VANCOUVER, CANADA (February 20, 2010) USA snowboarder and Olympic bronze medalist Scotty Lago has left the Winter Olympics after a racy photo surfaced of him inviting girls to kiss his bronze medal while it hung around his waist.
Lago left Vancouver voluntarily after publication of a photo of him wearing his Olympic medal around his waist and the hardware hung over his groin area on a public street.
A second shot showed a woman biting the medal, but this time Lago held it up by the logo on his Team USA T-shirt.
Reports say his "voluntary" departure was prompted by an ultimatum from the U.S. Olympic Committee: say you're sorry and go or we kick you out.
In response,, Lago apologized to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSSA) and packed his bags for home.
USSSA President and CEO Bill Marolt was quoted in saying:
"Scotty Lago is a great athlete, but with that talent comes a responsibility of proper conduct, and his involvement in this situation is not acceptable. With that said, Scotty realizes that his conduct was inappropriate. He has formally apologized and also made a decision to leave Vancouver today."
The culture of snowboarding may accept Lago’s behavior as acceptable, but many, including myself, do not.
Athletes sign a Code of Conduct when they are selected to the Olympic Team. It document is very clear and concise about what behavior is expected and how the athletes are to act at all times.
If they have a problem with what is expected of them, then they should give up their spot on the team to another athlete who is willing to act with decorum and respect while representing the United States.
After all, competing in the Olympics and possibly winning a medal should be enough of an incentive to act appropriately.
Some of our Olympians may have forgotten than fact.
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