Doping

Doping and Tour De France have a long history together. This year too, all hopes of a dope free Tour were dashed as doping reared its ugly head with two riders testing positive. Every year the organizers and the WADA speak tough on doping, urging the cyclists to compete cleanly, but their pleas are often fallen on deaf and stubborn ears. The Tour, considered to be the holy grail of cycling, the ul

Ancora un Ciclista trovato positivo al Doping. Basta, non se ne può più il Pubblico propone una sospensione di ogni gara professionistica sino a che tutto non sarà ripulito. Sono quasi tre anni che un Tour de France finisce senza un Vincitore. Ecco nella copertina sottosta

Another dark day for cycling as it fights to clean upIn one of our pre-tour posts this year we mentioned that we would focus on the racing, and how last year the doping took center stage. We hoped this year would prove different, but that hope vanished somewhere on the road to Narbonne yesterday, and here we are in the middle of July discussing yet another tour doping scandal.Tour hits strike thr

Athletics sprinting events: An "incurable credibility problem?"Check in a little later for a post on the Tour de France, and the first big mountain top finish from Monday at Hautacam. Apologies for being a little behind on that one, but I'll get some comment up on the stage a little later today.In the meantime, I came across this excellent article which delivers comment on the Dwain Chambers dru

Tra gli aspetti positivi della cultura oggi dominante tra i giovani vi è quello di una maggiore cura del proprio corpo rispetto alle esperienze fatte dai loro genitori. L’allenamento in palestra è tra gli sport più diffusi in quanto oltre a benefici effetti sulla salute si ha la possibilità di raggiungere il peso forma e [...]

Arribo de los atletas a BeijingDe acuerdo a la decision tomada por la junta ejecutiva IWF y asi como fue comunicado previamente a todas las federaciones nacionales,TODOS LOS COMPETIDORES OLIMPICOS DEBERAN LLEGAR A BEIJING8 (OCHO) DIAS ANTES DE SUS RESPECTIVOS DIAS DE COMPETENCIA.

Ah, science. You bastion of never-ending wonder. Filling our bodies with substances to make us smarter, live longer, or create an unnatural breast-to-body ratio so women can look fat in t-shirts (Thank you Amy Pohler, and thank you science.)Reading this article on brain-doping made me think about the frontiers we’re entering in terms of science and the mind. Not necessarily in innovation, that

BEIJING: The International Olympic committee has adopted a new rule to keep athletes caught doping in Beijing, out of the 2012 London Games.Athletes will be banned from the following games if they received a drug suspension of at least six months. The rule will first apply to the 2010 winter games in Vancouver and then [...]

La notizia è stata diffusa nelle scorse settimane dalle agenzie di stampa, si tratta di doping nello sport: pubblicata dal “Corriere del Mezzogiorno” il 14 Aprile scorso parla del dott. Domenico Monda, che ha dato il via a una iniziativa che, pur non essendo illegale, puo’ far discutere, di tratta del doping non farmacologico, come [...]

Antonio Pettigrew, the Olympic gold medalist sprinter, has admitted to using performance enhancing drugs throughout his career, despite passing all drug tests. Pettigrew was testifying in the case against his former coach, Trevor Graham.Graham is accused to lying to authorities, an allegation he has pleaded not guilty to. The authorities used sprint champion Justin Gatlin to help in their investig

Una mutazione genetica può nascondere l’uso di sostanze dopanti. Lo sostiene uno studio svedese: una scoperta che potrebbe mettere in crisi i controlli alle prossime Olimpiadi. Una nuova ombra si addensa sui già criticatissimi test anti-doping. E a scoprire una falla nella rete dei controlli cui verranno sottoposti gli atlenti in partenza per Pechino è uno [...]

(EFE).- La Federación Española de Hockey (RFEH) realizará un análisis capilar a las integrantes de la selección femenina que participó en abril en el Preolímpico de Baku para tratar de confirmar que fueron intoxicados antes del control de dopaje en el que dos de sus jugadoras dieron positivo. “No tenemos dudas de nuestras jugadoras. O [...]

Con il termine doping (dall’inglese to dope, drogarsi), si intende indicare l’uso di sostanze o di procedimenti destinati ad aumentare artificialmente il rendimento, in vista o in occasione di una gara. In realtà va detto che non sempre questi medicinali aiutano effettivamente a ottenere miglioramenti: molto spesso agisce il cosiddetto “effetto placebo”; chi li [...]

Brazilian swimmer Rebeca Gusmao received a two-year doping suspension Thursday after testing positive for testosterone before the Pan American Games. The doping violation stemmed from an out-of-competition test on July 13, Brazil’s swimming confederation said in a statement. Gusmao’s lawyers said she will appeal.

Brazilian swimmer Rebeca Gusmao received a two-year doping suspension Thursday after testing positive for testosterone before the Pan American Games. The doping violation stemmed from an out-of-competition test on July 13, Brazil’s swimming confederation said in a statement. Gusmao’s lawyers said she will appeal.

The 55 men in a drug doping study in Sweden were normal and healthy. And all agreed, for the sake of science, to be injected with testosterone and then undergo the standard urine test to screen for doping with the hormone.The results were unambiguous: the test worked for most of the men, showing that they had taken the drug. But 17 of the men tested negative. Their urine seemed fine, with no excess testosterone even though the men clearly had taken the drug.It was, researchers say, a striking demonstration of a genetic discovery. Those 17 men can build muscles with testosterone, they respond normally to the hormone, but they are missing both copies of a gene used to convert the testosterone into a form that dissolves in urine. The result is that they may be able to take testosterone with i

Pensate che figuraccia per la Cina vedere uno dei propri atleti positivo ai test durante le Olimpiadi di Pechino 2008. L’orgoglio cinese e la cultura della perseveranza radicata fortemente in questo paese sempre più proiettato verso la modernizzazione, verrebbe annientata nel giro di brevissimo tempo. Per questo motivo il governo ha lanciato da tempo una [...]

Alle prossime Olimpiadi di Pechino gli atleti asiatici avranno una chance in piu’ di farla franca ai controlli antidoping. Ricercatori del Karolinska Institute di Stoccolma hanno infatti scoperto [...]

The NFL has formally suspended Stephen Cooper of the San Diego Chargers after he tested positive for a banned simulant. The inside linebacker moved into the starting lineup just last season and made a statement regarding his suspension.Cooper said: "I support the NFL's anti-doping policies, and understand that I must serve a suspension even though the stimulant that I took was not used before any game and was not used to enhance my performance."The substance he took was only recently added to the NFL's blacklist. During college, Cooper was found with 1,000 pills in his posession and admitted they were his, but denied he ever took any. Source: ESPN

Il doping è diventato una piaga, che purtroppo, coinvolge una buona parte degli sportivi; non solo sono i grandi nomi del mondo sportivo a lasciarsi tentare, ma anche quelle persone che hanno la voglia di vincere ad ogni costo. Le cronache sportive ci hanno fatto comprendere che nemmeno i campioni dalla faccia pulita sono davvero tali. Il Giro d’Italia, il [...]

Romano Prodi ha deciso di lasciare la presidenza del Partito democratico.  Si accomiata. E - parlando del suo futuro - sottolinea: “Per ora penso a qualche mese di vacanza sono 20 anni che tiro“. Adesso è tutto chiaro. Leggi altre news su per il Popolo delle Libertà.

Il venti per cento dei ricercatori americani dichiara di prendere farmaci che aumentino la capacità di concentrazione; tra i più usati il metilfenidato e le anfetamine. Lo denuncia un’inchiesta pubblicata sull’ultimo numero della rivista Nature. Anche la scienza, dunque, è dopata? Questa la domanda che provocatoriamente si leva dalle pagine di Nature. Il giornale, per [...]

La foto qua sopra (cliccala per ingrandila) immortala una serie di spam che mi sono arrivati.Rimango assolutamente ammirato... Li trovo deliziosamente umoristici.Sono convinto che che i traduttori automatici siano i migliori comici del 21 secolo!Eccone degli esempi gustosi:"Il miracolo blu allora va bene anche con la vicina" (categoria: speranzoso. Direi che dipende anche dalla vicina...)"Comprate la forza per il pene, e salvate 85%" (categoria: acquirente oculato. Sarà "Lui" particolarmente al risparmio?)"Le condizioni del lavoro sono flessibili" (categoria: precariato globale. Non me ne farei un vanto...)"Luca li invita a giocare il casino!"" (categoria: le vite degli altri. Un messaggio senza azzardo ma confuso...)"Il doping per la vostra cosa graziosa" (categoria: sesso competitivo. C

Steroid chemist Patrick Arnold of Ergopharm testified in San Francisco federal court today in the perjury case against cyclist Tammy Thomas. Pat Arnold said under oath that THG was explicitly created to avoid detection by athletes subject to doping controls. He admitted to selling tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) to Victor Conte of BALCO and directly by mail to Tammy Thomas.THG was also known as “the clear” because it was not detectable at the time Arnold developed it in about 2001.Under questioning by prosecutor Jeff Nedrow, Arnold said, “That’s the primary reason why THG was developed.”Arnold also said, “I believe that Miss Thomas understood full well it was undetectable and that that was its purpose.”He said he believed the cyclist understood the drug had “steroid-like qualiti

La noticia cayo como un valde de agua fria, despues que un congresista norteamericano propusiera la nueva ley, en que todos los artistas extranjeros se les haga la prueba antidopin.  Tras entrevistar varios artistas al respecto, unos estan de acuerdo y otros en contra, por ejemlo Xavier Ortiz dice que es meterse en la intimidad [...]

Lo so, lo so....certe notizie sono difficili sia da credere che da digerire, però questa volta dovete credermi, non è una bugia....giurin giurella......si tratta di un brevetto della ditta tedesca TOMARNI, una ditta che costruisce sistemi di gioco, in pratica FPS BRAIN è una pillola a base di caffeina,vitamine, lecitina e altre sostanze stimolanti che promette di migliorare il rendimento dei VIDEOGIOCATORI, in pratica una droga per smanettoni.....a loro detta il prodotto è assolutamente innocuo e certificato ISO 9001 , una scatola di pillole (circa 60) costa 19,90 euro ma attenzione, non è una sostanza puramente energetica, più che altro aiuta e stimola la concentrazione , non la resistenza fisica......VIAtutte le news dal mondo dei retrogames

Un paio di anni fa parlammo di questo argomento con un ex ciclista, che per alcuni motivi qui rimarrà anonimo. Nel mentre nulla è cambiato. Il buon lettore tenga presente che nel calcio è ancor peggio. E che impiegare il proprio tempo vitale per occuparsi di questi poveretti gestiti da mentecatti è da considerarsi come [...]

Ne L’allenamento mentale negli sport di resistenza spiego chiaramente che la musica è un esempio di focalizzazione psichica su un evento piacevole: il soggetto crede che utilizzando un focus positivo (in mancanza della vincita al Superenalotto!) possa sentire meno la fatica. Se fosse così tutti i professionisti userebbero tale focus. In [...]

Heavily-marketed drugs may not be the answer to behavioral problemsEditor's Note: In this two-part series, vagabond correspondent Tom Glaister suggests ADHD is more cultural than physical, while Dr. Henry Fishman begs to differ.The first time I heard of Ritalin was when I was volunteering as a teenager, teaching math at home to a single mother who was trying to get her high school diploma.As we struggled our way through fractions and percentages, I had to duck as a tea cup came flying through the air and smashed against the wall behind me – her 4 year old son, Jan, had woken up and wanted some attention. Much wailing and screaming and sounds of heavy crashes later, my student came back down the stairs having put her son to bed."I don't get a minute of peace," she sobbed, "He just never stops. Sometimes the kindergarten even calls me up to bring him back home when he gets too disruptive."The solution, the doctors told her, was to give him a daily dose of Ritalin, a drug with a simil

Rendere più efficace il sistema di prevenzione e lotta al doping, anche tra chi pratica sport a livello amatoriale: è questo l'obiettivo del nuovo atto di intesa firmato oggi dal ministero della Salute, quello delle Politiche giovanili e sport e il Coni. Un protocollo che punta a creare un coordinamento stabile tra la Commissione per la vigilanza ed il controllo sul doping e per la tutela della

...σε μια άκρως ενδιαφέρουσα δήλωση προχώρησε η γνωστή σε όλους μας αθλήτρια Μαριον Τζόουνς, «Θέλω να ζητήσω συγγνώμη για όλα αυτά. Λυπάμαι που σας απογοήτευσα όλους με τόσους πολλούς τρόπους», αναφερόμενη σε μια επιστολή της που έχει στη κατοχή η Washigton Post όπου αποδέχεται ότι έκανε χρηση απογορευμένων ουσιών στους Ολυμπιακούς του Σίδνει...και πλέον τα μετάλλια της θα πάνε βόλτα...! Θα μου πείτε ε σιγά αναμενόμενο.δεν είναι η πρώτη...ούτε φυσικά η τελευταία....αλλά δεν είναι εκεί το θέμα....αλλά ΞΕΝΕΡΑ για το άθλημα του στίβου....γιατί να πάω να πανηγυ

On the back of the recent doping news, namely Operation Raw Deal and the fact that Michael Rasmussen returned a "non-negative" test from this year's Tour de France, comes a perhaps not so shocking admission by Canadian mountain bike superstar Genevieve Jeanson. In an interview with Radio Canada, she admitted to taking EPO since she was sixteen years old. She is now 26 and has been out of racing since July 2005 when she tested positive for EPO at the Tour of Toona. She received a lifetime ban from USA Cycling (from whom she had a racing license) which was later brokered down to a two-year ban ending in July of this year.For anyone who has read Matt Rendel's The Death of Marco Pantani, Jeanson's case is yet another in which an athlete's entire career was based on the abuse of EPO. More to the point, it is another career filled with medals and victories based on the systematic use and abuse of performance enhancing drugs.Both Pantani's and Jeanson's stories show us that although

This is kinda funny that pro-golfers have to use steroids!?! Well, I’d let them use it since steroids probably messes up your game more than it helps especially under those high pressure situations where you gotta sink a 2-footer to win. How’s steroid going to help you in that case? Maybe you will hit it with more confidence? LOL The issue of steroids has finally reached the golf world. On the same day that American Floyd Landis was banned for doping and stripped of his 2006 Tour de France Title, several golf organizations signed an anti-doping policy. The policy comes after weeks of speculation of when professional golf would start taking the same steps that other professional sports were taking in tackling the problem of steroids. via skinnymoose confidence, floyd landis, footer, Golf Humor, Golf News, golfers, golf organizations, golf world, kinda funny, lol, pressure situations, professional golf, professional sports, speculation, steroid, steroids, stripped, tour d

Well it has finally happened the many golfing organisations have agreed on an anti doping or performance enhancing drugs policy, well in principle anyway.The first phase of the policy will encompass the actual development of the prohibited substances list and subsidiary policies.The second phase will see the creation of the general standards for the anti doping program.The anti-doping office of the world golf association will open in 2008. They will control the part of the policy which still allows for players to use controlled substances for medical and therapeutic reasons. They will also hand out penalties for breaching the new code.There has also been a large emphasis placed on educating the players.The major golfing organisations that have agreed to the policy include:Augusta National Golf Club European TourLadies Professional Golf AssociationPGA of AmericaPGA TOURThe R&A for The Open ChampionshipUnited States Golf Association for the U.S. Open, the U.S. Women's Open and the U

Alessandro Pissilli, il professionista fiorentino risultato positivo ai controlli antidoping fatti in occasione dei Campionati Nazionali Omnium si è difeso con una nota diramata dal Circolo Golf dell’Ugolino, il circolo presso il quale dove insegna. (more…) Alessandro Pissilli, antidoping, farmaci

Avevo già parlato del doping nel golf, la notizia è di questi giorni. Un professionista italiano è risultato positivo al controllo antidoping in occasione del Campionato Nazionale Omnium che si è svolto a Margara a fine giugno. (more…) Alessandro Pissilli, antidoping, Campionato Nazionale Omnium, controlli antidoping

Doping again overshadowed racing at the Tour de France on Wednesday when an Italian rider was thrown out for failing a drug test, detained by police and had his hotel searched. Cristian Moreni’s problems didn’t end with failing a doping test at the Tour de France. Cristian Moreni’s positive test for testosterone prompted the withdrawal of his entire Cofidis team. Police were searching his hotel, and French TV showed police officers stationed on the premises. Moreni’s case fueled the deep sense of crisis already hanging over the race and sport. It came one day after star rider Alexandre Vinokourov and his entire Astana team were sent home after he tested positive for a banned blood

Doping has reared its ugly head at the Tour de France again. After the latest scandal, tour director Christian Prudhomme says professional cycling needs a total overhaul. The leader of Turkey’s opposition party—Republican People’s Party—said it would not back the majority party’s presidential nominee, saying he questions the candidate’s dedication to Turkey’s secular constitution. The Arab League has sent its first ever

Petacchi è stato assolto dalla disciplinare perchè il salbutamolo, sostanza trovata nelle urine del ciclista ligure, non era doping ma frutto di un’assunzione del farmaco a fini terapeutici. Cosi’la Disciplinare della Federciclismo ha assolto AleJet dall’accusa di doping. (more…) alessandro petacchi, doping

It’s a good idea to do certain things if your city is set to host the Olympics. These things include building new stadiums, hiring proper security, and ensuring that the public transportation is adequate. Also, it’s probably a good idea to make blood doping illegal. With the 2012 Olympics just five years away London may soon join the anti-doping party. The leading medical adviser to the Games, professor Arne Ljungqvist, has recommended to the London 2012 organizers that they press the government to make doping a criminal offense. Ljungqvist believes that unless legislative changes are made, it will be significantly easier to cheat at the London games than it was at past Olympics. Because possession of doping substances is illegal in Italy, last winter police were able to conduct a raid of Austrian rooms in Turin that uncovered a full scale doping laboratory. Under the current laws in England, police would not have been able to conduct that raid. It’s good to see

Well, we did our best. We tried hard to write Tour de France posts without referring to doping or making lame science jokes about doping in some way. But just when we thought we might make it to Paris having seen a great, competitive Tour, which could have been remembered for the ferocious attacks launched by the climbers on the way up to Tignes, the Galibier and Plateau de Beille, it now seems we have a Tour that may again be remembered for the wrong reasons. First Michael Rasmussen, yellow jersey wearer and aspirant Tour champion hits the headlines for failing to give notice of where he was training leading up to the Tour. That in itself is no problem, he has done nothing wrong, but all of a sudden, journalists and riders are debating doping again. Then today, Alexandre Vinokourov, the hero of the race, the poster boy for the human spirit, is reported to test positive for a homologous blood transfusion. He is suspended, his team quits the Tour, and yet again, on the eve of w

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — International golf’s ruling body hasn’t heard from Gary Player about his claim that some players take performance-enhancing drugs and says no other golfers have backed him up.   “I haven’t spoken to him. Gary made his comments, no other player seems to have backed them up that I can find and we’ll just have to let that lie,” Peter Dawson, the Royal & Ancient’s chief executive, told a news conference Monday, the day after the British Open at Carnoustie. more…

By Christine Brennan, USA TODAY CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — After months of self-serving, often-elitist denial, golf officially entered the steroid era Wednesday, dragged into the netherworld of 21st-century sports not by a positive drug test, but by a 71-year-old legend who last won a major championship nearly 30 years ago. It was about time. Somebody had to do it. Gary Player, a nine-time major winner and a fitness nut who has stayed very close to the game, assuredly stated what no one in his more…

:: På NÄTET beställer vi från Kina dopingmedel (tillväxthormon) och betalar 1.500 kronor för ett månadsbehov. Efter en vecka har jag beställningen i min hand. Samma produkt kostar i USA 1.500 US$. De anabola steroiderna strömmar med kurirer tonvis till Sverige, EU och USA. Handeln beskrivs av DN:s Torbjörn Petersson i reportaget Massexport av kinesiska steroider.REFLEKTION Vad svarar Sveriges Olympiska Kommitté, Idrottsministern (m): Hör idrott och politik ihop, eller inte? Hör Kina, OS i Beijing 2008, doping och politik ihop? Även efter massimporten till Sverige av steroiderna från Kina? . . . Innebär förresten dagens DN-reportage om Kinas steroider att den svenska Tystnadsvallen brutits? Tänk om Regeringen hade samma mod som DN? Det som göms i snö kommer upp tö. Det är vår nu. Sanningens vårflod har börjat. Dags för krismöte i Alliansen om sanningens vara eller inte vara?   Technorati Tags Politik och idrott Beijing 2008 politik -- Andra bloggar om

Le Tour, or the Grand Boucle, is upon us again, and, as seems only normal, with a mix of doping scandals and allegations. Many of us are no doubt depressed by this, and can become cynical and turned off by the sport. We have both heard ex-Tour Fanatics express a sense of apathy, and who can blame them? Not a single champion since 1995 has been untouched by rumour, positive tests and allegations. In fact, there isn't even a defending champion in this year's race, with last year's winner (is that Floyd Landis or Oscar Pereiro?) still being decided by a court of arbitration!Our advice is don't let this get you down, and enjoy watching the next three weeks of the Tour for what it is - a test of physical endurance and strength. Here are two reasons why we should continue to watch and enjoy this year's tour and the sport of cycling. First, it is quite possible (if allegations are believed, and if it is true that when there is smoke, there is likely to be fire) that more than 70

Le Tour, or the Grand Boucle, is upon us again, and, as seems only normal, with a mix of doping scandals and allegations. Many of us are no doubt depressed by this, and can become cynical and turned off by the sport. We have both heard ex-Tour Fanatics express a sense of apathy, and who can blame them? Not a single champion since 1995 has been untouched by rumour, positive tests and allegations. In fact, there isn't even a defending champion in this year's race, with last year's winner (is that Floyd Landis or Oscar Pereiro?) still being decided by a court of arbitration!Our advice is don't let this get you down, and enjoy watching the next three weeks of the Tour for what it is - a test of physical endurance and strength. Here are two reasons why we should continue to watch and enjoy this year's tour and the sport of cycling. First, it is quite possible (if allegations are believed, and if it is true that when there is smoke, there is likely to be fire) that more than 70%

Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif look set to escape any further doping sanctions after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said it was unable to hear their case. In a statement released today, CAS said it was forced to dismiss an appeal brought by the World Anti-Doping Agency since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does not recognise the court in its regulations. Shoaib and Asif were handed two-year and one-year bans in November 2006 by the PCB's Anti-Doping Commission after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, but the punishment was controversially lifted one month later by the board's Anti-Doping Appeals Committee. Announcing its decision "with considerable regret", CAS said its rules "require that a direct reference to the CAS be contained in the statutes or regulations of the body whose decision is being appealed." Reuters

Thanks to Luckylab and bikejenbike for their comments on the earlier post (Shadow of doping, 23 June). This post will address those comments.First, for a quick and easy (and disturbing and fascinating) read on the East German doping "machine" of the 1950's to 1990, read Faust's Gold by Steven Ungerleider (pic below).Luckylab asked in a comment about how much doping actually helps, while bikejenbike wondered how the smaller American swimmers actually beat the East Germans from time to time.One thing we touched on briefly was that we do not know the real effect of all the different performance-enhancing drugs. This would require loads of studies that investigate each drug individually, and also in conjunction with other drugs (since often they are taken in combo with each other). The ethical issues here are too numerous to list, and that is why this research remains largely unperformed. Having said that, however, see the previous post that looks at the article of Franke and Berendonk,

Thanks to Luckylab and bikejenbike for their comments on the earlier post (Shadow of doping, 23 June). This post will address those comments.First, for a quick and easy (and disturbing and fascinating) read on the East German doping "machine" of the 1950's to 1990, read Faust's Gold by Steven Ungerleider (pic below).Luckylab asked in a comment about how much doping actually helps, while bikejenbike wondered how the smaller American swimmers actually beat the East Germans from time to time.One thing we touched on briefly was that we do not know the real effect of all the different performance-enhancing drugs. This would require loads of studies that investigate each drug individually, and also in conjunction with other drugs (since often they are taken in combo with each other). The ethical issues here are too numerous to list, and that is why this research remains largely unperformed. Having said that, however, see the previous post that looks at the article of Franke and Berendonk,

Performance enhancing substances - do they work? And by how much? It's a relevant question, and I thought it would be good to have a look at the answers. I was going to write an article on the Ethiopian dominance of long distance running in the last ten years, but we've been receiving such thoughtful comments and questions from people regarding our posts on drug use in cycling that I thought it might be better to continue on this theme and look at just what a scientist makes of the prevalence of doping in sport. I also said I'd look at altitude training, and I will, but I'll do that tomorrow. For now, we keep going on doping.Yesterday LuckyLab asked how much of a difference doping actually made? And unfortunately, it's quite difficult to get hold of that information! As you can imagine, it's difficult enough to find out who is doping and with what, never mind trying to track their improvements in a controlled manner! And make no mistake - this information exists, because

Performance enhancing substances - do they work? And by how much? It's a relevant question, and I thought it would be good to have a look at the answers. I was going to write an article on the Ethiopian dominance of long distance running in the last ten years, but we've been receiving such thoughtful comments and questions from people regarding our posts on drug use in cycling that I thought it might be better to continue on this theme and look at just what a scientist makes of the prevalence of doping in sport. I also said I'd look at altitude training, and I will, but I'll do that tomorrow. For now, we keep going on doping.Yesterday LuckyLab asked how much of a difference doping actually made? And unfortunately, it's quite difficult to get hold of that information! As you can imagine, it's difficult enough to find out who is doping and with what, never mind trying to track their improvements in a controlled manner! And make no mistake - this information exists, because

Yesterday (23 June), I wrote two posts about the ominous shadow of doping in cycling, with the Tour de France coming up. In one post, I gave the example of how Bjarne Riis, the winner of the 1996 Tour, recently admitted to doping. The problem is that he does not appear to be an isolated case, and even within that race of 1996, the top 4 riders all have some sort of history or track record of doping. The same goes for every single winner of the Tour de France since 1996 - either they are known drug users, or they are rumoured to have doped (with plenty of circumstantial evidence), or they are currently being tried (as in the case of Floyd Landis).And so I wrote that the "deeper you dig, the uglier it gets" for the sport of cycling. And in response to this, Lei and LuckyLab posted interesting comments on the use of EPO when altitude training would work (check them out in that post on the 23/6).So I thought it would be good to do a post on the culture of cycling and why exactly it seems t

Yesterday (23 June), I wrote two posts about the ominous shadow of doping in cycling, with the Tour de France coming up. In one post, I gave the example of how Bjarne Riis, the winner of the 1996 Tour, recently admitted to doping. The problem is that he does not appear to be an isolated case, and even within that race of 1996, the top 4 riders all have some sort of history or track record of doping. The same goes for every single winner of the Tour de France since 1996 - either they are known drug users, or they are rumoured to have doped (with plenty of circumstantial evidence), or they are currently being tried (as in the case of Floyd Landis).And so I wrote that the "deeper you dig, the uglier it gets" for the sport of cycling. And in response to this, Lei and LuckyLab posted interesting comments on the use of EPO when altitude training would work (check them out in that post on the 23/6).So I thought it would be good to do a post on the culture of cycling and why exactly it seems t

Und wer kommt schon ohne die kleinen Helfer aus?Der eine mampft Bonbons, der andere schlürft Kaffee, noch jemand braucht täglich Obst, jemand anders Schoki und da es unumstritten und auch notwendig ist, bei der Wahrheit zu bleiben, gebe ich hiermit ÖFFENTLICH zu:ICH BIN GEDOPT !!!Und reihe mich in die Geständigenriege mit ein. Aber bei mir langt das nicht, ein Kaffeele zu trinken, oder Schoki zu mampfen, nein, da muss es schon was ganz Hartes sein, um die Bloggerleistung gnadenlos oben zu halten.Nun würdet ihr gerne wissen was das ist, hm? Ich habe zwar Angst vor den Konsequenzen, aber da wir unter uns sind, verrat ichs euch: Orangensaft.Ihr mögt schockiert sein und das hättet ihr sicher NIE von mir gedacht, aber irgendwann müssen die Karten auf den Tisch.Ich entschuldige mich öffentlich und hoffe auf milde Verurteilung.Gebrandmarkt sein ist Strafe genug: **************************************** Eine Verwendung dieses Feeds auf anderen Webseiten verstößt gegen das Urheb

Seriously. Click here.Wheelchair tennis player Meliha Karic was banned for two years for testing positive for a banned stimulant. The International Tennis Federation said the 27-year-old Frenchwoman tested positive at the British Open wheelchair championships in Nottingham, England, on July 25 for adrafinil or modafinil metabolite. The ITF said Karic had taken the substance in medication and not to enhance performance, but suspended her because she failed to take "personal responsibility" to ensure the ingredients were allowed under anti-doping rules.