New Antidoping Persecutions: Six Field & Track Athletes Failed Doping Tests After Eight Years

I have previously written on the subject of doping (here, here, here, and here.

The Antidoping Zealots Never Let Up

You can read the official news release of 3/8/2013  by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) here and the New York Times article here.

To quote from the official news release (emphasis added):

“The … (IAAF) has re-tested a selection of doping samples collected at the 2005 IAAF World Championships, Helsinki, Finland, from a wide range of disciplines and nations …”

“The I.A.A.F.’s message to cheaters is increasingly clear that, with constant advancements being made in doping detection, there is no place to hide …”

To quote from the NYT article:

“The I.A.A.F. did not say what banned substances were found in the re-examination. Sports officials keep samples for a minimum of eight years. Under the World Anti-Doping Code, athletes can be sanctioned for a violation up to eight years after they provide their urine or blood samples for a drug test. Officials store samples and later retest them for substances they may not have been able to detect at the time the sample was taken.”

Antidoping Is Unfair

According to IAAF’s official news release, this organization has only conducted “selected” retesting of a “wide range of disciplines”. Thus, who was not retested and why?

I suspect, one of the athletes was chosen to be retested because she was caught at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Further, I suspect, because of limited resources these retests are indeed very selective. Thus, lesser performing, doped athletes have to fear less to be caught, but they nevertheless compete. One day such an athlete wins if only by the disciplinary action against a better performing, but doped athlete.

In this particular case, a German athlete who finished fourth at the above mentioned 2005 World Championship in the hammer throw discipline will now receive a silver medal (see here (in German)). Was he not doped?

From what I have read these tests are not necessarily very reliable. “Advancements” are applied retroactively. The banned substances found were not listed in the IAAF’s news release. Where these substances illegal at the time?

I Am Prodoping

Why should adult humans not freely choose to dope their body for better performance or achievements? Doping is a human endeavor since ancient times. Let these adult athletes experiment so one day we may all benefit.

Without this constant antidoping campaign, it would be a level playing field for any athlete: Every athlete can choose whatever doping regiment available and suitable. The best athlete, doped or not, may win. Every athlete is free to choose a doctor to ensure his or her good health.

Doping is almost treated like a crime, which it is not.

Let The Games Begin

Why do we not have games, championships and contests for doped athletes?