Drug use and the Olympics.

HAL9000

Honorable
This business with Simone Biles brings up a question.
Should athletes be allowed to use any form of drugs ?

...The lesser-reported more conspiracy-oriented story is based around whether she has been unable to perform at her usual standard because she has not been taking the Methylphenidate/Ritalin that she uses to control her ADHC.

Drugs that aid mental focus are potentially a great assistance to athletes, but exemptions are granted in many cases. There has been speculation--and the truth is unknown--that the drug is illegal in Japan and she's been suffering withdrawal....

(The above has been filched from another site.)

But the point is that if she performs so well when taking the medication, but does not seem to be able to do so without it, where does this end ?

Many will remember the bru haha when a notable cyclist was found to be taking a drug to help control his, I think, asthma.

In that case, it was clear that without it he did not have the lung capacity to ride as he did.

Is this not a form of cheating ?

Biles appears to have demonstrated that her admittedly brilliant performances do appear to be at least partially dependent upon the medication.

Put another way, she will probably beat competitors in countries that permit the use of it, but not in the countries where it is banned.

Has to be chemical assistance, surely ?
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
Haven't been following it really but was a cyclist for years. Armstrong was absolutely using those as performance enhancing drugs regardless of their content. Meaning, so what if they are 'natural' they wouldn't be present in those levels without artificial intervention. In his case the motive is clear. No idea about Biles or how to categorize an athlete in that position, but the IOC accepted Laurel Hubbard so they seem open to interpretation. Maybe it's just Wokery in that case.

One of her competitors spoke out and part of what she said is relevant to the drug question too.

Anna Vanbellinghen of Belgium has broken the athletes' silence with a considered statement on Hubbard’s achievement.

"I am aware that defining a legal frame for transgender participation in sports is very difficult since there is an infinite variety of situations, and that reaching an entirely satisfactory solution, from either side of the debate, is probably impossible.

"However, anyone that has trained weightlifting at a high level knows this to be true in their bones:
this particular situation is unfair to the sport and to the athletes."

Exclusive: Rival weightlifter speaks out on transgender Hubbard's Olympic place
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Should athletes be allowed to use any form of drugs ?
No, not in the Olympics nor in any other form of competition...

Is this not a form of cheating ?
Yes it is, the Olympics may be the holy grail of athletic competition and for that reason no drugs should be allowed so the playing field is fair for all competitors...

Has to be chemical assistance, surely ?
Indubitably which is the lowest form of cheating in my opinion, drug use...

I confess I haven't watched any of the Olympics, I don't need to hear political and social messaging from those so-called athletics and their teams, I won't listen to it...They can preach to someone else that garbage...

...
 

HAL9000

Honorable
I think the only fair answer to the transgender thing is that they hold events solely for people in that situation.
 

Area201

cold fusion
Biles withdrawal was so baffling until I heard her use of Adderall or some ADHD drug where she was barred from taking in Japan. Clearly this has to be the reason and makes sense. Great questions you ask, where do we draw the line? One woman takes an edible after her mom passes away and is banned from participating, while another can take this to be super focused.
 

Area201

cold fusion
I think the only fair answer to the transgender thing is that they hold events solely for people in that situation.

Opponents argue with examples of trans-people who, after switching, had no such great success (just wanted to participate in the gender they identify with). BUT this does not solve the problem that robs the women of fair sports competition when the few who have a significant advantage, and especially during HS years when drastic changes are made and (even after taking drugs to reduce testosterone).

I agree, ultimately, make up a new category (or they can compete with men). It's only really a problem one way on the women's side.

Additionally, several athletics have been banned for having too much testosterone as well (not trans), but more like the condition the 800m runner has.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Biles withdrawal was so baffling until I heard her use of Adderall or some ADHD drug where she was barred from taking in Japan. Clearly this has to be the reason and makes sense. Great questions you ask, where do we draw the line? One woman takes an edible after her mom passes away and is banned from participating, while another can take this to be super focused.

Another way of looking at it is that on one hand a woman takes a drug that a doctor did not prescribe whilst the other woman did...Does a doctor prescription make it okay for the Olympics though?....No it doesn't, in my opinion...I'm sure someone knew beforehand that Japan wasn't going to allow those prescription drugs for the Olympics athletes...So perhaps she should have been training without the use of those drugs if she really wanted to be in the Olympics...She may really need those prescription drugs to function normally in everyday life but it also gives her an unfair advantage and Japan was wise to ban the use of them...

...
 

HAL9000

Honorable
Anyway, she managed a bronze. No mean achievement in itself.

I'm glad she got something. She is very good, but not quite good enough in this case.

Back home soon. Wonder if her performance will suddenly improve.

I wonder if her goat jacket will be on sale soon ?

Newsflash.

Earthquake in Japan.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Some of those athletes are bringing in too much drama to the games, glad I've tuned out of the Olympics...They should be focused on their performance and leave all the personal baggage at home...

...
 

HAL9000

Honorable
Some of those athletes are bringing in too much drama to the games, glad I've tuned out of the Olympics...They should be focused on their performance and leave all the personal baggage at home...

...

True, the psycho stuff effects them all.

As they as the saying goes. 'if you can't take the heat, keep out of the kitchen'.
 
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