Good opinion piece in SST from Richard Boock.
He writes and I agree that too much time is spent chasing athletes who use recreational drugs and not enough chasing those who use drugs to enhance their performance. Our sports drug agency spends too much time ealing with touch and softball players who use dope – which makes their performance worse – at the expense of out of competition testing in at risk sports and those sports we regard as being important to our national identity.
The world is improving. Many gyms had steroids readily available into the 1980s at least. And people like Sarah Ulmer and Melodie Robinson have done lots of work to ensure up and coming athletes know about the dangers.
The real problem is the way the US, who have major influence in World Anti
Doping, organise their government. Drugs in sport is regarded not as a health or sport issue but as a drugs issue. Their drug tsar runs the policy and anything that looks soft on drugs is not a runner.
So the target of WADA is not cheats but prohibition. And of course they miss both.
The Association of National Anti-Doping Organisations is on next week in Auckland. I’m sure the issue will come up.
Trevor, why don’t you repeat this here to give some awareness to the issues we face. Feel free to reword it of course.
http://nominister.blogspot.com/2009/11/summertime-cycling.html
They’re just trying to weed out the criminals.
But I do agree that they should be focussing on the performance enhancing drugs as opposed to the ones that make the world just a little more enchanting.
The good news is that you have beaten Nikki Kaye by default it seems. The bad karma you sent appears to have rooted her ankle.
My money is safe if you now just complete the course. Can you do that without getting hit by a handbag?
I caught part of a great interview on Saturday that Kim Hill did with Tino Tabak .. an excellent bike rider from the 60’s and 70’s.
I remember him and other national cyclists who were mates/competitors of my brother-in-law.
His stories about his life racing as an amuture and professional career was incredibly interesting and yes, drugs were involved and his thoughts were eye opening.
Those interested in cycling and sport in general would have enjoyed it and I would say his opinions would start a huge debate . pity I didn’t hear the full interview.
I missed it but am heading to his book launch tom. Jonathan Kennett has authored it and he always does a good job.