Weightlifting News...

Steve said:
Whether PEDs are harmful or not, or give you an advantage or not, whilst it's against the rules it's cheating even if "everybody" knows about it. If you were to say the rules should be changed then I understand (although don't agree) that argument.
If breaking the rules isn't, as a matter of fact, cheating then I really don't know what is.

Gordy said:
This argument works both ways.

Everyone does know what the situation is, it's remarkably clear. The powers that be are going to try and catch competitors who are using PEDs, whether the competitors agree with this or not and whether or not the entire field is using. Those caught will be banned and their name will be dragged through the mud, whether or not they are the only competitor using PEDs, the more successful/famous the athlete the worse the name dragging will be.
Competitors know that, fans know that, everyone associated with the sport knows that. So if competitors know this is the situation before they engage with it, who exactly is being wronged when someone is singled out for PED use?

ChrisMcCarthy said:
If the "rules" aren't being followed, and / or are being enforced for other than sporting or health reasons (which I think is the case), then they need to be changed - that goes without saying.

matthewvc said:
the rules about PEDs are really a vestige of corinthian idealism, rather than health.
this ideology is that sport should be purely amateur, untrained and using 'what god has gifted you'.
the same ideology ultimately led to the schism in rugby in 1895 and the increasingly farcical application of 'amateurism'
in union until 1996 (brown paper bags of cash, players becoming employed as cleaners at the club on 6-figure salaries etc).

I said:In SHW news Salimi is down to compete in a few days against Moulei at the Fajr Grand Prix meet.

His starting total is 390 - but here's hoping he can hit something much bigger and be a threat in Rio, although that will be a big ask after such a serious injury.

Steve said:
The rules re PEDs are as much about protecting the athletes health as ensuring a level playing field. People have died due to drug use in sport. Without restriction athletes will always push the limits and potentially put themselves at risk.

little_a said:
Whilst it flies in the face of my usually liberal views on a persons body being theirs to do with what they wish, I agree with this. No one wants to see people dropping dead for a faster time etc (well, I don't). Interestingly, with restrictions in place athletes seem just as happy to push the limits of the restrictions. Funny old world.

ChrisMcCarthy said:
I do agree with this...I just don't see all PED's as being dangerous, certainly not in comparison to the dangers inherent in many sports in any case.
Rather than spending millions on drug testing to "protect their health" why not just directly test, monitor and treat their health?

little_a said:
Whilst it flies in the face of my usually liberal views on a persons body being theirs to do with what they wish, I agree with this. No one wants to see people dropping dead for a faster time etc (well, I don't). Interestingly, with restrictions in place athletes seem just as happy to push the limits of the restrictions. Funny old world.

Steve said:
Certainly it could be argued that thirty years ago when you could nip across the channel and pick up "safe" PEDs over the counter in Europe things were safer and increased sophistication of testing has increased the risks athletes have to take.

ChrisMcCarthy said:I have a horrible feeling Ilyin and Chinshanlo are about to get officially popped from London 2012...