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The Roar

Chris Lewis

Roar Guru

Joined December 2010

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Chris Lewis has an interest in all life issues: economic, social, environmental, and especially sport.

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Sally is certainly one of our best ever, most determined, and astute.

Is Sally Pearson's Australia's greatest modern field athlete?

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Athletics
 
2017

In the summer of 2001, after his freshman year at the University of Tennessee, Gatlin tested positive for a very small trace of amphetamine after running as an amateur in an event sponsored by USA Track & Field. Amphetamines are ingredients in Adderall, for which Gatlin has carried a prescription since he was 7 years old and learned he had an attention deficit disorder. He took Adderall while preparing for summer midterms three days before the race.

Justin Gatlin, drug cheat or one of the great modern day sprinters?

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Athletics
 
2017

I would agree that two bans for testosterone use (or similar anabolic hormones) should warrant a life ban, but do not believe first offence type drugs (Gatlin) are as serious.

maybe one day the IAAF will introduce a life ban for testosterone (and similar use) for first offence, but that is a matter for debate. pretty harsh though given criminals in mainstream society would get much less penalty for serious crimes.

Justin Gatlin, drug cheat or one of the great modern day sprinters?

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Athletics
 
2017

here is a good debate about matter on bbc

http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1053773/johnson-attacks-hypocrisy-of-gatlin-critics-and-warns-athletics-to-address-problems

Justin Gatlin, drug cheat or one of the great modern day sprinters?

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Athletics
 
2017

they even have a poll on whether Gatlin should have been booed.
http://www.insidethegames.biz/polls/133/did-justin-gatlin-deserve-to-be-booed-at-the-iaaf-world-championships

What about other athletes that competed at London 2017 champs with previous drug bans?

Justin Gatlin, drug cheat or one of the great modern day sprinters?

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Athletics
 
2017

Thanks Ritesh; same to you for your piece.

there are some good articles around about Gatlin’s first positive test.

this just a summary from Wikipedia.

In 2001, Gatlin was banned from international competition for two years after testing positive for amphetamines. Gatlin appealed on the grounds that the positive test had been due to medication that he had been taking since his childhood, when he was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. The appeal resulted in an early reinstatement by the IAAF.[8]
On July 29, 2006, Gatlin told the media that he had been informed by the USADA that he had given a positive doping test in April the same year. He claimed his innocence in the matter:
I cannot account for these results, because I have never knowingly used any banned substance or authorized anyone to administer such a substance to me.[9]
It is believed that the substance that Gatlin tested positive for was “testosterone or its precursor.”[10] The failed test was revealed after a relay race on April 22, 2006 in Lawrence, Kansas. The “B” sample was confirmed as positive in July.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Gatlin

I don’t really know how guilty or innocent Gatlin was with both tests.

Justin Gatlin, drug cheat or one of the great modern day sprinters?

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Athletics
 
2017

yes, contrary to opinion of some, benefits of PEDs dissipate with non-use. how else can you explain the dramatic decline of performance by many after they are caught.

however, quite possible that some athletes still know how to beat system, albeit it is getting harder.

Justin Gatlin, drug cheat or one of the great modern day sprinters?

View Comment
Athletics
 
2017

A great runner in her day.

winning all three sprint distances is an incredible feat.

Australian Olympic legend Betty Cuthbert dies

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Athletics
 
2017

Why will Bolt regret running at the 2017 world champs when he had planned to do so for 12 months?

He got beaten fair and square. I am sure he would make no excuses.

His record remains unparalleled in terms of winning global championships.

What a bummer - Usain Bolt bows out with bronze at worlds

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Athletics
 
2017

great final, one of best ever.

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, It's Usain Bolt

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Athletics
 
2017

De Grasse did not run due to hamstring.

Still shapes up as good final with Bolt, Coleman, Gatlin and a few others.

Bolt ran ok after overcoming slow start.

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, It's Usain Bolt

View Comment
Athletics
 
2017

My main point is that we are less likely to excel as/if more countries are attracted to swimming.

we used to dominate tennis too, but now success is a rarity.

only logical that sport is harder to win as more players enter fray

World swimming championships are just as important as the Olympic Games

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Swimming
 
2017

Fair points. I agree that good coaching and resources to train are factors. that is why a certain Chinese world and Olympic champ trains with Australian coach.
Also, GB has good coaches, but they had a disastrous 2012 OG swimming campaign.

World swimming championships are just as important as the Olympic Games

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Swimming
 
2017

Looks like a much better playing surface for tonight Australia v Greece.

Embarrassment about Australian football pitches only tells half the story

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Football
 
2016

Harry, I had link in, but edited out.

‘Before the games in Beijing, Heredia told Germany’s Der Spiegel that, regarding the 100-meter final, “the winner will not be clean. Not even any of the contestants will be clean. There is no doubt about it, the difference between 10.0 and 9.7 seconds is the drugs.”

Bernstein: Usain Bolt Is Probably Doping (And You Know It)

My own estimate from observations is also around 3% for sprint times, although some may get less or more.

Wise up BBC journos, Bolt versus Gatlin is not a case of ‘good versus evil

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Athletics
 
2015

James, i will seek to balance ledger in the future with my opinion of aths.

I am really a qualitative sort of person, and data is always flawed in many ways.

i just put the data (1998-2014 games) out there, so apologise if any aths or fans are offended.

Was not really my intention.

I wrote a piece in 2012 attacking the emphasis on elite performance.

Is Australia’s emphasis on elite running performance justified?

cheers.

Australia’s athletics team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games; one of our worst?

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Commonwealth Games
 
2014

James, with the 100-200-400m, i was referring to no Australian making final.

There may indeed be other reasons why it is harder for Australia today, but this piece focused on data since 1998.

Australia’s athletics team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games; one of our worst?

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Commonwealth Games
 
2014

James, I agree aths is much tougher, that is why I suggest at end whether we should just greater diversity in terms of nations winning.

But, when we don’t have one finalist in any of sprint events, we should be to comment on the decline.

I love aths, regardless of who wins.

Australia’s athletics team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games; one of our worst?

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Commonwealth Games
 
2014

yes, some of the efforts were outstanding. Beyond the medals, Riseley for one.

Australia’s athletics team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games; one of our worst?

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Commonwealth Games
 
2014

matt, I had marathon in previous article that focused on running.

The demise of Australian running since 2000

Australia’s walking and field athlete performance since 2000

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Athletics
 
2014

David, I will complete athletics tables in next week or so as part of a wider academic article study. Will present tables in further Aust aths article on Roar.

The demise of Australian running since 2000

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Other Sports
 
2014

yes, numbers alone don’t always tell story.

We may also see an improvement in coming years.

However, in contrast to GB where athletics is one of most popular sports to watch, I think we need much more interest in the sport if we are to boost future performance.

Solomon proves we still have talented runners, but the numbers since 2000 do suggest a lack of depth by world standards.

The demise of Australian running since 2000

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Other Sports
 
2014

Lee,

It is important that ASADA displays data of tests for each sport so justified concerns can be expressed.

I do not see what is gained from no public disclosure.

Is the current sports drug-testing regime fair?

View Comment
Other Sports
 
2012

I regret not getting Foxtel; wont happen again.

The Olympic Games, in this era of ongoing change, demands a multi-channel option.

Nine wobbles but Foxtel fires with Olympics coverage

View Comment
Olympics
 
2012

Yes, Rudisha’s 800m was the best performance of track so far.

He is a great runner, as is Bolt.

Usain Bolt sets a new Olympic benchmark

View Comment
Olympics
 
2012
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