Drugs, Rasmussen, Ohuruogu, The BOA and the BBC

[huw williams]

So how do we feel about this:

Ohuruogu defends gold medal win "I just forgot to let my whereabouts known. It was a simple act of forgetfulness and that's all it was."

The British Olympic assosciation looks set to overturn its policy on not allowing athletes with any drugs assosciated bans into any future Olypmics by allowing Ohuruogu to compete in Beijing (wonder what they would have done if she wasn't world champion and had gone out in the first round.)

Rasmussen was (rightly in my opinion) kicked off the tour for missing drugs tests and his national federation said he wouldn't represent them at the Olympics. Again, the correct decision in my opinion for a sport trying to be seen to clean up its act.

BBC presenter during the Tour - "We are considering whether or not we should still be reporting on the tour due to the recent spate of drug assosciated withdrawals."

BBC presenter yesterday - "Thankfully the BOA's decision will mean that we get to see Ohuruogu as part of our coverage of the Olympic games next year."

The BBC of course does not have any coverage of the tour.
Despite positive tests by a number of athletes in recent times ranging from the usual unknown Russian shot putters to household names like Ben Johnston and Dwain Chambers, athletics remains one of the sports left in the BBCs diminishing portfolio. Ever heard one of their presenters suggest that they should not be covering it due to "drug assosciated withdrawals?"

Double standards?

Discuss

[Graham O]

Completely Agree......But like David Millar, she has served her time.

However 12 months is not long enough....If she was using drugs to support her training, her current performances will still in part be due to their use.

If she gets into the Olympics, will this open the door for Mr Millar and others....

I don't think she should be allowed in.....

[huw williams]

I think this is a major problem - that there is not one blanket rule for drugs offenders - it differs from sport to sport.

Ohuruogu's case now sends out the message that you CAN potentially miss tests (for sinister or any other reasons) yet still get selected for the Olympics.

I'd also feel very pi**ed off if I was Nicola Sanders and anyone else who will be vying for an olympic berth who might miss out due to Ohuruogu's inclusion

[Mike I]

[quote]It was a simple act of forgetfulness

[Richard (Apples)]

I have it on good authority that a certain very sucessful British sprinter used to get a call on his mobile just before "random" drugs testers would turn up where he was training and he would leg it to his car and drive off

[adrian]

[quote] Lunchbox?

[Richard (Apples)]

[quote]They didn't have mobiles in his day, did they? Or if they did, they were those brick things. Hmm - maybe that was what he stuffed down his keks

[Andrew G]

Saw it on the news last night and in someone's Times today. Couldn't agree more that it's pathetic.

Dodgy drugs avoidance, 1 year ban, life ban from Olympics (at the moment anyway), but lets celebrate because they're British and it isn't that nasty drug ridden sport of cycling.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

And what is worst of all is that the commentators (BBC) are full of sympathy for her.

The hypocritrical double standards makes my blood boil, and my wife is fed up with me throwing things at the television

[Toks]

[quote="seanieh.Piano_Condor©"]Double standards big time. .

[John the old'un]

Just how stupid can you get??
She knew her career would be in jeopardy if she failed to turn up. They gave her a second chance, and then a third, but she still failed to turn up.
Stupid ? Yes, to think she could re-write the rules.
We comply with the rules, even when competing at domestic level. As an International athlete
she should have complied with the rules too.
If you can't do the time. don't do the crime.

[MJ_1993]

I agree
and now Valverde gets banned from the World Champs
I think its time for the UCI, Grand Tours, team bosses and federations, to sit down and talk

because the effects of doping will still be there
e.g. surely if you boost your red blood cell count via EPO, it will remain boosted in 2 yrs time.

The one I dont get is Kashechkin

Valverde wasnt going to participate in the Vuelta, neither was Vino, Di Luca has already won the Giro

Since he came third last year, and with both 1 and 2 gone already prior to the Tour de France. He would be the favourite, with the 'best stage race team' behind him (so it was hailed in January)

maybe lifetime bans, plus they have to handover two years salary, that would hit them, because a rider like Vino gets a bonus from race organisers if he enters, and to my understanding he still keeps that, the money he's already made along with contacts, means he is set for life.

[Toks]

[quote="John, the old'un"]Just how stupid can you get??
She knew her career would be in jeopardy if she failed to turn up. They gave her a second chance, and then a third, but she still failed to turn up.
Stupid ?

[Phil S]

[quote="huw williams"]
BBC presenter during the Tour - "We are considering whether or not we should still be reporting on the tour due to the recent spate of drug assosciated withdrawals."


The BBC of course does not have any coverage of the tour.

[huw williams]

"presenter's name, channel or programme name would be handy"

It was a while back but it was the Radio 5 live sports slot around 7.00pm so I'm guessing it was one of the Arlo White/Mark Pougatch/Mark Saggers school of presenters

"there are plenty within the BBC and within the media as a whole that aren't fawning all over Christine Ohorougou" - I'm sure youre right but I haven't seen/heard any of the front line presenters ask any seriously "tough questions." Last night's highlights programme came over merely as an opportunity for Colin Jackson to defend Ohorougou's position. There was no-one there giving the opposing view. Gary Richardson's show on sunday should be worth a listen though

"Cycling does get a bad press, but look at the track record which is appalling" - And deservedly so, no complaints there and none if BBC radio HAD decided not to cover the remainder of the tour - I understood the Germans' stance while questioning whether they'd stop showing football in the light of Davids, Dugarry and countless other players being banned for Nandralone.