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How did Bolt do in the long jump this time around? Oh wait, never mind.
That is all Carl Lewis had. He was an elite Long Jumper, but an overrated Sprinter. Every time I hear people just assume he was the greatest American Sprinter ever I feel to vomit. Jesse Owens and Michael Johnson may have something to say about that claim.
Bolt is hands down the greatest ever, no question in the least.
This article sums it up well. How could one not question Bolt being on a performance enhancer.
"Anyone wasting words extolling the greatness of Usain Bolt should know better."
Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, who just won the silver in the 100 and 200, tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug prior to the 2009 World Championships. Teammates Julian Dunkley and Steve Mullings have also been caught doping.
What are the odds that a tiny, island country suddenly dominates global competition…just because?
This article and the earlier Muscleweek article linked both cite to an allegation that Bolt is connected to Angel Heredia (who changed his name to Hernandez), the drug supplier to dirty U.S. track and field coaches and close associate of BALCO's Victor Conte. Heredia/Hernandez is believe to have been a supplier of hardcore steriods from sources in Mexico, while BALCO used lighter stuff to evade detection.
FYI, this allegation, first brought up by Deadspin, has widely been debunked. A Mexican boxer hired both Heredia and Bolt's strength coach for a fight with Manny Pacquiao. Deadspin reported erroneously that Heredia was Bolt's coach, but it was a different person.
The reports that repeat the erroneous Deadspin article allegation are typically by those that don't cover track and those in the know don't believe it is even plausible Bolt would hire a person as radioactive as Heredia/Hernandez.
I have my doubts about Jamaica and Bolt (or any elite track athlete), but that Heredia/Hernandez to Bolt link allegation is just utter B.S. and sloppy reporting. Trust me, if it was true it would be front page news on every track or running publication.
Is there still anything worth believing in the British media during the Olympics? They suspect everyone who performs well, as long as it is not from a Western country.
I do believe the 60% thing, especially in athletics and swimming. Yes, they test, but it is not unimaginable that countries with the most advanced pharmaceutical technology can develop some drugs the tests can't find traces.
You don't have to be clean. You only need a drug that can beat the test system. And when it comes to that, who has the biggest advantage? See, the story can go both ways.
In the end, the prevalent test result is the only criterion, and anything else is just speculation and sometimes, sour grape. I trust the American anti-doping system no more than the Jamaican one, as everyone country has equal incentive to cheat. No one is morally superior. So stop judging others as if they are not trustworthy unless you have something solid.
When Americans lose, they lose. Learn to live with that. Not the end of the world. Stop looking for excuses.
The only problem is sophisticated drugs now cycle out of the body in 1 to 3 days. Competitors only take them while in training and their systems are generally clean for competition-day testing, unless they screw up.
So the only effective testing is out of competition random testing. Jamaica and most of the caribbean countries just can't afford to do a lot of out of competition testing. The tests are expensive, some cost over $1,000 per test. Because the drugs cycle out in 1 to 3 days, you have to do a ton of out of competition testing to catch someone. I've read reports Jamaica can't afford to do it and relies on the international track meets to do it during the track events, but that isn't when they dope.
In either system it is hard to catch anyone, but the Jamaican's system makes it virtually impossible unless they are complete idiots.
08-14-2012, 03:18 AM
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Why does everyone always talk of drugs and track and field - particularly when talking of greatest athlete. How many drug tests does the NFL, NBA, and MLB do - in and out of comp.? Ask how many tests Lebron has had in the last year and then ask a track athlete - then get your ass back to me. I'll bet the most he has ever been tested is during this OG.
Why does everyone always talk of drugs and track and field - particularly when talking of greatest athlete. How many drug tests does the NFL, NBA, and MLB do - in and out of comp.? Ask how many tests Lebron has had in the last year and then ask a track athlete - then get your ass back to me. I'll bet the most he has ever been tested is during this OG.
The difference is even a 1% improvement due to micro-doses of steriods or EPO makes a demonstrative difference in track and field. The difference between a 10.3 to a 9.7 is slight and can be obtained with performance enhancement in training. But that .6 seconds is the difference between the greatest of all time speed and a person who wouldn't even make the Olympic team for many countries.
In football, basketball, and baseball, more strength, endurance, or speed, may help, but other skills are more important to succeed. If a 3rd string QB takes steroids, he might be able to throw the ball a little farther, but he'll still be a mediocre QB.
08-14-2012, 12:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slim04
The difference is even a 1% improvement due to micro-doses of steriods or EPO makes a demonstrative difference in track and field. The difference between a 10.3 to a 9.7 is slight and can be obtained with performance enhancement in training. But that .6 seconds is the difference between the greatest of all time speed and a person who wouldn't even make the Olympic team for many countries.
In football, basketball, and baseball, more strength, endurance, or speed, may help, but other skills are more important to succeed. If a 3rd string QB takes steroids, he might be able to throw the ball a little farther, but he'll still be a mediocre QB.
C'mon, endurance in Basketball, for instance, is critical in playing at top level for 4 quarters where the game is most often won - the closer to playing 'fresh' the better those technical skills will be performed - ask any boxer who is great skill wise but then gets hammered in the later rounds because of exhaustion. To say that strength 'may help' in these sports but definately (which is what you are implying) in T&F is not being fair at all - but biased - particualrly since much argument can be given as to what benifits drugs actually have in any one sport and upon any one person.
But my main point was about the bias of FB, BB, and BB fans who are quick to judge T&F yet give superman qualities to their favorite sports athletes yet these same athletes are not subject to the testing standards that T&F athletes have been subject to for years - it is completely uncritical and biased.
The difference is even a 1% improvement due to micro-doses of steriods or EPO makes a demonstrative difference in track and field. The difference between a 10.3 to a 9.7 is slight and can be obtained with performance enhancement in training. But that .6 seconds is the difference between the greatest of all time speed and a person who wouldn't even make the Olympic team for many countries.
In football, basketball, and baseball, more strength, endurance, or speed, may help, but other skills are more important to succeed. If a 3rd string QB takes steroids, he might be able to throw the ball a little farther, but he'll still be a mediocre QB.
You can't pull that argument.
When you used enhancers, you cheated. It doesn't matter how much it might help. A cheating basketball is exactly the same as a cheating sprinter. No difference whatsoever.
Ato Boldon hits on a great point in reference to Lewis. He is jealous of anyone who runs fast times. For those of us who follow track this is hardly new.
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