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Anabolics for 12 year olds? The search for an edge starts early

Roar Rookie
16th July, 2014
29

A study released last week from the University of Griffith and University of Canberra suggested increased doping in children as young as 12.

It reminded me of a recent, disturbing first XV reunion at my old school.

It sounded like a nice idea: catch up with some mates, see the alma mater and take in some carefree, schoolboy rugby from the current crop.

But seeing ‘our boys’ warm up was alarming. Someone had severed the heads off a group of 17-year-olds and attached them to the bodies of gorillas! Their fresh faces looked so incongruous. They went through the pre-match drills, big bodies mechanically preparing for bigger collisions.

There were some similarities to the past. The jerseys were the same colour. The ball was the same shape. And the halfback was still be the smallest in the team, but in 2014 he was nudging 90kg and looked like he could bench press a mini.

Still not adjusting my expectations, my attention switched to fears for the opposition – someone normal could be harmed by this lot. But then I caught sight of the other guys – a monstrous group of knuckle-draggers warming up on the other side of the field. 60 metres away they were still imposing.

I searched the field for something familiar and realised things off the field had not moved on so much. There were still the young girls wearing all the designer gear who’d turned up, not so much out of interest in the game but to be seen and keep tabs on their competitors, er friends, from their school. They would spend most the game talking among themselves and might view 58 seconds of the rugby.

Then there were the mums, who fell into three groups:

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  1. Fake-country-city-mum: checked shirt (collar up), chain, RM Williams boots.
  2. Posh-Spice-mum: big black sunglasses, french nails and white teeth; and
  3. Earthy-mum: wears linen and expensive open toe sandals, which she decides to forget are made by child labour in Asia, and drives a hybrid.

But the best low-down could still be obtained from the dads.

“The inside centre there, he’s on a contract with the Storm, but he’s had two shoulder recons so they’re not sure if he’ll make it.”

“The Lions are looking at our lineout jumper.”

“We had a really good Number 8 but he did his cruciate so we might not win the comp now.”

I listened intently as the captain of basketball sauntered down for a look – he was six foot seven.

The rugby was excellent. It was free flowing and fast. The defence was fierce but not oppressive as it can be in the professional ranks. And our team won.

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There were celebrations and the schoolboys watching on from the stands took to the field to congratulate the players. I saw the captain walking off grinning and next to him a grade seven boy staring up at him in starstruck admiration. One day, maybe, he could be like his hero, leading his team and his school to victory.

But what do you have to do to get there now? What risks are taken? Does our great step forward in sport mean we now contemplate drug testing 12 year olds?

Tragically, you can’t win – excel when clean and there’s suspicion, do so on the juice and you know it’s dirty, as well as a major gamble on your future.

With the surgery, the sign-ons, and the supplements, it seems anything but healthy.

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