31 replies to this topic

[trizzle]

http://uk.news.yahoo...-200854246.html

The World Anti-Doping Agency has overruled the British Olympics Association's lifetime ban on drug cheats. This means that athletes like Dwain Chambers and the cyclist David Millar (who have both admitted to using drugs to enhance their performances) will now be eligible for selection for the London 2012 Olympics.

What are your views on this? Was WADA right to overrule the BOA's lifetime ban?

[Waser Lave]

I think an individual country should have the right to choose who they want to represent them without interference.

[Nonexistent]

If they don't use drugs for fututre competitions, I see no reason to give them a life long ban

[Waser Lave]

If they don't use drugs for fututre competitions, I see no reason to give them a life long ban

Is that fair on other athletes who might not be selected despite never cheating?

[trizzle]

If they don't use drugs for fututre competitions, I see no reason to give them a life long ban

But doesn't that just send the message to future athletes that if you do use drugs then it doesn't matter because, even if you get caught, the worst you're going to get is a 2-year suspension? I just feel that it sends completely the wrong signals to the youths who aspire to one day be a part of the Olympic team.

You're meant to be representing your country, being an ambassador - why would we want cheats representing us?

[Nonexistent]

The cheats would have a chance of being selected, but given their history, there would probably be uncertainty on the decision?

[trizzle]

The cheats would have a chance of being selected, but given their history, there would probably be uncertainty on the decision?

A good point. I think it will be really interesting to see if they do make the team this year as I'm certain if they did it would cause even more controversy.

[Melchoire]

I think steroids should be mandatory. It would make the olympics watchable and not boring.

[Nonexistent]

I think steroids should be mandatory. It would make the olympics watchable and not boring.

I disagree.
I believe the olympics should be a representation of the beauty and marvel of the human body, the personal spirit and the will to train to create a body as such.
If steroids were to be mandatory, we might as well just watch a bunch of machines

[Melchoire]

I disagree.
I believe the olympics should be a representation of the beauty and marvel of the human body, the personal spirit and the will to train to create a body as such.
If steroids were to be mandatory, we might as well just watch a bunch of machines

So you're saying we should create androids and make them fight each other to the death? I'm up for that too...

[Waser Lave]

So you're saying we should create androids and make them fight each other to the death? I'm up for that too...

Not too dissimilar to Robot Wars really.

[WharfRat]

No.... cheating is cheating... Where is the debate?

OT: @Melchoire Your sig irritates me as the bottle should read LSD-25.

[trizzle]

No.... cheating is cheating... Where is the debate?

OT: @Melchoire Your sig irritates me as the bottle should read LSD-25.

The debate is in the fact that they are now allowed to compete again, despite the fact they're cheats, so clearly someone thinks differently.

[iargue]

I think steroids should be mandatory. It would make the olympics watchable and not boring.

Not to mention kill a bunch of people.

No biggie though!

[DanDoesWork]

The ban should have been upheld. A cheat will always be remembered as a cheat no matter how "clean" he choses to portray himself after. It's crazy how many athletes could be on PEDs but have been able to cycle off properly. But then again the testing in the Olympics are so hard to pass if you were on something. Maybe the Judge was getting paid off by the athletes sponsers to give it up lol

[Metigue]

Let's just let everyone use as much drugs as they like, when it gets to the stage where you get 10 ft giant balls of muscle "Rolling" the 100m, I will be happy.

[Riki1995]

I think it's too hard to define exactly what can be considered cheating at a competitive sport level. A lot of people get on the case of well known steroids like Stanozolol, and Clenbuterol because they're often used to increase athletic performance, but at the same time we don't jump on the case of people using things like Cortisone shots during games. Cortisone is just as much of a steroid as the more "scary" ones, but it has less of a stigma when used.

Until we can more clearly define what should be off limits, and have a better and more even standard I think they should be able to come back.

An interesting documentary on this issue for those interested: Bigger, Stronger, Faster

The guy focuses mainly on bodybuilding and power lifting, but he does take a look at other sports and more general steroid use as well.

The ban should have been upheld. A cheat will always be remembered as a cheat no matter how "clean" he choses to portray himself after. It's crazy how many athletes could be on PEDs but have been able to cycle off properly. But then again the testing in the Olympics are so hard to pass if you were on something. Maybe the Judge was getting paid off by the athletes sponsers to give it up lol

I think for the most part, a lot of the Olympic drug tests and things like that are relatively easy to deceive. HGH I think can leave the system as quick as 24 hours in some cases, so if you time things right and are aware enough you can cycle off quick enough to pass a drug test.

[Melchoire]

No.... cheating is cheating... Where is the debate?

OT: @Melchoire Your sig irritates me as the bottle should read LSD-25.

Oh this is where you told me about the bottle, you seemed more angry than I expected.

Not to mention kill a bunch of people.

No biggie though!

Brilliant sense of humor, iargue.

[copperhaxor]

Isit really cheating though?, If one runner is from Africa and has to run through mud and blazing sun in sandles with no water or equipment and then one runner is from US and runs in gyms with treadmills exercise equipment coaches aids diet programs ect is that not then cheating??... Deify cheating then you answer your own question...

[Zaxero]

Drug cheats is unfair. Hence the word cheat. PLus what about all the athletes that train harder than these steroid junkies.

[Riki1995]

Drug cheats is unfair. Hence the word cheat. PLus what about all the athletes that train harder than these steroid junkies.

Just because one takes steroids doesn't mean they train any less hard than someone off them. Case in point, pro bodybuilders. Many of the pros take steroids, but they still train harder than a lot of the other gym junkies. I don't really condone or reject steroid use, but it's a pretty big misconception that steroids are a magical drug that instantly make you better... you still have to work hard to make them useful/worthwhile.

[Nonexistent]

Isit really cheating though?, If one runner is from Africa and has to run through mud and blazing sun in sandles with no water or equipment and then one runner is from US and runs in gyms with treadmills exercise equipment coaches aids diet programs ect is that not then cheating??... Deify cheating then you answer your own question...

I definitely don't see how the one in the US is cheating, they're both running and training aren't they? I would say that the one in Africa would turn out to be much tougher than the one in the US because the African athlete would have been through much more hardships

[evilmushrooms92]

Seems strange to give them a second chance when so many great athletes who've never cheated aren't competing. Gives off a weird message about cheating and the consequences of getting caught...

[trizzle]

Seems strange to give them a second chance when so many great athletes who've never cheated aren't competing. Gives off a weird message about cheating and the consequences of getting caught...

I agree. The olympics are a chance for countries to showcase their talent; the athletes are effectively ambassadors for their countries. I think it sends a really bad message to other nations and to the young and aspirational in this country when we allow known cheaters to participate.

[HappyAccident]

I agree. The olympics are a chance for countries to showcase their talent; the athletes are effectively ambassadors for their countries. I think it sends a really bad message to other nations and to the young and aspirational in this country when we allow known cheaters to participate.

I completely agree with this. It just looks really bad and I personally don't want a known cheater be representing my country. Sports to me is about being healthy, exercising and having fun while at the same time trying to be competitive. A cheater representing that is sorta like a major "F you"