Pat Mendes

Dave284 said:
I'm sure he has, but Mendes lifted at nationals a month or so ago to qualify for pan-ams, then at pan-ams, and then at worlds. Presumably he had to be prepared to be tested at all three so has been off for some time. I doubt Iran takes WADA as seriously as the US do in terms of internal testing, so they mainly have to worry about international comps - ie World's, Asian games and Olympics - so 1-3 times a year at most?

JC said:
Its a huge assumption, to assume the guy takes gear!
Either way, the amont of comps he's done is that relevant to his time off, as (if, he indeed takes PEDS) he could take a drug that would be at of his system in a matter of days
For some designer steriods, I'm sure that time period is even shorter

Dave284 said:
True, but he won't just be tested at comps, once he competed for the first time and did well he'll be on the WADA radar and subject to random testing.

JC said:
there is no guaranteed way to be clean for them, other than being clean!

MrSmall said:
I LOLed at this, you drug fuelled beast you.
OSG on Sat?

Dave284 said:There are virtually no top guys from countries that test a lot - USA, UK, etc. I'm obviously not trying to argue that drugs are the only factor, that is ridiculous, there is no money in WL in these countries, little support, small participation rates, less coaches, no exposure etc and those factors could all arguably play a role. However when you have a guy already doing 207/240+, those concerns are irrelevant for him.

It seems, from admittedly anecdotal sources, that the RUS, CHIN, IRAN etc lifters (ie the top lifters) do not get tested internally so they can be 'on' all year round, apart from at international comps or the occasional IWF out of comp testing. The UK and USA make a point of internally testing the s**t of out lifters year round, having to report a location once every few weeks that they'll be etc. What I am saying is that Mendes, by not having done a comp, missed out on all that potential testing when he was doing 207/240+. He then came off and qualified for nationals doing 175/210 (ish). This alerted him to WADA. He then did 175/210 (ish) at nationals, 175/210(ish) at Pan-Am's and then 172/*** at World's over the course of the next three months when he was open to being tested. By contrast Salimi did 217 at the Iranian nationals (no WR as not drug tested or international comp) and then 214 in Paris - presumably after being off for much less time than Mendes. Case in point the young Iranian superheavy from a few years ago who did a s**tload in winning junior worlds, 200+ snatch etc, then failed two drugs tests (at comps) and got a life ban.

JC said:
Its a huge assumption, to assume the guy takes gear!
Either way, the amont of comps he's done is that relevant to his time off, as (if, he indeed takes PEDS) he could take a drug that would be at of his system in a matter of days
For some designer steriods, I'm sure that time period is even shorter

Steve said:
Top weightlifters from all Countries are required to comply with the ADAMS wherabouts system giving the IWF details of their wherabouts on a daily basis and a number of Countries, including Bulgaria were suspended before for the Worlds for failing to do so ruling them out of the Worlds and next years Olympics.

Dave284 said:
You can't honestly be trying to say that you think anybody lifetime drug free won a medal last week?

Dave284 said:
You can't honestly be trying to say that you think anybody lifetime drug free won a medal last week?

Dave284 said:All I'm saying is, that my theory explains the Mendes situation. I'd love for him to put it together and get somewhere with it and I shall be interested to see where he goes from here.

Wigan said:
Sadly, i dont think the lad is going to go anywhere significant from here, but i hope he continues to lift and continues to enjoy it. Good luck to him.

Wigan said:
I for one dont think this to be the case, there I said it. I think there is drug use in weightlifting, oh dear!!!