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Not more controversy
Flavadave
Posts: 749
in General Chat
So I was boring the misses with all things triathlon the other night, and extolling the virtues of one Chrissie W and her back to back wins in Kona. I happened to mention that prior to her first win no-one really knew who she was.
Misses replied 'Well its obvious what she's done... she's on drugs!'. Now I don't for one second think this, I honestly believe that Ms W is just a supremely talented endurance athlete and I have nothing but admiration for her. One of my heroes really.
Did get me thinking though... Are elite triathletes rigorously tested? Have any been found out? And does anyone know where I can find something 'extra' to make me win at Kona?
Seriously, I have no strong views on this, just thought it might illicit some interesting responses.
Dave
Misses replied 'Well its obvious what she's done... she's on drugs!'. Now I don't for one second think this, I honestly believe that Ms W is just a supremely talented endurance athlete and I have nothing but admiration for her. One of my heroes really.
Did get me thinking though... Are elite triathletes rigorously tested? Have any been found out? And does anyone know where I can find something 'extra' to make me win at Kona?
Seriously, I have no strong views on this, just thought it might illicit some interesting responses.
Dave
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And with triathlon being mostly an individual sport, the incentive for doping isnt as great as it is in say cycling. Having said that though, with EPO giving you an instant 20% increase in performance in a trained athlete I can see the temptation for athletes, especially those pros trying to beat the dominance of Chrissie, and Alexander, Macca etc, and those desperate to get to Kona
Whilst I cannot claim to be a personal friend of Chrissie & with the caveat that you never really 'know' anyone, I do know her and until this was raised I never thought for a second that drugs may be involved in her success, she was good from the word go, decided to take the pulnge & turn pro, worked very hard & won, won & won again. She really does not strike me as a win at all costs person who would resort to that level to win.
Her first (amateur) triathlon was the Eaton Super Sprint in May 04, aged 26. She won Kona in October 07. I'd be more likely to class this as coming from nowhere rather than being a successful previously ignored career.
This is like suggesting I might be IM world champion in 2011. The whole idea is mind-blowing!
I presume she must get extensively tested the same as eveyone else. It's sad that if someone does have success like Chrissie Wellington has there may well be eyebrows raised but that just seems to be the nature of the world we currenly live in.
I think there is a bit more of a progression than the press have let on.
G
She beat me in Salford in 2005 (? i think) by around 10 minutes... and I was second! She won her age-group in the worlds by about 15 minutes, and the entire race by 7 minutes or so.
No-one had heard of her until her first Kona win, and her early ironman wins were accompanied by "well, there was no real competition there". I think she's proved a point since! The BTA were not too bothered with trying to support even after the win in Lausanne- she's obviously too old to make it as a pro at almost 30!
I will not for a moment believe that Chrissie has even entertained the thought of drugs. She's just a machine!
The elites are tested,but as Triathlon is a minority sport not much money is ploughed into the testing.Kraft was a high profile hit by the tests after Kona.
Maybe the question could be how many age groupers would fail?,when they turn up to race dosed up to their eyeballs in cold cure,paracetamol and whatever painkillers work.
But if anyone asks 'You haven't seen me,but you believe me to be in Mexico'
Cheats do get caught,but others succeed,a new test is developed to detect,a new drug is developed to mask the effects.
I could be contraversial and write about legalised doping but that could be a step too far.
Is it acceptable for an age group athlete to take a medicine,which is on the banned list(but they do not know it),to cure an ailment and race in a local triathlon.If they win should they accept the prize?