Sharapova

[Val]

That's like refusing to blow in the police station, it's an immediate admission of guilt and you're banned.

Almost, its like failing a breath test and then saying blood test is not required as I've failed anyway.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Except on here it's only a duck if you can produce its pedigree certificate

Or the appropriate entry from the Chinese takeaway menu.

 

[Fish]

Is that not like saying people using anchored putting strokes last year were cheaters?

No, that's a daft example, they were made specifically for the sport, show me a known performance enhancing drug made for sport that's accepted if known to be being taken?

 

[Blue in Munich]

Exactly - can't be a cheat if using something that isn't banned

But it is banned, so she is a cheat then?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

But it is banned, so she is a cheat then?

Right now yes because she has failed a drugs for a drug on the banned list.

 

[Fish]

Where do I say that I think it is ok. I said it was not a banned drug, so she was not breaking tennis drug rules. I said she took it to enhance performance, and not for health problems. Nice try though.

You said "If she took it not realising it was banned, she has made a huge mistake which she admits". That to me was saying that just because it was not banned before although it was prescribed as a PED, it was somehow acceptable!

 

[Val]

No, that's a daft example, they were made specifically for the sport, show me a known performance enhancing drug made for sport that's accepted if known to be being taken?

Many performance enhancing drugs were made for atheletes then got subsequently banned at a later date.

 

[chrisd]

Exactly - can't be a cheat if using something that isn't banned

almost every drug on the list will have been used by a sportsperson prior to it being found in someone's system, tested and banned but you're saying that they aren't cheating by taking it simply because they haven't banned it, although the user will know it's performance enhancing?

 

[Val]

But it is banned, so she is a cheat then?

She is a cheat if she's been using from Jan 1st 2016, prior to this then no.

 

[Val]

almost every drug on the list will have been used by a sportsperson prior to it being found in someone's system, tested and banned but you're saying that they aren't cheating by taking it simply because they haven't banned it, although the user will know it's performance enhancing?

Absolutely, if its not banned then why wouldn't you use it?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

almost every drug on the list will have been used by a sportsperson prior to it being found in someone's system, tested and banned but you're saying that they aren't cheating by taking it simply because they haven't banned it, although the user will know it's performance enhancing?

If a supplement is not on the banned list then the athlete is free to use it - how can they be cheating when they are not breaking the rules ?

 

[chrisd]

Absolutely, if its not banned then why wouldn't you use it?

I suppose the answer is whether you consider yourself a clean sportsperson or a drug cheat

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I suppose the answer is whether you consider yourself a clean sportsperson or a drug cheat

If it's not banned then how can it be classed as a drug cheat ?

 

[Fish]

Nonsense. If it's not banned then it's fair game.

I disagree, it's still cheating in my book, just because it was under the radar it's a PED which is not allowed and the excuse for taking it for so long was not for medical reasons but obviously only to enhance her performance.

I'm just amazed by some of the figures that have come out of how many Russian athletes were using this stuff and no red flags came up to act on it before, but like I've said, after 10 years taking it there must be some kind of depency now I'd think which is what has got her caught, IMO.

 

[Val]

I suppose the answer is whether you consider yourself a clean sportsperson or a drug cheat

You cannot be a drugs cheat if you are using performance enhancing drugs that aren't banned. Thats not cheating, it's using all the tools available to make you better.

 

[Fish]

Many performance enhancing drugs were made for atheletes then got subsequently banned at a later date.

Surely that means by definition that no PED's are acceptable.

 

[chrisd]

If a supplement is not on the banned list then the athlete is free to use it - how can they be cheating when they are not breaking the rules ?

The key issue to me is the reason for its use. If it's purely a genuine medical use then no problem. If it's to enhance performance then you are a drug cheat

 

[richart]

You said "If she took it not realising it was banned, she has made a huge mistake which she admits". That to me was saying that just because it was not banned before although it was prescribed as a PED, it was somehow acceptable!

It was acceptable to her and her team as it was not banned. It was also acceptable to the tennis authorities up to the beginning of this year. I repeat I have not said if that is acceptable or not to me, so don't put words into my mouth.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Several fruits have performance enhancing benefits. Does this make me a golf and cycling cheat?

 

[Val]

I disagree, it's still cheating in my book, just because it was under the radar it's a PED which is not allowed and the excuse for taking it for so long was not for medical reasons but obviously only to enhance her performance.

I'm just amazed by some of the figures that have come out of how many Russian athletes were using this stuff and no red flags came up to act on it before, but like I've said, after 10 years taking it there must be some kind of depency now I'd think which is what has got her caught, IMO.

Robin, there are too many taking the moral high ground on this one.

Rewind 5 years ago, would this drug which wasn't being close to be banned be any different to rugby players taking protein shakes and the likes to aid muscle recovery and muscle growth?