drug taking in sport

[Deadlegs]

and about time he gave up his 300k a year job advising nike

Why? Nike don't sponsor the Russian team. Oh , hang on...

[Graham Breeze]

Why? Nike don't sponsor the Russian team. Oh , hang on...

Tricky thing sponsorship. Reebok used to sponsor the FRA Fixtures Calendar with Sponsored by Reebok on the cover.

But you didn't find any adverts for rival shoe companies inside.

[wheezing donkey]

Ultimately, this is all our fault for being obsessed with people winning things. If there weren't the incentives, people wouldn't cheat.

Participation sport is the way forward. If someone comes first, good for them - nothing more.

Absolutely! Sadly fell running was rooted in the local laird putting up prize money as an incentive to determine the fastest farmworker / shepherd / gamekeeper to run up and down the local hill. But your comments above surely embrace the true grass roots attitude of the amateur code.

[Derby Tup]

Sports done. It's no different to the new James Bond

[Stolly]

Absolutely! Sadly fell running was rooted in the local laird putting up prize money as an incentive to determine the fastest farmworker / shepherd / gamekeeper to run up and down the local But your comments above surely embrace the true grass roots attitude of the amateur code.

Not only that, the guides races were big gambling events too..... so would almost certainly have had an awful lot of fixed results and petty bribery. Anyway, that said, races and sports matches should be all about winning or, failing that, doing your absolute best. Sport is competition, that's the whole point.

[wheezing donkey]

Not only that, the guides races were big gambling events too..... so would almost certainly have had an awful lot of fixed results and petty bribery. Anyway, that said, races and sports matches should be all about winning or, failing that, doing your absolute best. Sport is competition, that's the whole point.

Fair comment Brian; but if you read the post from Noel (that I quoted), he acknowledges "winning" but not at all costs. Winning is only an achievement if it is "within the rules" / "on a level playing field" etc. A win by cheating is worthless.

[wheezing donkey]

Sports done. It's no different to the new James Bond

It isn't really a James Bond film ..... Ian Fleming never wrote a book entitled "Spectre".

[Witton Park]

It's all pretty sad really isn't it.

When I grew up I was a junior armchair sports nut. Watching all I could on Grandstand and World of Sport, the big events such as Olympics and World Cup.
There were some great sporting heroes around - problem is many are now discredited.

Everything seems tainted now. If it isn't the obvious one of drugs cheats, it's financial backing and the power and influence that brings, betting scams, bribery of competitors and/or officials.

And it's not just for money.

We've seen the Sunderland guy catching the bus at the Kielder marathon.

We had a guy about 10 years ago who joined our Ribble Valley 10K at about the 6K mark, had the brass neck to pick up his VET award and be lauded as he went to the top of his age group rankings.

I've also seen the connection of an U13G tell the lead runner during a cross country race that she had been DQd, which upset the leader and allowed his athlete to catch up and win.

So sport at all levels brings the worst out of many people and at the same time can be the most uplifting and inspirational.

I suppose we have to just accept it and try to deal with the S*&t when it happens.

[Alan Lucker]

It's all pretty sad really isn't it.

When I grew up I was a junior armchair sports nut. Watching all I could on Grandstand and World of Sport, the big events such as Olympics and World Cup.
There were some great sporting heroes around - problem is many are now discredited.

Everything seems tainted now. If it isn't the obvious one of drugs cheats, it's financial backing and the power and influence that brings, betting scams, bribery of competitors and/or officials.

And it's not just for money.

We've seen the Sunderland guy catching the bus at the Kielder marathon.

We had a guy about 10 years ago who joined our Ribble Valley 10K at about the 6K mark, had the brass neck to pick up his VET award and be lauded as he went to the top of his age group rankings.

I've also seen the connection of an U13G tell the lead runner during a cross country race that she had been DQd, which upset the leader and allowed his athlete to catch up and win.

So sport at all levels brings the worst out of many people and at the same time can be the most uplifting and inspirational.

I suppose we have to just accept it and try to deal with the S*&t when it happens.

Agreed. Just taking that a bit further: not all people are good, and some of those partake in sport.
It's a shame but almost inevitable that the bigger the rewards, and the larger the participating numbers, the more likely people are to cheat.

[Don't fear the sweeper]

Fair comment Brian; but if you read the post from Noel (that I quoted), he acknowledges "winning" but not at all costs. Winning is only an achievement if it is "within the rules" / "on a level playing field" etc. A win by cheating is worthless.

Well, one thing fell running certainly hasn't got is a level playing field.