[Har-Tru]

Don't know if this has been posted yet. Murray and Federer call for stricter doping tests:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ten...n-cycling.html

Andy Murray calls on tennis to get tough on drugs in the wake of the Lance Armstrong scandal in cycling

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ten...in-tennis.html

Roger Federer wants to be drug tested more often as worries mount over anti-doping programme in tennis

[Har-Tru]

Originally Posted by philosophicalarf

You know, I don't think so. From the players' perspectives, they get 10ish tests a year in competition, and have to give location data 365 days a year. That would be a major pain in the ass to comply with.


The problem of course is that the dopers have easy ways to avoid the tests. As Armstrong said last night, they have no fear of in-competition testing because they know they've flushed everything out of their system.

Armstrong also said blood passports work against doping (tennis doesn't use them), as does out of competition testing (tennis does such a microscopic number there's zero chance of catching anyone).


Is there doping in tennis? With basically no anti-doping system to speak of? Of course there is. Fuentes worked with hundreds of world class athletes, and said in 2006 that 20% of his clients were tennis players - he said that if he talked, Spain would lose the World Cup, and strangely enough the Spanish authorities buried the list of his clients



It's the dilemma of any governing body:

1) test properly, you will catch lots, and the sport's image will get ruined.

2) give up on testing, the dopers will take over.


Cycling chose number 1 - they do mammoth numbers of tests. Tennis chose 2.

[Henry Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Har-Tru

Oh ye of little faith...

If cyclists were able to do it, crossing the extremely closely watched French borders, getting BBs into Australia is easy as.

Not really. It's much easier to hide anything crossing land borders. Australian airport security is tight.

Not worth the risk.

[GSMnadal]

Federer and Serena comment on the matter (don't know if somebody posted it already):

Fed: 'It makes me very sad that someone has done this for such a long time and in doing so, has done so much damage to their sport.'

Serena: 'As an athlete who has worked so hard ever since three or four years old, I have to say that this is a very sad day for all athletes. It may be even more sad for anyone who was harmed in the process. If that big a sports person would do this, I understand people will question what's it like in sports other than cycling.'

[atennisfan]

Originally Posted by zcess81

Basically, until we have a concrete proof (such as Armstrong in cycling), it is extremely cynical to assume that the same is true in tennis at the very top of the game.

Lance Armstrong was never tested positive despite hundreds of tests.

No east german swimmer was tested positive during the 70s 80s.

No chinese swimmer was tested positive during the 92 olympics and 94 worlds.

Marion Jones was never tested positive.

So people who assumed they were on drugs were extremely cynical?

Not to mention that Armstong, chinese swimmers, jones, etc got OOC tested FAR MORE OFTEN than current top tennis players. So we are not allowed to be cynical just because drug testing in tennis is very lax?

[atennisfan]

Originally Posted by Henry Chinaski

Not really. It's much easier to hide anything crossing land borders. Australian airport security is tight.

Not worth the risk.

Very very true.

The downfall of chinese swimmers when they got caught smuggling EPOs when they landed in Perth for the 1998 World Aquatic Championships.

[atennisfan]

Originally Posted by Har-Tru

Don't know if this has been posted yet. Murray and Federer call for stricter doping tests:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ten...n-cycling.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ten...in-tennis.html

Very interesting.

Different than the answers given by Djoker.

[Har-Tru]

Originally Posted by Henry Chinaski

Not really. It's much easier to hide anything crossing land borders. Australian airport security is tight.

Not worth the risk.

After having read tons and tons of books and info about doping in cycling, I am absolutely sure that, if planned, getting a BB into Australia entails very low to no risks at all.

I'm not saying the players would smuggle the BB in their personal suitcase, of course. But bear in mind blood isn't exactly what airport security is looking for.

[GSMnadal]

Originally Posted by Har-Tru

After having read tons and tons of books and info about doping in cycling, I am absolutely sure that, if planned, getting a BB into Australia entails very low to no risks at all.

I'm not saying the players would smuggle the BB in their personal suitcase, of course. But bear in mind blood isn't exactly what airport security is looking for.

Wouldn't it show up as a liquid? And isn't that forbidden to take on a plane?

[Henry Chinaski]

taking anything through airport security is a risk. just ask wayne odesnik.

I'm dubious about the benefits anyway. I doubt bloods values drop during a tennis tournament to the extent a bb would be really beneficial.

[Rosa Luxembourg]

With answers like these one thing is clear - he'll make a good politician one day

[Litotes]

Originally Posted by atennisfan

Lance Armstrong was never tested positive despite hundreds of tests.

No east german swimmer was tested positive during the 70s 80s.

No chinese swimmer was tested positive during the 92 olympics and 94 worlds.

Marion Jones was never tested positive.

So people who assumed they were on drugs were extremely cynical?

Not to mention that Armstong, chinese swimmers, jones, etc got OOC tested FAR MORE OFTEN than current top tennis players. So we are not allowed to be cynical just because drug testing in tennis is very lax?

His tests from 1999 was examined in hindsight and showed proof of doping, but somehow the legal bit never managed to seal the deal. But your point is - of course - a valid one.

[Har-Tru]

Originally Posted by Henry Chinaski

taking anything through airport security is a risk. just ask wayne odesnik.

I'm dubious about the benefits anyway. I doubt bloods values drop during a tennis tournament to the extent a bb would be really beneficial.

I used to think that some 4-5 years ago. Then I started reading and... my jaw dropped. Especially in slams a timed transfusion can do wonders.

EPO would probably be more efficient though. Too bad EPO tests are virtually non-existent in tennis.

[Henry Chinaski]

what have you read?

given that blood testing is non-existent in tennis, we have no idea what a tennis player's hematocrit levels should even look like throughout a tournament.

[Time Violation]

Originally Posted by GSMnadal

Wouldn't it show up as a liquid? And isn't that forbidden to take on a plane?

Not just that, shouldn't it be kept cool, and need some kind of portable freezer with enough juice for the long flight?