We all watch cycling, we all know that there is probably widespread doping, but do we really want the sport to come crashing down when it’s revealed conclusively that everyone is doping?
We’re only really concerned when someone is taking the piss (I’m looking at you Pog 
)
I always find it funny that boxing, athletics cycling are the ones pointed at yet sports like rugby and football (both soccer and the American) are not even mentioned. I think you’d have to be daft to thing that rugby players of later look like they do because of good diet…
The UKADA list of current sanctions is mainly Rugby players Sanctions | UK Anti-Doping (ukad.org.uk)
Current sanctions list from Athletics Intergrity Unit…its quite a long list Global List JUN_24 (athleticsintegrity.org)
Is it just the circles we move in that causes the bias or does it feel like athletics and cycling doping gets more coverage?
Given the money in football I’d be amazed if there isn’t doping going on, keeping expensive players fit and playing.
I know a lot of the game is about skill, vision etc but it’s also requires high levels of fitness and strength.
Nobody said that anti-doping was going to be easy
So many Kenyans on that list that they just lose credibility.
Yeah the incentive in football or rugby where there’s more to be gained financially has got to mean there’s at least some going on
Alternative take: we can have more confidence in Kenya’s ADA now that we can see they’re doing it. A country which doesn’t catch anyone could well be more problematic
Some of the “ transformations” in combat sports are just laughable.
People who couldn’t crack an egg initially wading through divisions stopping everyone in quick time
Conor Benn springs to mind, possibly the worst ped story in recent history.
Yep, because WBC gave him a pass
Conor henn !
In a twist of utter madness he then didn’t accept there pass ( the blag egg story and said “ I don’t eat that many eggs”)
WBC
WE
BE
CROOKS.
The British boxing board of no control won there appeal and he’s not allowed to fight in the Uk, no British fighter is allowed to fight him either.
He has had two fights in America which is beyond sad, it must be said his mind blowing power seems to have disappeared overnight ?!?
Who knew ?!
It’s like pog testing pos now but riding the vuelta anyway due to stupid rules.
Anarchy and cash in equal measure I guess
I suspect it’s purely because these are the popular sports where an athlete’s physical strength or endurance is the predominant determinant for success, and it could be argued that winning clean is probably pretty hard in these sports.
Sports like football, rugby, tennis etc where skill, organisation, team makeup, tactics etc also have a bigger say in the outcome, it’s a bit easier to ignore for all parties.
Remember that Zidane and the Juve team in the 90s openly admitted to using blood bags at the time - no-one cared because these are ‘skill sports’.
The funny thing is - anyone thinking that a team being doped to the gills against a team that isn’t doesn’t impact the outcome of a cup final or league or world cup at the end of a long football season is probably quite delusional, given the small margins involved at the top end.
Drug abuse in rugby has been an issue for a very long time and primarily started after the game went Pro and leagues became all important.
At the junior club I was involved with in the late 80s, we had a very good potential young prop - a naturally big lad - who decided to move away to a bigger club to improve his game. He came back a couple of seasons later having put on a lot of muscle bulk and openly declared he’d been taking steroids along with others at that club. Problem was that it didn’t improve him as a player, just made him a bigger mediocre player!
I have been to one rugby league match in my life
Warrington v can’t remember
I had no idea what was happening
Who was winning or the rules to be honest
I can’t stand with some authority though that some of those players 100% had been getting some “ help”
Juice bombs
My experience is in rugby union, not league, but I believe there are similarities in both codes with drug abuse.
Well Contador rode and win the Tour in 2010(?) while appealing against a drugs ban. He lost his appeal and was stripped of his results.
Would the people who inherited his results have necessary won if he hadn’t been there in the first place?
Was this the clenbuterol positive ?
The contaminated meat excuse ?
Conor Hen ( sorry!) tested positive twice for clomiphene ( a female fertility drug that promotes ovulation I believe?)
It’s only possible use in sport is to kick start natural test production after a cycle of steroids.
I’m glad he got his tour win took off him, Conor is still earning money but his career is in “ limbo” as the ban is indefinite I believe?
If he had gone guilty and got two years he would now be free to fight again Anywere, he was given some really bad advise initially.
Zero tolerance is the only way forward but it’s like some bodies / people want to let them off I’m still amazed at the jade jones fiasco, and to be honest the attitude of a few on here over it.
Interesting article from the Observer
