Could/would/should this work?

[tafnut]

In a provocative (to me at least) article linked on the home-page
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news ... bc5a74267c
the author advocates a new tactic on the drug front. Instead of going after the dopers, we should be more concerned with athletes' health. If athletes dope, but are not putting themselves at risk, they should be allowed to compete. I've gotta admit, it makes sense, but I can't believe there's a way to track EVERY athlete's health and ensure they are not not jeopardizing their long-term health.

[Mennisco]

They are causing undue duress to their honest opponents who surely have elevated levels of stress, and many negative emotions like resentment, depression, rage, frustration, ......knowing that they are being beaten by cheats. Call in the doctors and lawyers.

[jazzcyclist]

What I've never understood is why is creatine allowed but not anything alse. Clearly creatine is performance enhancing. I know that from first-hand experience. Do the powers that be think that creatine is the only safe PED?

[eldrick]

that article is full of naivety, crap & false assertions

it's calibre of a fashion journalist asked to analyse today's rugby game

take drugs as long as they don't damage health ?

i assume the 2 of them will pay for every world elite athlete's weekly blood-tests, ultra-sound + MRI scans of organs with some organ biopsies if previous become deranged ?

i hope for their career prospects, walt disney has run out of writers, because new mickey mouse cartoons are rare presently, but we have found the journalist/"scientist" to resurrect them

[mrbowie]

The only real issue in all of this is simply put, "What is sport?"

To me sport, as it relates to track and field (athletics), is how well somebody can compete by developing their talent by training their bodies and minds to perform at the best level possible. Anything somebody puts into their bodies to give them an edge tips the scales in their favor in an unacceptable manner.

People can rationalize all they want to and chat of health risks until the cows come home.

Bottom line is that when people tilt the playing field, it is no longer about sport.

[Powell]

Anything somebody puts into their bodies to give them an edge tips the scales in their favor in an unacceptable manner.

So we should ban food?

[bad hammy]

Hold the water too . . .

[Mennisco]

Hold the water too . . .

Quite witty if you're playing on what I think you are...

[Daisy]

Hold the water too . . .

Oxygen is definitely performance enhancing but what is the real definition of PED (not rhetorical)? I assume something beyond the ordinary. But even that does not explain why creatine is allowed. So beyond the ordinary without hormonal activity? That would allow oxygen, food and water AND creatine.

But what of low oxygen tents? I think they were banned but they represent only a very indirect hormonal effect. i guess that represents the ethical borderline. Does anyone know if any anabolic activity is ascrcibed to creatine, direct or indirect? I have always assumed it just represents a specialised energy source.

[Cyril]

An article in the LA Times today suggests that T&F set up "two parallel leagues" one that allows PEDS the other that doesn't and let the public decide which will be supported....

I think this is a terrible idea....

If bodybuilding is any indication the PEDS will have it.

[Barto]

What I've never understood is why is creatine allowed but not anything alse. Clearly creatine is performance enhancing. I know that from first-hand experience. Do the powers that be think that creatine is the only safe PED?

Go ahead and ban milk, eggs, and fish while you are at it. In fact ban allowing anyone to raise, catch, kill, process, or cook your food for you. These are "clearly" performance enhancing activities.

[huh?]

But what of low oxygen tents? I think they were banned

They were? That's news to me.