"Shocking Move" by the DLV: Pfeiffer Disappointed Over World Cup Omission
World Championships Marathon Race: Fraudulent Outcome for Hendrik Pfeiffer
A stunning turn of events has left marathon runner Hendrik Pfeiffer upset and feeling betrayed. Despite aspiring to compete in the World Championships, he's been overlooked by the German Athletics Federation (DLV). Pfeiffer suspects that the federation is not living up to its promises and commitments.
Top athlete, Hendrik Pfeiffer, expresses his frustration on Instagram. He was under the impression that he would be competing in his first World Championships. Unfortunately for Pfeiffer, the DLV left one of three possible slots open, sending only Amanal Petros and Richard Ringer to represent Germany.
Such a decision has left Pfeiffer bewildered, as he states that he had received a verbal assurance from national coach Alexander Fromm that his World Championships start was "unconditional." The DLV requires athletes to achieve either a very high-set norm time of 2:06.30 hours or obtain a position through the World Ranking and an internal norm of 2:07.50 hours. However, Pfeiffer ran 2:08.20 hours at the Berlin Marathon in September, falling 30 seconds short of the confirmation norm but not aware of the requirement until later.
Despite having qualified via the World Ranking with a time of 2:07.14 hours in January 2024, the DLV refuses to acknowledge it due to the strict application of its own norm. The federation's norm is only 1.1 percent above the World Federation's norm in the marathon, but it is more lenient for distances of 10,000 meters (3.8 percent).
In an interview with ntv.de, Pfeiffer points out that the "norm is tailored in such a way that I barely missed it at the Berlin Marathon. It's clear when you look at the percentage deviation of the confirmation norm." Furthermore, he believes that retroactive norms are inappropriate and interfere with the qualification process.
Troubles at the Olympics and a Call for Conversation
Last year, Pfeiffer also experienced difficulties at the Olympics, serving as a reserve runner for Team Germany. When Petros fell ill just before the event and had to drop out ten kilometers before the finish, the opportunity to compete was lost. Pfeiffer expressed his dissatisfaction with the federation at that time, feeling frustrated that he wasn't kept informed about Petros' illness and how it might affect his race preparation.
Aside from discussing qualification standards, Pfeiffer has expressed interest in speaking with Jörg Bügner, performance sports board member of the DLV, regarding the recent decision. However, Pfeiffer notes that "so far, no direct conversation has been possible. It seems as if the board is afraid to engage with the athlete." Bügner has reportedly distanced himself from responsibility, claiming that he is not directly involved in the nomination process.
The Wings for Life World Run: Double Trouble
On May 4, Pfeiffer participated in the Wings for Life World Run in Munich and won with a distance of 66 kilometers while running in Zone 2. However, the DLV later criticized his participation, suggesting that he preferred it to the possibility of meeting the norm. Pfeiffer sees this criticism as unwarranted, arguing that competing in the charity event was feasible for him, even for winning, while running a world-class time of 2:07 hours so soon after surgery was beyond his capabilities.
Outcry among Athletes and Potential Legal Action
Many athletes have expressed sympathy for Pfeiffer and shared similar experiences with the DLV. Sonja Oberem, a 2002 European Championships bronze medalist in the marathon, voiced her concern, stating, "Leaving a place vacant when there is a qualified athlete is pure arbitrariness. There is no reason for it."
Richard Ringer, who will be competing for Germany at the World Championships, expressed disappointment at Pfeiffer's omission, believing it to be "not understandable" to leave a place empty with so many top German runners available. Pfeiffer is considering legal action against the federation, commenting that taking on a large association like the DLV as an individual athlete is always risky.
In the past, athletes have taken legal action against the DLV. For instance, Charles Friedek, the 1999 triple jump world champion, engaged in a lengthy battle with the DLV and later the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) over Olympic nominations. Similarly, runner Philipp Pflieger tried and failed in 2018 to secure a double start at the European Championships in the marathon and 10,000 meters.
Pfeiffer emphasizes that he's still hoping for a reconsideration from the DLV, expressing his hope that Jörg Büchner will admit his mistake and make amends. His military status could potentially complicate any legal action, as it might be used as a lever against him. However, Pfeiffer is willing to take the risk for the chance to represent Germany at the World Championships.
Source: ntv.de
- DLV
- Athletics
- World Championships
Hendrik Pfeiffer, despite his qualification for the World Championships through the World Ranking, remains overlooked by the DLV, sparking controversy in the sports community. The German athlete, expressing dismay at being left out of the world athletics championships, asserts that his exclusion is unjustified and raises questions about the DLV's nomination process.
