All the hysteria over doping has got me thinking. Some people are advocating a life time ban for doping.
Does this mean the greatest cyclist of all time Eddie Merckx should have been banned after his postitive dope test in the 1969 Giro? If so then almost all of the victories in his career would never have happenned. (I know he denied it vehemently at the time and still does but don’t most of them). Does this take away his legacy as the greatest cyclist of all time or does it give us a different perspective on everything that is going on today?
How about different categories. EPO and steroids should be in the lifetime ban category while other substances should receive other penalties, according to the severity.
By what criteria do you deem EPO and steroids more severe than, say, pot belge? Who gets to determine the severity? What criteria are THEY using? Medical? Ethical? Moral?
The Eddie Merck that denied the drug allegations is the same man that is attributed with the quote “you don’t win the Tour de France on a jam sandwich”
At the very least here is is guilty of giving out mixed messages.
I’m all for not caring anymore. they’re going to do what they’re going to do. why is there so much money and effort spent of preventing something that most are doing anyway? sure, the guy/gal who’s not doping gets burned, and that’s sad. but, they’re getting burned anyway.
the reality is that scientists are making dopes that you and I can’t imagine. technology will always be ahead of testing. i was reading somewhere that near future dope will have a targetted specialities, improving specific muscles, etc, to positively impact the sport of choice.
Testing cannot compete with this. It is an exercise in futility.
I didn’t say I can make that decision. But I don’t think someone who previous season was cleared from asthma inhaler and forgot to visit the doctor on time to get a renewal letter that states that the athlete is allowed to use this medical supplement due to medical reasons should get a lifetime ban.
It’s a difficult subject that should be discussed among professional experts. Here’s my suggestion: There should be general guidelines, an overall list of banned substances including the amount of years of suspension. Then, every sport can have additional punishments. For instance, the endurance sport add additional years of suspension or even lifetime ban for EPO use since this will most likely benefit those athletes more than others, e.g powerlifters.
People cheat and use PED because of their performance enhancing effect. They use them to get an unfair advantage over their competition. Therefore, I believe, that the medical criteria should be given most importance when determining the severity of the doping use.
Will someone explain to me what exactly a PED is??? It have the same effects as EPO?
I would like to believe that the number of people thought to be doping is greater then it is. I think some people are guilty of not being able to appreciate what some amazing athletes can do. That being said doping is a reality and everything possible should be done to stop it.
kittycat, do recall where you read this? Most of the PEDs that are out there are legitimate drugs being used off label as performance enhancers. I was not aware that there scientists specifically formulating performance enhancers. ?