Ohuruogu

[deevlash]

Shes just had appeal against a 12 month doping ban turned down. Apparently she has never taken drugs but was just too thick to attend 3 separate drug tests. Serves her right I say.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athle

[ewenm]

It's not quite like that.

The system used to be this: the athlete needs to tell UK Sport (drug testers) where they are at all times of the day. The testers can then randomly turn up at any time, no notice. The problem is usually that the athlete isn't where they said they were going to be. This pften happens because the athlete works and work overruns or training is cancelled etc. Especially if they are London based - a training partner of mine missed a test because the tube was fubar'd. If the testers can't find you, it counts as a missed test.

It is a harsh system. I think they have changed it so you only need to say where you'll be for an hour a day. So for example you can say "between 7am and 8am I'll be at home" - if that changes you're meant to tell them.

[deevlash]

If I can manage to be in to meet a cable repairman then Im sure a proffesional athlete can manage to inform a drug tester where theyll be if the consequences are so dire, unless theyre a bit thick.

[mikeyt]

deevlash said:

If I can manage to be in to meet a cable repairman then Im sure a proffesional athlete can manage to inform a drug tester where theyll be if the consequences are so dire, unless theyre a bit thick.

Yeah, CO isn't the brightest but there are many British athletes in the public eye recently who have missed two tests in a row already ... (no names Ewen) ... it maight even be public knowledge but I can't say.

She missed the tests and yes, she was daft, but people mess up sometimes. Sadly, it looks like she will not be able to represnt GB at another Olympics and seeing as she came to prominence at Athens in 2004, and could conceivably have been in with a shout of a medal in Beijing next year, that is a shame.

She's considering her future at the mo, and may run in Osaka at the WC, but I'm not sure she will.

[ewenm]

deevlash said:

If I can manage to be in to meet a cable repairman then Im sure a proffesional athlete can manage to inform a drug tester where theyll be if the consequences are so dire, unless theyre a bit thick.

To use your analogy, you'd need to available for the cable repair man at the same times everyday, no short notice changes allowed.

[deevlash]

ewenm said:

deevlash said:

If I can manage to be in to meet a cable repairman then Im sure a proffesional athlete can manage to inform a drug tester where theyll be if the consequences are so dire, unless theyre a bit thick.

To use your analogy, you'd need to available for the cable repair man at the same times everyday, no short notice changes allowed.

Then a better analogy would be a doctor on call then. Nobody forces them to be a pro athlete, theres simple rules to protect the honest decent and very hardworking athletes from those who choose to cheat. If theres cracks in the process some people will slip through and that simply isnt fair.