Top American 800-meter runner Nick Symmonds refused to sign a U.S.A. Track & Field (USAT&F) document that instructs Team USA athletes to pack only Team USA, Nike or non-branded apparel for next month's world championships in Beijing.
Symmonds, who is sponsored by Brooks Running, qualified to compete in Beijing by winning the U.S. Championships in June, but USAT&F dropped him from the team after he refused to sign the document.
According to an online petition established by Symmonds supporters, the USAT&F document requires competing athletes to wear Nike Team USA apparel at all team functions throughout the trip, “including at the athlete hotel, during training, press conferences, competition and award ceremonies,” the guidelines continue, “Accordingly, please pack only Team USA, Nike or non-branded apparel and be sure to bring your Team USA gear.”
The petition, titled “Let Nick Symmonds Run,” has garnered over 5,000 signatures since going live. The goal is to reach 7,500 signatures. As stated in the petition, USAT&F is urged to meet with Symmonds to improve the language of the Track & Field apparel requirements document to clarify what constitutes a team function and restore him to the team.
“Nick is more than happy to wear his Team USA uniform with pride while racing but it is unclear why he must be restricted as to what he can and cannot wear at other times on this trip,” reads the petition. “We ask that Nick be allowed to meet with USATF to reword the agreement to protect athletes in years to come and encourage other athletes to stand with Nick and support his efforts to bring transparency to our sport.”
