Should make the opening ceremony pretty bland and boring, with just Luxemborg doing one circuit with their flag then pissing off back to the athletes village in a caravan in the car park!
Kenya and Jamaica also heavily implicated in press. Coe was VP and claims to have no knowledge which makes him sound incompetent. When scandal was 1st aired he defended his organisation, declaring it was "war" on his sport without asking any tough questions of his organisation. WAFA is vastly underfunded, expecting individual countries to police their athletes. His 3 months tenure has done nothing to address this and he has only recently returned from a jolly to Russia without issuing any public bollocking. I am athletics fan due to my grandfather being a promoter in the sport when it was truly amateur and attending many meets including Ron Clarke's last run at White City.
I was an elite athlete in my sport and management was dominated by those who were underachievers. It is a shame that an Olympic medalist cannot show more passion to have have fair play. Banning Russia from competition is a sound-bite, not a solution to the drug problems in sport.
What do you mean ? Were you a world record holder of something ?
A bronze medalist at national championships. Beat many former GB internationals, multiple gold in Vet champs but I wasn't boasting, merely stating my credentials to criticise the men running our sports. How many of the paid execs in the FA do you think played football at any level?
i will play devil's advocate here ....we live in an age where diseases are controlled or eradicated by powerful drugs, women can control their reproductive cycle by use of artificial hormones, men with a 'problem' can take Cialis or Viagra to help regain their sex drive .. a 'disabled' athlete, the now disgraced Pistorius, was allowed to take part in 'able bodied' events, cannabis is now legalised in several states of the USA, modern 'affluent' societies are ever more dependant on drugs, alcohol and all kinds of artificial stimuli ... my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
i will play devil's advocate here ....we live in an age where diseases are controlled or eradicated by powerful drugs, women can control their reproductive cycle by use of artificial hormones, men with a 'problem' can take Cialis or Viagra to help regain their sex drive .. a 'disabled' athlete, the now disgraced Pistorius, was allowed to take part in 'able bodied' events, cannabis is now legalised in several states of the USA, modern 'affluent' societies are ever more dependant on drugs, alcohol and all kinds of artificial stimuli ... my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
I can't agree, Lincs, because if every time there was a problem or issue in our lives that grows out of control, should we just give in? I am a massive athletics fan and feel that we have all known about the cheats for far too long (E. Germans, Russians etc) but now they have an opportunity to really tackle it. Yes, they will be only one step behind the dopers but we have to fight it. I really don't want to see world records broken only because they are drug enhanced. I feel that if the IAAF had handed out life time bans to those cheating many years ago, we might be in a stronger position. At the 2012 Olympics, speaking to the parents of a British hockey player who studied sports science for her degree, they said that it was a well known fact that the Jamaican runners were testing positive, along with others. Took the shine off some of the records set and performances for me.
i will play devil's advocate here ....we live in an age where diseases are controlled or eradicated by powerful drugs, women can control their reproductive cycle by use of artificial hormones, men with a 'problem' can take Cialis or Viagra to help regain their sex drive .. a 'disabled' athlete, the now disgraced Pistorius, was allowed to take part in 'able bodied' events, cannabis is now legalised in several states of the USA, modern 'affluent' societies are ever more dependant on drugs, alcohol and all kinds of artificial stimuli ... my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
I can't agree, Lincs, because if every time there was a problem or issue in our lives that grows out of control, should we just give in? I am a massive athletics fan and feel that we have all known about the cheats for far too long (E. Germans, Russians etc) but now they have an opportunity to really tackle it. Yes, they will be only one step behind the dopers but we have to fight it. I really don't want to see world records broken only because they are drug enhanced. I feel that if the IAAF had handed out life time bans to those cheating many years ago, we might be in a stronger position. At the 2012 Olympics, speaking to the parents of a British hockey player who studied sports science for her degree, they said that it was a well known fact that the Jamaican runners were testing positive, along with others. Took the shine off some of the records set and performances for me.
Got to agree with that Eynsford. That would be the thin end of the wedge. Ex table tennis player, turned reporter, Matthew Syed was on R5Live the other night talking about how some athletes were now having ligament augmentation surgery in an attempt to push themselves to even greater levels. Grotesque at best. It won't be a sport any more; tantamount to a freak show.
i will play devil's advocate here ....we live in an age where diseases are controlled or eradicated by powerful drugs, women can control their reproductive cycle by use of artificial hormones, men with a 'problem' can take Cialis or Viagra to help regain their sex drive .. a 'disabled' athlete, the now disgraced Pistorius, was allowed to take part in 'able bodied' events, cannabis is now legalised in several states of the USA, modern 'affluent' societies are ever more dependant on drugs, alcohol and all kinds of artificial stimuli ... my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
I can't agree, Lincs, because if every time there was a problem or issue in our lives that grows out of control, should we just give in? I am a massive athletics fan and feel that we have all known about the cheats for far too long (E. Germans, Russians etc) but now they have an opportunity to really tackle it. Yes, they will be only one step behind the dopers but we have to fight it. I really don't want to see world records broken only because they are drug enhanced. I feel that if the IAAF had handed out life time bans to those cheating many years ago, we might be in a stronger position. At the 2012 Olympics, speaking to the parents of a British hockey player who studied sports science for her degree, they said that it was a well known fact that the Jamaican runners were testing positive, along with others. Took the shine off some of the records set and performances for me.
this really underlines my point .. IF as you claim, Jamaican athletes were possibly using stimulants but got away with it, or a blind eye was turned to it, why is Jamaica not being banned along with Russia ? .. and was a man who enjoys world wide popularity, whose surname has connections with lightning involved ? .. think of the scandal if ever that became a reality .. but of course, nasty Russia is not friends with the west and is open therefore to all kinds of bad mouthing and ostracism .. IF drug taking were allowed, none of these problems of 'morality' and doubt as to authenticity would arise .. I would LOVE a position where no drugs or stimuli were used by anybody .. but you know what .. that is NEVER gonna be the case .. it might be 'giving in' to stop testing but how long can the metaphorical boy keep his finger in the hidden doping dyke ?
i will play devil's advocate here ....we live in an age where diseases are controlled or eradicated by powerful drugs, women can control their reproductive cycle by use of artificial hormones, men with a 'problem' can take Cialis or Viagra to help regain their sex drive .. a 'disabled' athlete, the now disgraced Pistorius, was allowed to take part in 'able bodied' events, cannabis is now legalised in several states of the USA, modern 'affluent' societies are ever more dependant on drugs, alcohol and all kinds of artificial stimuli ... my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
I can't agree, Lincs, because if every time there was a problem or issue in our lives that grows out of control, should we just give in? I am a massive athletics fan and feel that we have all known about the cheats for far too long (E. Germans, Russians etc) but now they have an opportunity to really tackle it. Yes, they will be only one step behind the dopers but we have to fight it. I really don't want to see world records broken only because they are drug enhanced. I feel that if the IAAF had handed out life time bans to those cheating many years ago, we might be in a stronger position. At the 2012 Olympics, speaking to the parents of a British hockey player who studied sports science for her degree, they said that it was a well known fact that the Jamaican runners were testing positive, along with others. Took the shine off some of the records set and performances for me.
this really underlines my point .. IF as you claim, Jamaican athletes were possibly using stimulants but got away with it, or a blind eye was turned to it, why is Jamaica not being banned along with Russia ? .. and was a man who enjoys world wide popularity, whose surname has connections with lightning involved ? .. think of the scandal if ever that became a reality .. but of course, nasty Russia is not friends with the west and is open therefore to all kinds of bad mouthing and ostracism .. IF drug taking were allowed, none of these problems of 'morality' and doubt as to authenticity would arise .. I would LOVE a position where no drugs or stimuli were used by anybody .. but you know what .. that is NEVER gonna be the case .. it might be 'giving in' to stop testing but how long can the metaphorical boy keep his finger in the hidden doping dyke ?
I think we are in agreement, Lincs, actually. I hope they catch up with the Kenyans and Jamaicans as the BBC website implies is happening, not just the Russians. I also hope that not many of the British athletes are implicated at any time in the future! Otherwise, it is a sport in denial like cycling was for a long time.<
i will play devil's advocate here ....we live in an age where diseases are controlled or eradicated by powerful drugs, women can control their reproductive cycle by use of artificial hormones, men with a 'problem' can take Cialis or Viagra to help regain their sex drive .. a 'disabled' athlete, the now disgraced Pistorius, was allowed to take part in 'able bodied' events, cannabis is now legalised in several states of the USA, modern 'affluent' societies are ever more dependant on drugs, alcohol and all kinds of artificial stimuli ... my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
I can't agree, Lincs, because if every time there was a problem or issue in our lives that grows out of control, should we just give in? I am a massive athletics fan and feel that we have all known about the cheats for far too long (E. Germans, Russians etc) but now they have an opportunity to really tackle it. Yes, they will be only one step behind the dopers but we have to fight it. I really don't want to see world records broken only because they are drug enhanced. I feel that if the IAAF had handed out life time bans to those cheating many years ago, we might be in a stronger position. At the 2012 Olympics, speaking to the parents of a British hockey player who studied sports science for her degree, they said that it was a well known fact that the Jamaican runners were testing positive, along with others. Took the shine off some of the records set and performances for me.
Got to agree with that Eynsford. That would be the thin end of the wedge. Ex table tennis player, turned reporter, Matthew Syed was on R5Live the other night talking about how some athletes were now having ligament augmentation surgery in an attempt to push themselves to even greater levels. Grotesque at best. It won't be a sport any more; tantamount to a freak show.
Ed Clancy - noted British track cyclist - once offered to have his own collarbones broken and reset to make himself more aero. 100% truth.
If an athlete in a minority sport like cycling is willing to do that, I think Syed is right on the money.
I suspect if the success we are having in cycling was for another country we'd be asking questions/raising doubts (rightly or wrongly..) - even more with the history of the sport.
i will play devil's advocate here ....we live in an age where diseases are controlled or eradicated by powerful drugs, women can control their reproductive cycle by use of artificial hormones, men with a 'problem' can take Cialis or Viagra to help regain their sex drive .. a 'disabled' athlete, the now disgraced Pistorius, was allowed to take part in 'able bodied' events, cannabis is now legalised in several states of the USA, modern 'affluent' societies are ever more dependant on drugs, alcohol and all kinds of artificial stimuli ... my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
I can't agree, Lincs, because if every time there was a problem or issue in our lives that grows out of control, should we just give in? I am a massive athletics fan and feel that we have all known about the cheats for far too long (E. Germans, Russians etc) but now they have an opportunity to really tackle it. Yes, they will be only one step behind the dopers but we have to fight it. I really don't want to see world records broken only because they are drug enhanced. I feel that if the IAAF had handed out life time bans to those cheating many years ago, we might be in a stronger position. At the 2012 Olympics, speaking to the parents of a British hockey player who studied sports science for her degree, they said that it was a well known fact that the Jamaican runners were testing positive, along with others. Took the shine off some of the records set and performances for me.
Got to agree with that Eynsford. That would be the thin end of the wedge. Ex table tennis player, turned reporter, Matthew Syed was on R5Live the other night talking about how some athletes were now having ligament augmentation surgery in an attempt to push themselves to even greater levels. Grotesque at best. It won't be a sport any more; tantamount to a freak show.
Ed Clancy - noted British track cyclist - once offered to have his own collarbones broken and reset to make himself more aero. 100% truth.
If an athlete in a minority sport like cycling is willing to do that, I think Syed is right on the money.
Really? Wow. Ed Clancy is from the village I live in here in Yorkshire. Went to our kid's schools and comes back to support events, one of which I was at in the run up to 2012. If I ever get a chance to meet him I will attempt to interrogate as that is really fascinating and macabre at the same time!
Really? Wow. Ed Clancy is from the village I live in here in Yorkshire. Went to our kid's schools and comes back to support events, one of which I was at in the run up to 2012. If I ever get a chance to meet him I will attempt to interrogate as that is really fascinating and macabre at the same time!
I got turned off of both cycling and athletics some years ago. What exactly is the point of watching or following any contest where the first question you have to ask yourself is I wonder if he's (she's) on drugs ?
The authorities have been fundamental to these once great sports being now nothing more than a mockery. Who came up with the idea that a sportsman proven to have taken drugs is allowed to compete ever again.
Exactly how many world records and Olympic medals are actually worthless ? We won't ever know and that's my point. The entire bedrock of the sport has been fatally weakened.
I console myself that the evidence of my eyes allow me to conclude that my Charlton heroes have never to a man been guilty of taking performance enhancing substances.
i will play devil's advocate here ....we live in an age where diseases are controlled or eradicated by powerful drugs, women can control their reproductive cycle by use of artificial hormones, men with a 'problem' can take Cialis or Viagra to help regain their sex drive .. a 'disabled' athlete, the now disgraced Pistorius, was allowed to take part in 'able bodied' events, cannabis is now legalised in several states of the USA, modern 'affluent' societies are ever more dependant on drugs, alcohol and all kinds of artificial stimuli ... my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
Surely that just turns it from an athletic contest into "Who's got the best chemist?".
i will play devil's advocate here ....we live in an age where diseases are controlled or eradicated by powerful drugs, women can control their reproductive cycle by use of artificial hormones, men with a 'problem' can take Cialis or Viagra to help regain their sex drive .. a 'disabled' athlete, the now disgraced Pistorius, was allowed to take part in 'able bodied' events, cannabis is now legalised in several states of the USA, modern 'affluent' societies are ever more dependant on drugs, alcohol and all kinds of artificial stimuli ... my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
Surely that just turns it from an athletic contest into "Who's got the best chemist?".
Is it not like that anyway, even if every athlete is "clean"?
Comments
I was an elite athlete in my sport and management was dominated by those who were underachievers. It is a shame that an Olympic medalist cannot show more passion to have have fair play. Banning Russia from competition is a sound-bite, not a solution to the drug problems in sport.
my point ? .. is it time that the draconian bans on athletes taking drugs were relaxed ? .. for all we know many athletes are taking drugs and stimulants that are truly untraceable as well as the athletes who have been caught using prohibited substances .. perhaps it's time to allow athletes to take whatever they like, whenever they like ..
I feel that if the IAAF had handed out life time bans to those cheating many years ago, we might be in a stronger position. At the 2012 Olympics, speaking to the parents of a British hockey player who studied sports science for her degree, they said that it was a well known fact that the Jamaican runners were testing positive, along with others. Took the shine off some of the records set and performances for me.
Ex table tennis player, turned reporter, Matthew Syed was on R5Live the other night talking about how some athletes were now having ligament augmentation surgery in an attempt to push themselves to even greater levels. Grotesque at best. It won't be a sport any more; tantamount to a freak show.
I would LOVE a position where no drugs or stimuli were used by anybody .. but you know what .. that is NEVER gonna be the case .. it might be 'giving in' to stop testing but how long can the metaphorical boy keep his finger in the hidden doping dyke ?
I would LOVE a position where no drugs or stimuli were used by anybody .. but you know what .. that is NEVER gonna be the case .. it might be 'giving in' to stop testing but how long can the metaphorical boy keep his finger in the hidden doping dyke ?
I think we are in agreement, Lincs, actually. I hope they catch up with the Kenyans and Jamaicans as the BBC website implies is happening, not just the Russians. I also hope that not many of the British athletes are implicated at any time in the future! Otherwise, it is a sport in denial like cycling was for a long time.<
If an athlete in a minority sport like cycling is willing to do that, I think Syed is right on the money.
Last few paragraphs..
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/cyclists-take-secret-of-suits-to-shredder-1547673.html
The authorities have been fundamental to these once great sports being now nothing more than a mockery. Who came up with the idea that a sportsman proven to have taken drugs is allowed to compete ever again.
Exactly how many world records and Olympic medals are actually worthless ? We won't ever know and that's my point. The entire bedrock of the sport has been fatally weakened.
I console myself that the evidence of my eyes allow me to conclude that my Charlton heroes have never to a man been guilty of taking performance enhancing substances.
They seem to have forgotten four little characters...A...N...T...I...that were slightly important!