Topic: News: Weightlifter Paul Doherty suspended for positive test

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Weightlifter Paul Doherty suspended for positive test

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — Weightlifter Paul Doherty has been suspended for two years after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, a prohibited anabolic agent, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Tuesday.

The suspension is retroactive to April 21, the day Doherty accepted a provisional suspension.

Doherty has been disqualified from all results dating to Dec. 1, the date of his test at the American Open.

[Dave Almeida]

I think it would naive to consider that no one in usa weightlifting has used to get themselves near the top. They may stop once there when all the drug tests start, but I don't believe for a second EVERY lifter that attended the olympic trials this year has never touched a banned substance. My opinion of course which probably doesn't mean much.

Doping is unfair for everyone, EVEN THE ATHLETES THAT DOPE IN MANY INSTANCES. Systemic doping in impoverished countries such as china and bulgaria is downright wrong. The athletes may not want to take drugs but when it comes down to it they need to in order to put food on their tables or go work at a dry cleaners. Which would you choose?

This is what sports have become, not just weightlifting. I've said it before and I'll say it again. A crossroads will soon come in our culture where people will have to decide how far they are willing to go to stop drug use in sports or if they will just let it go on and accept it. Part of me thinks that anti doping will just change to anti gene doping and sports will just become freakshows allowed people to juice as long as they dont gene dope. Look at the recent success of strongman, its a freakshow and considerably more popular than any strength sport around right now. Who knows though, new generations, new ideas. We will see in 20 years or maybe less because the anti doping campaign will change a lot by then whether it be for good or for bad.

If Paul didn't have such influence on young kids I would treat it like I would any other lifter. USADA did their job and busted him. Who cares, he won't be the first or the last to use or get busted for it. Don't try to ruin his life over it, people do a lot worse things. The fact that he influences kids is where it gets to me a bit. You should be  more responsible in that case.

You may argue that well Dmitry Berestov influences kids too! Well go read the russian boards. Dmitry berestov or not these kids are raised to understand that doping is how the best athletes get there while in the usa it is covered up. Completely different cultures.

[Brooke Burkhalter]

I think it would naive to consider that no one in usa weightlifting has used to get themselves near the top. They may stop once there when all the drug tests start, but I don't believe for a second EVERY lifter that attended the olympic trials this year has never touched a banned substance. My opinion of course which probably doesn't mean much.

Doping is unfair for everyone, EVEN THE ATHLETES THAT DOPE IN MANY INSTANCES. Systemic doping in impoverished countries such as china and bulgaria is downright wrong. The athletes may not want to take drugs but when it comes down to it they need to in order to put food on their tables or go work at a dry cleaners. Which would you choose?

This is what sports have become, not just weightlifting. I've said it before and I'll say it again. A crossroads will soon come in our culture where people will have to decide how far they are willing to go to stop drug use in sports or if they will just let it go on and accept it. Part of me thinks that anti doping will just change to anti gene doping and sports will just become freakshows allowed people to juice as long as they dont gene dope. Look at the recent success of strongman, its a freakshow and considerably more popular than any strength sport around right now. Who knows though, new generations, new ideas. We will see in 20 years or maybe less because the anti doping campaign will change a lot by then whether it be for good or for bad.

If Paul didn't have such influence on young kids I would treat it like I would any other lifter. USADA did their job and busted him. Who cares, he won't be the first or the last to use or get busted for it. Don't try to ruin his life over it, people do a lot worse things. The fact that he influences kids is where it gets to me a bit. You should be  more responsible in that case.

You may argue that well Dmitry Berestov influences kids too! Well go read the russian boards. Dmitry berestov or not these kids are raised to understand that doping is how the best athletes get there while in the usa it is covered up. Completely different cultures.

I agree it can be unfair in Bulgaria, China, etc. where it can be a forced thing are most likely in the past not told what they are taking.

Influencing kids is the biggest aspect of it.

Where do you find these Russian boards? Are they in english?

[Dave Almeida]

shatoy.fastbb.ru

thats the one i go to, it is in russian. i typically just visit for information on lifters that i translate but there is a drug section, or was atleast. they also have technique, training and competition sections

[Matt Erdman]

As a PWA member, this is no surprise to me. I don't have any respect for either Doherty. I don't see how berating your lifters while they are on the platform is good coaching, nor do I believe high school lifters should have to come in 7 days a week.

[Jim Storch]

Water is a "performance enhancing substance" as are carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

Just because something is "performance enhancing" does NOT make it bad.

If it did then lifting heavy stuff should be against the rules, 'cause it is the most performancing enhancing thing for lifting.

[Dirk Wilcke]

In my opinion the problem with drugs is this:

• Doping is defined as an anti-doping rule violation
  
  The anti-doping rule is essentially "Don't take prohibited substances"
  
  A prohibited substance is any substance listed on a certain list that some organization came up with

Assume that for some reason milk makes it onto the prohibited substance list. Anybody drinking milk would be a doper. Does that warrant moral outrage? What exactly are the reasons that a substance makes it onto the list?

Milk is performance enhancing but is not on the list. Cigarettes are pretty dangerous but are not on the list. Maybe substances have to be performance enhancing and dangerous. But marijuana is on the list although it is unlikely to be performance enhancing for most sports and isn't particularly dangerous. On the other hand alcohol probably isn't on the list.

It addition, it appears to be pretty random to prohibit the use of a clenbuterol (whose most likely side-effect may be a little nausea) by boxers who then proceed to hit each other on the head with a force of 1000lbs. Weightlifters are prohibited to take steroids that aid recovery because of potential health risks involved with steroid abuse. I know a dozen lifters that had to quit their athlethic careers as teenagers because of lifting related injuries.

I'm not defending drug use. I have no problem with cheating being defined as the breaking of arbitrary substance (ab)use rules if it is clearly stated that the rules are pretty arbitrary (any sport rule is arbitrary). But it often appears to be suggested that there is some higher moral or medical logic behing the creation of banned substance lists. If there is, I'd like to hear it.

[John Way]

"Water is a "performance enhancing substance" as are carbohydrates, fats, and protein
Just because something is "performance enhancing" does NOT make it bad.
If it did then lifting heavy stuff should be against the rules, 'cause it is the most performancing enhancing thing for lifting.: Living , breathin and training are all performance enhancing, but thats not the point, why do people need to supplement a good diet??, when any benefits can be gained in general food, good rest and a proper program, esp as some people who take aids then go and smoke, drink, the natural benefits are then lost!!

"Assume that for some reason milk makes it onto the prohibited substance list. Anybody drinking milk would be a doper. Does that warrant moral outrage? What exactly are the reasons that a substance makes it onto the list?"
http://www.swimalberta.ca/news/swim-coaches-slam-milk-ban.htm