Jonah Lomu dies, aged 40.
Discussion
A very dear friend of mine who played for Wales youth and various senior clubs also had this condition.
He was part of a 'system' that used illegal substances to bulk up. He went from being a normal, if good sized chap, to absolutely massive very quickly.
His kidneys are also wrecked and he is convinced it was the steroids or hgh.
This is a response to the chap who's son has it - I have do idea about Lomu, apart from the fact that he was a wonderful player and it is a very sad loss.
He was part of a 'system' that used illegal substances to bulk up. He went from being a normal, if good sized chap, to absolutely massive very quickly.
His kidneys are also wrecked and he is convinced it was the steroids or hgh.
This is a response to the chap who's son has it - I have do idea about Lomu, apart from the fact that he was a wonderful player and it is a very sad loss.
To the chap that pointed out to me Vidiri had it too - thanks I really had no idea about that. Not to in anyway belittle his condition but his form of nephrotic syndrome clearly was not as serious as Jonah's.
I do hope that this thread does not start to degenerate down the line of eventually comparing this wonderful athlete and human being to someone like Ben Johnson. Yes the guy was my sporting hero but I am not totally blinded by admiration.
As I have said go back to when Jonah first pitched up at Wesley college in Auckland. His old P.T teacher has in recent days put up a copy of his athletics results so unless people are trying to accuse him of being on a 'programme' back then just be quiet.
It has also been well documented that after the 1999 World Cup when Jonah's kidneys really began to deteriorate and a transplant was looking likely, that he would also have to be placed on a steroid for the rest of his life that could possibly be at odds with the RFU so permission and conditions may of had to of been met.
The game of rugby only turned professional after the 1995 World Cup so taking any sort of banned substances would of been pointless as there would of been clearly no commercial reasons to do it.
Also since Jonah, no doubt Rugby players have bulked up massively they have had to so I would of thought it would of made them prime target by any anti doping agency to bring charges - and no doubt Jonah being the first global superstar of the game would of had to submit to all sorts of tests probably more than most.
I do hope that this thread does not start to degenerate down the line of eventually comparing this wonderful athlete and human being to someone like Ben Johnson. Yes the guy was my sporting hero but I am not totally blinded by admiration.
As I have said go back to when Jonah first pitched up at Wesley college in Auckland. His old P.T teacher has in recent days put up a copy of his athletics results so unless people are trying to accuse him of being on a 'programme' back then just be quiet.
It has also been well documented that after the 1999 World Cup when Jonah's kidneys really began to deteriorate and a transplant was looking likely, that he would also have to be placed on a steroid for the rest of his life that could possibly be at odds with the RFU so permission and conditions may of had to of been met.
The game of rugby only turned professional after the 1995 World Cup so taking any sort of banned substances would of been pointless as there would of been clearly no commercial reasons to do it.
Also since Jonah, no doubt Rugby players have bulked up massively they have had to so I would of thought it would of made them prime target by any anti doping agency to bring charges - and no doubt Jonah being the first global superstar of the game would of had to submit to all sorts of tests probably more than most.
I'd no intention of belittling Lomu. I'm a huge fan of what he did for the game. As one of the comments on the BBC said, "there was Rugby Union BL (before Lomu) and there's Rugby Union AL". I think that succinctly and affectionately sums up most peoples' views on Lomu.
Vidiri's was serious enough to have him on dialysis and presumably on a transplant list though. And I don't think anyone's suggesting Lomu was abusing substances - creatine's not a "drug". But it's clear that there have been players that have used Creatine and there are question marks over its effects on health. It's banned in many countries now. It's also clear that Auckland Blues had a programme of creatine usage - though Lomu always denied he used it in that period.
I guess it just opens up a wider debate about its usage in sport in general.
Vidiri's was serious enough to have him on dialysis and presumably on a transplant list though. And I don't think anyone's suggesting Lomu was abusing substances - creatine's not a "drug". But it's clear that there have been players that have used Creatine and there are question marks over its effects on health. It's banned in many countries now. It's also clear that Auckland Blues had a programme of creatine usage - though Lomu always denied he used it in that period.
I guess it just opens up a wider debate about its usage in sport in general.
Edited by Swervin_Mervin on Friday 20th November 14:28
I'll add as well, that Lomu was an inspiration for many that have suffered with renal illness, not least my wife.
We heard some interesting things about him from the team at the MRI in Manchester (I gather that their consultants advised in matters relating to his transplant and he received some treatment there as well I think).
Firstly, he carried on playing with creatinine (yes that's a different thing - waste protein if you like) levels that were astronomical and would have completely felled most people. I think they were over 1200 before he finally admitted he couldn't continue without dialysis. His reason for resisting is that dialysis can have very debilitating effects, and once you start you're effectively on a different path in terms of health (unless you're lucky enough to receive a transplant). Most normal people will be flagged as a concern if creatinine levels get too far beyond 100. I think my wife managed to hang on until about 600+! Doctors were amazed that she lasted that long, so you can only imagine how high levels of over 1000 are.
Secondly, his transplant kidney wasn't located in the usual spot, which is lower abdomen, tucked behind the pelvic bone. It was plumbed in under his ribcage, thereby offering it a greater degree of protection so that he could continue to play rugby. I gather it's no mean feat plumbing it in up there!
All of this only cemented our respect for the guy. He was not only an incredible athlete but had an astounding force of will. He simply refused to let his illness stop him from playing the sport he loved.
We heard some interesting things about him from the team at the MRI in Manchester (I gather that their consultants advised in matters relating to his transplant and he received some treatment there as well I think).
Firstly, he carried on playing with creatinine (yes that's a different thing - waste protein if you like) levels that were astronomical and would have completely felled most people. I think they were over 1200 before he finally admitted he couldn't continue without dialysis. His reason for resisting is that dialysis can have very debilitating effects, and once you start you're effectively on a different path in terms of health (unless you're lucky enough to receive a transplant). Most normal people will be flagged as a concern if creatinine levels get too far beyond 100. I think my wife managed to hang on until about 600+! Doctors were amazed that she lasted that long, so you can only imagine how high levels of over 1000 are.
Secondly, his transplant kidney wasn't located in the usual spot, which is lower abdomen, tucked behind the pelvic bone. It was plumbed in under his ribcage, thereby offering it a greater degree of protection so that he could continue to play rugby. I gather it's no mean feat plumbing it in up there!
All of this only cemented our respect for the guy. He was not only an incredible athlete but had an astounding force of will. He simply refused to let his illness stop him from playing the sport he loved.
Best of luck to your friend. A close family friend was on dialysis from us first knowing until a few years ago - probably getting on for 20yrs. She was on the list all that time (having had a failed transplant before we knew her) and then suddenly a suitable one came up. She's doing incredibly well now 
Swervin_Mervin said:
I'd no intention of belittling Lomu. I'm a huge fan of what he did for the game. As one of the comments on the BBC said, "there was Rugby Union BL (before Lomu) and there's Rugby Union AL". I think that succinctly and affectionately sums up most peoples' views on Lomu.
Vidiri's was serious enough to have him on dialysis and presumably on a transplant list though. And I don't think anyone's suggesting Lomu was abusing substances - creatine's not a "drug". But it's clear that there have been players that have used Creatine and there are question marks over its effects on health. It's banned in many countries now. It's also clear that Auckland Blues had a programme of creatine usage - though Lomu always denied he used it in that period.
I guess it just opens up a wider debate about its usage in sport in general.
I'm almost positive that creatine use is very well studied and from what I've seen there aren't any question marks over its effects on health (unless you meant positive ones). Can you provide some links?Vidiri's was serious enough to have him on dialysis and presumably on a transplant list though. And I don't think anyone's suggesting Lomu was abusing substances - creatine's not a "drug". But it's clear that there have been players that have used Creatine and there are question marks over its effects on health. It's banned in many countries now. It's also clear that Auckland Blues had a programme of creatine usage - though Lomu always denied he used it in that period.
I guess it just opens up a wider debate about its usage in sport in general.
Edited by Swervin_Mervin on Friday 20th November 14:28
There was a great programme on Radio 5 the other night..>Zinzan Brooke, quite a few other contemporaries and a lot of interviews from Mr Lomu himself.
One thing that came out that I didn't know was that he was ill for most of his career...Brooke said the rest of the squad knew he was ill but only the medical team actually knew how bad it was. You can get it on iPlayer, iTunes etc. 90mins very well spent.
One thing that came out that I didn't know was that he was ill for most of his career...Brooke said the rest of the squad knew he was ill but only the medical team actually knew how bad it was. You can get it on iPlayer, iTunes etc. 90mins very well spent.
London424 said:
Swervin_Mervin said:
I'd no intention of belittling Lomu. I'm a huge fan of what he did for the game. As one of the comments on the BBC said, "there was Rugby Union BL (before Lomu) and there's Rugby Union AL". I think that succinctly and affectionately sums up most peoples' views on Lomu.
Vidiri's was serious enough to have him on dialysis and presumably on a transplant list though. And I don't think anyone's suggesting Lomu was abusing substances - creatine's not a "drug". But it's clear that there have been players that have used Creatine and there are question marks over its effects on health. It's banned in many countries now. It's also clear that Auckland Blues had a programme of creatine usage - though Lomu always denied he used it in that period.
I guess it just opens up a wider debate about its usage in sport in general.
I'm almost positive that creatine use is very well studied and from what I've seen there aren't any question marks over its effects on health (unless you meant positive ones). Can you provide some links?Vidiri's was serious enough to have him on dialysis and presumably on a transplant list though. And I don't think anyone's suggesting Lomu was abusing substances - creatine's not a "drug". But it's clear that there have been players that have used Creatine and there are question marks over its effects on health. It's banned in many countries now. It's also clear that Auckland Blues had a programme of creatine usage - though Lomu always denied he used it in that period.
I guess it just opens up a wider debate about its usage in sport in general.
Edited by Swervin_Mervin on Friday 20th November 14:28
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