tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post8788158804312633140..comments2023-08-20T08:58:19.480-05:00Comments on Running Kellometers: My Thoughts on DopingKelly @ Running Kellometershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15261285599296693612noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-76985632716951763912012-11-02T10:00:27.919-05:002012-11-02T10:00:27.919-05:00This is a very interesting topic, especially to th...This is a very interesting topic, especially to those of us who know what it takes to be any sort of athlete (I use that term loosely because I don't consider myself an athlete...just the occasional runner). Personally, I have the guiltiest conscience ever and don't think I would ever dope even if someone guaranteed that I would never get caught. My most extreme challenger/competitor is myself so cheating myself would be pathetic. Heck, sometimes I try to avoid things like Clif Gel Shots because I want to see how I will perform without them! I can see how people could get caught up in the fame and glory associated with being an all-star performer. What it really comes down to is one's morals. Great post!Irina @ Chocolatea Timenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-12956526195923536552012-11-01T16:38:57.213-05:002012-11-01T16:38:57.213-05:00These are some of the articles I came across alleg...These are some of the articles I came across alleging widespread doping among Kenyan athletes. According the articles, none of the more well known international athletes have been implicated so far. It seems to be mostly the locally based athletes. But as I said, reports like these are very worrying because they really do tarnish the image of sport as a whole. You end up wondering whether dominant athletes are dominant because they have the natural talent or because they're getting assistance from elsewhere. <br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19763647, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/9572277/Kenyan-athletes-under-scrutiny-in-doping-inquiry.html, http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/712123/German-insists-on-doping-among-Kenyan-athletes.aspxPretoriaRunningMannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-29399819253692705782012-11-01T10:52:21.990-05:002012-11-01T10:52:21.990-05:00hmm this is an interesting topic. I think that alm...hmm this is an interesting topic. I think that almost every athlete takes a supplement of some kind to help them either recover or perform better...where it crosses the line to me is when it becomes prescription or illegal...then again I guess it's not like runners don't get steroid shots for knee pain. hmm this is tough.RunToTheFinishhttp://www.runtothefinish.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-82895150084612070792012-11-01T09:40:57.015-05:002012-11-01T09:40:57.015-05:00Thanks for this long response. I think that a 2 ye...Thanks for this long response. I think that a 2 year ban for a first-time offense isn't good enough for the same reasons you said. Athletes know it is wrong, but they still do it, and get a slap on the wrist? I don't think that is right.<br /><br />Obviously, Lance Armstrong raised a lot of money for cancer research over the years and that is fantastic. However, he also deceived the world and did many things (that he knew were wrong) while raising this money for research. It is very much a grey area indeed. I think it was smart for him to step down from the Livestrong Foundation.<br /><br />No, I didn't know that the Kenyans were being investigated for doping--can you send me a link to any articles you've seen?Kelly @ Running Kellometershttp://runningkellometers.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-62014393664371616652012-11-01T09:38:30.222-05:002012-11-01T09:38:30.222-05:00Hmm, the more I think about it, I agree that thing...Hmm, the more I think about it, I agree that things aren't so black and white.Kelly @ Running Kellometershttp://runningkellometers.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-25594946129962837962012-10-31T17:11:08.344-05:002012-10-31T17:11:08.344-05:00I obviously haven't been in a situation where ...I obviously haven't been in a situation where I'm under pressure to win in order to get endorsements or win prize money etc, so I can't really judge individual athletes for doping. But here's what I think. Taking performance enhancing drugs, under any circumstances is wrong and dishonest and I definitely think harsher punishments should be imposed on those who dope. I think the 2 year ban for first time dopers and then life-ban for multiple offenders is too lenient. It should be at least 4 or 5 years. A lot of athletes who get caught and serve their 2 year ban end up doping again when they come back. A case in point, Ben Jonson and the Belarusian shot putter who just recently tested positive after winning the Olympic gold. And then of course there's the Lance Armstrong case. The worst thing about Lance is that he deceived the world for seven years knowing full well that his wins were not legal. It's really sad because so many people looked up to him and considered him a legend. It kind of makes you wonder how clean other athletes are. BTW, did you know that the Kenyan athletes are also being investigated for doping?PretoriaRunningMannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-74290252586439941942012-10-30T12:35:39.077-05:002012-10-30T12:35:39.077-05:00I haven't been able to watch or care about the...I haven't been able to watch or care about the Tour de France since that one American guy got his title taken away about 5 years ago. So, I guess it did (and still does) taint cycling for me. As far as track and field, I am mostly interested in the events I compete in myself: The 5k, 10k and marathon. The big name busts in track/field events have mostly been in other events, so I can comfortably watch those events without wondering too much about doping.Pete Bhttp://lakefronttrail.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-79366818349420563802012-10-30T10:17:20.882-05:002012-10-30T10:17:20.882-05:00What, you didn't have any pictures of your own...What, you didn't have any pictures of your own to go along with this subject? LOL.<br /><br />Like you, I am very "follow the rules" so it blows my mind. I do not associate track & field with it though, even though I know there have been issues. And I don't think it is B&W. Even what Yo Mamma Runs said below about caffeine...kilaxhttp://www.ilaxstudio.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-53827211872556114192012-10-30T09:57:23.109-05:002012-10-30T09:57:23.109-05:00That is a good question about caffeine. I'm no...That is a good question about caffeine. I'm not sure...<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this RW article!<br /><br />I don't believe they declared other winners when they stripped Lance Armstrong of his titles because I think other athletes are being investigated that could have possibly placed. I remember reading this but I can't seem to find the article. I'll come back and respond when I find it.Kelly @ Running Kellometershttp://runningkellometers.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005464141741044836.post-72363610619220066242012-10-30T09:53:22.824-05:002012-10-30T09:53:22.824-05:00Great post! One of the Olympic events featured a g...Great post! One of the Olympic events featured a guy who they said had tons and tons of caffeine before competing, and I wondered what it takes for a substance that affects performance to be banned. Are there certain levels of caffeine that are banned? Just curious about that one. But I also read an article about a confessed EPO doper in Runner's World.<br /> <br />http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-239-567--13729-1-1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8-9,00.html<br /><br />It's wrong, and it's sad. In the case with Armstrong and other winners, it steals away chances for others to legitimately win in their events. With Armstrong, did they go back and declare other winners?Yo Momma Runsnoreply@blogger.com