Topic: What would you think about a Champion who is likely using?

[Chuck Lopez]

if there was both a tested and an untested weightlifting league I bet I know which one most of us would like to watch more ;)

yes the drugs help the guys who are using train longer but I don't really consider it cheating per se, the hard work still has to be put in the drugs aren't lifting the weights for them

I personally wouldn't want to dope but if someone else wants to its their body and they know the drugs are banned so its their decision and responsibility for what happens

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

if there was both a tested and an untested weightlifting league I bet I know which one most of us would like to watch more ;)

Personally, I like to see great contests more than steroid inflated numbers. So, I would watch the natural division far more personally.

the hard work still has to be put in the drugs aren't lifting the weights for them

I suppose this is true to an extent but every steroid user I have ever known has repeatedly remarked about "how fun it is to go to the gym every day and get better" and other things that indicate to me that the hard work is not as hard, is more fun, and is less stressful than for a natural lifter.

[Matt Erdman]

There is no hard evidence produced that the athlete in this case used doping, so the achievement is legitimate.

Sjaak

I think deep down this is how most people feel. In weightlifting and all sports. They acknowledge that medal winners probably used steroids to get there, but as long as they don't get busted, people praise their accomplishments.

[Jack]

Yes Matt, maybe it's naive. If you see how many really big names and big teams are caught and banned I like to think the testing is working. I understand the testing protocols are very rigorous, also during training prior to the contest. Again, this is hearsay for me, and I like to believe it; others are undoubtedly more knowledgable of the protocols. Shaun has a point when he argues to set things free; I remember I was hugely disappointed that Galabin Boevski received an 8 (?) year ban, essentially career ending. Not that he did not deserve it according to the current rules, but what a spectacular athlete was lost to the sport. On the other hand, I can understand the fury towards the users of illegal substances.

Sjaak

[Dave Chiu]

 
I say that any Olympic medalists caught doping should be banned for a period to include AT LEAST the next Olympics.  In that respect, we are still not sufficiently rigorous about doping (like the Thai woman who won 53's).

On the other hand, what about the immense advantages some countries employ to optimize their athletes, like the system in China?  That significantly amounts to artificial enhancement.

Two books are VERY useful to considering such questions of what's fair:

"Speed Trap" by Charlie Francis,

"Outliers" by the guy who wrote Blink.

I remember a guy whom I like and respect once answering the "Are you clean?" question w/ "Yeah, I shower regularly..."

I agree that the interest in our sport is VERY much about the individual drama of performing at the limit of one's best, not really about the specific weight. 

Unfortunately, the competitive aspect is inseparable from that, and so drugs ARE a problem -- even a tragedy.

Dave

[Andy Dick]

i wouldn't do anything- because i can't do anything... except for train harder. This is all  we can do, moaning about people taking   steroids aren't going to make them lift any less or make us lift any more.

Amen to that!



On a side note, not really 100% on topic but pretty funny.  I had a friend once who told me to take steroids and get really huge.  I was like well I wouldn't want to mess my body up or the possible effects on my kids.  He just said to donate my sperm to a sperm bank to save them and then artificially inseminate my wife down the road.  LOL who says that and better yet who contemplates that?

[kirksman teo]

It's not a problem to me, at the highest levels.

At the lower levels, I'd rather not since chances are, you've not exploited the true capabilities of your body naturally. At the highest levels, people just want to see bigger, faster numbers, more powerful punches.... Stuff like that. And if you can't go any higher, like it's truly the human limit....then it's steroids, here I come for you.

[Matt Erdman]

What does everyone think of the results?