Roar Guru
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Chris Lewis has an interest in all life issues: economic, social, environmental, and especially sport.
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Considerable public attention has been given to Sydney’s three new or refurbished football stadiums that will be built by 2023 at a cost of around $2 billion.
On 26 April, 2018, the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) made a significant ruling.
Has the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) gotten on top of drug cheating? No way.
Given the constant booing that was directed at Justin Gatlin by the London crowd at the 2017 World Athletics Championships – when he was introduced before races and after winning the 100m (beating Usain Bolt) – should Gatlin be treated as a drug cheat or respected as one of the greatest sprinters?
John Bertrand, the President of Swimming Australia, suggested on the ABC radio show The Ticket that any critical assessment of Australia’s performance at the 2017 World Swimming Championships should be downplayed on the basis that the 2020 Olympic Games is the ultimate aim. I disagree.
Following Australia’s 1-0 win against Greece at Sydney’s ANZ stadium, coach Ange Postecoglou again criticised the standard of pitches serving as Australian venues for international competition.
Notwithstanding the enormous interest generated by sporting clashes between Australia and New Zealand, particularly in rugby union, netball and rugby league, this article focuses on less popular sports that receive most attention in such countries come Olympic Games time.
During September 2015, NSW Premier Mike Baird announced a $1.6 billion strategy to build or upgrade a few stadiums in the next ten years, with a belief that “If you have better sports facilities and make the experience more attractive, people are more likely to come.”
What a great achievement by Jarryd Hayne to make the final squad (53 players) for the San Francisco 49ers.
According to some BBC commentators, the recent sprint clash between Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin at the 2015 World Athletics Championships was a case of ‘good versus evil’ as they openly expressed their preference for Bolt to win.
According to Victor Conte, who now offers ideas about how to diminish banned dug use in sport after serving time in prison in 2005 for distributing steroids to top athletes, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) “cares more about their sponsorship dollars than they do about athletes using PEDs” (performance enhancing drugs).
I would like to think that taxes are utilised effectively, including when it comes to promoting drug free sport.
Recent Commonwealth Games athletics results (1998-2014) indicate to me that Australia’s performance continues to decline.
Following on from a previous article on the decline of Australian running since 2000, this article discusses the recent performance of Australia’s walkers and field event athletes.
How extensive is testing for banned PEDs with regard to running, one of the few major individual sports where both rich and poor nations share success at global championships?
Many national and international sporting federations today are indeed very determined to eradicate the use of performance enhancing drugs.
How poor was the performance of the Australian swimming pool team at the 2012 London games compared to previous Olympic Games teams?
The current emphasis on elite performance for Australia’s runners is unreasonable. It has resulted in smaller representations in other events at the upcoming 2012 London Olympic Games.
Should we care about recent sporting losses to England (and Great Britain)? Not really. While defeating the British is always preferable, sporting defeat can help stimulate both interest and a better standard, that enables sweet revenge.
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
A great runner in her day.
winning all three sprint distances is an incredible feat.
Australian Olympic legend Betty Cuthbert dies
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
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
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
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
Looks like a much better playing surface for tonight Australia v Greece.
Embarrassment about Australian football pitches only tells half the story
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
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?
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?
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?
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?
matt, I had marathon in previous article that focused on running.
Australia’s walking and field athlete performance since 2000
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
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
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?
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
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
Sally is certainly one of our best ever, most determined, and astute.
Is Sally Pearson's Australia's greatest modern field athlete?