Zero tolerance since the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Until now, the world of running seemed to have been spared from decisions or recommendations in this direction.
However, very recently, an important gesture was made by the organization of New York Road Runners, founded in 1958 and which presents itself as the first in running on the world level. The NYRR mainly plans the famous New York marathon, admittedly the most gigantic in the world.
It has just been announced that NYRR CEO Michael Capiraso will officially step down on December 31.
Clearly, we pushed him towards the exit door. A gesture heavy with meaning and which projects a severe warning among the other committees of this sporting discipline.
The NYRR board of directors would have listened seriously to the concerns and recommendations of the community served by this group, including the employees. Everything indicates that several complaints of racism and sexism were reported.
Even during the year 2020, an awareness campaign had been launched with the aim of ousting Capiraso. It seems that persistent and disturbing rumors have been hovering over the heads of decision-makers for too long.
The organization specified in its message that it wanted renewal and that it was looking for recruits to build a new direction.
Everything indicates that Michael Capiraso fostered a toxic and discriminatory culture within the organization. It goes on to say that people of color did not get promotions as quickly as others. The famous Runners Worlds magazine would even have advanced its own investigation to finally confirm the information collected.
I have the impression that in this case, we wanted to lead by example, showing that this kind of behavior should no longer be tolerated in the world of running. A large organization like the New York Marathon has to show the right path.
Other associations will now have to take the right direction and consider this verdict. A change of mentality is needed among the population and it is with such gestures that we will be able to bring about changes.
Such an attitude turns out to be unacceptable in 2020 and, moreover, this decision was greatly supported and encouraged when the 
news was published.
It is true that Capiraso had to do a good job and that he had the assets to fulfill this function. On the other hand, his way of proceeding turned out to be harmful and created a stir.
Even if such decisions are difficult to take and that it takes a certain courage, we must never lose sight of the fact that the essential is respect for the human being.
Also to read: Find the right balance!
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