been wronged.
Two middle-aged n in suits elbowed their way into the crowd.
"Stand aside please." The two middle-aged n walked through the crowd of journalists and to Sebastian.
"Are you Mr. Sebastian? I’m Agent Smith with the FBI." One of them took out his credentials as he spoke.
"Yes, I am. What’s the matter?" Sebastian beca nervous suddenly.
Agent Smith said, "When we investigated the Franklin Lab, we found a docunt which indicates that during the last five years they have provided you with 73 types of steroid derivative reagents. 341 tis in total. These reagents probably can be used as performance-enhancing drugs for athletes. So please co with us and assist in our investigation."
"Oh... oh..."
The journalists seed surprised as they all turned to Sebastian.
He had just been insisting that he had nothing to do with those drugs, and these journalists had believed him.
However, these two FBI agents revealing this information about a docunt connecting him to Franklin Labs and the illegal drugs. This really was a fatal blow to Sebastian..
Sebastian beca so irritated that he fainted. He knew all of his excuses were aningless now.
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