The pee has hit the fan.
Our country’s anti-doping goons used Gestapo-like tactics to publicly humiliate, shame and degrade one of the country’s greatest athletes — gold-medal skier Lindsey Vonn.
Heads should roll.
Lindsey on Monday went from walking the red carpet at a glittering event to peeing in a plastic cup, like some kind of junkie.
Officials from the US Anti-Doping Agency came to Lindsey Monday night like jackbooted thugs — not like folks trying to keep such athletes as drug-loving Lance Armstrong clean — after Lindsey informed them she was traveling to New York.
As Lindsey attended the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards gala at Lincoln Center — sort of like the Oscars for the rag trade — officials called her on her cellphone and were ushered past security into the event.
Lindsey was radiant (right) in a snug-fitting white gown with a plunging neckline designed by Cynthia Rowley, who accompanied her to Lincoln Center.
But then the doping officials led Lindsey past a crowd of A-listers, including Hillary Rodham Clinton, Oscar de la Renta and Anna Wintour, and took her to an unsecured bathroom.
She was told to hike up her custom dress. And while a “drug-control officer of the same gender’’ squished into the narrow stall to observe, Vonn was ordered to urinate.
That’s no way to treat a lady whose strength and perseverance has turned her into a role model for girls everywhere.
For Lindsey is an accomplished and, by all accounts, drug-free skiing star, who, after a devastating knee injury, is training to valiantly represent her country at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
And that’s no way to treat the lady love of golfer Tiger Woods, which may be punishment enough.
Officials insisted she was treated fairly.
Tom Kelly, spokesman for the US Ski and Snowboard Association, said, “All elite athletes in all sports are always on call for testing 24/7/365. Testing can, and does, occur at any time.”
“Lindsey Vonn has participated in the USADA out-of-competition testing pool for more than 12 years,’’ said US Anti-Doping Agency spokeswoman Annie Skinner.
“As part of her participation, she provided USADA with her location information, indicating she would be in New York, and we performed a test collection on her there.
“We appreciate her professionalism and for accommodating this process, which at times can be inconvenient. Her sample was collected in accordance with the standard protocols.”
Inconvenient? Ya think?
The pee collectors could have accosted Lindsey in her hotel room, while leaving the gala or even on the street.
According to rules clearly posted on the ADA Web site, agents are supposed to set up a spot for urine collection — called a “doping-control station’’ — in a “safe, secure and private location.’’
Not in the middle of a hectic party.
In the bathroom, Lindsey was forced to strip off not only her underclothes, but her dignity.
“In order to have a clear view of the sample being provided,’’ says the ADA Web site, “the athlete will be asked to pull their shirt up to mid-torso and pants down to mid-thigh.’’
Nothing about a snug evening gown.
Or washing hands.