Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:32 pm
Doping is one big pile of hypocracy. And it's certainly not only the athletes themselves. All others involved play a role as well. Organizers, doctors, trainers, sport organisations (like UCI and WADA in cycling) etc etc. They all know what's happening, but only think about their own interests. And those interests have nothing to do with the health of the athletes or the fairness of the sport.
1. topsport isn't healthy. The Tour certainly isn't. For example, seen all those massive falls?
2. Sport isn't fair. Hell, the fact one athlete is faster or better then the other is the thing that makes sport interesting!
Looking at the doping itself: that list needs a thorough cleanup. Substances that don't do anything are on it. Substances that do help are not. Tests are arbitrary and unreliable. False-positives do happen (a lot?). Certainly if you look at hormones. That's one difficult area in which even the brightest scientists disagree on how things work.
Looking at legislation (or lack thereoff): Unfortunately for the athletes they are guilty AND punished even before anything is proven. Absolutely no chance to defend themselfes. Imagine if the same would happen in other areas. I would be lifted of my bed, thrown in jail, get fired from my job, get publicity in all journals including my name and picture. No laywer. No defense. 2 years later: o sorry Matthijs, maybe our evidence wasn't that good after all. You're free to go. Sorry to have troubled you, good luck with the rest of your live....
I am also in favor of regulating the "medical care" of athletes some other way. Maybe not giving it totally free, but completely different then it is now.
So Hockey, if you want to achieve those average speeds as well, don't feel bad if you need some extra caffeine, epo or other stuff
1. topsport isn't healthy. The Tour certainly isn't. For example, seen all those massive falls?
2. Sport isn't fair. Hell, the fact one athlete is faster or better then the other is the thing that makes sport interesting!
Looking at the doping itself: that list needs a thorough cleanup. Substances that don't do anything are on it. Substances that do help are not. Tests are arbitrary and unreliable. False-positives do happen (a lot?). Certainly if you look at hormones. That's one difficult area in which even the brightest scientists disagree on how things work.
Looking at legislation (or lack thereoff): Unfortunately for the athletes they are guilty AND punished even before anything is proven. Absolutely no chance to defend themselfes. Imagine if the same would happen in other areas. I would be lifted of my bed, thrown in jail, get fired from my job, get publicity in all journals including my name and picture. No laywer. No defense. 2 years later: o sorry Matthijs, maybe our evidence wasn't that good after all. You're free to go. Sorry to have troubled you, good luck with the rest of your live....
I am also in favor of regulating the "medical care" of athletes some other way. Maybe not giving it totally free, but completely different then it is now.
So Hockey, if you want to achieve those average speeds as well, don't feel bad if you need some extra caffeine, epo or other stuff