World Athletics Championships 2017

[littlebabyjesus]

That's exactly the excuse the BBC made for Christie when he was done for the second time.

I don't believe for 1 minute athletes are innocently taking banned stimulants.

I agree that it stretches credulity in the Gatlin case. Appears that his only possible defence was one of being set up, which is the last resort of the guilty. It then ends up as balance of probabilities, I guess. Given that he couldn't prove he was set up, and pretty much anyone could put that as a defence, accepting it as a defence without proof would mean you might as well give up.

I'm not interested in Gatlin's contrition. Anyone who intentionally drug-cheats once should be banned for life, imo. They give up any right to participate further. Difficulty then is assessing the level of proof needed. Failing drug tests can have other explanations than deliberate cheating, although cheats will also hide behind those alternative possible explanations...

 

[butchersapron]

Apologies if I missed that. Did they say they are only speaking about Gatlin when there is a wider debate more subtle debate that should be had?

With all the time they spend bullshitting about nothing, it would be easy to devote more time to it. But they don't. That's why I say dishonest. They must have spent an hour taking about an average heptathlete over the last 2 days for example.

They literally said in their 3 minutes that they were talking about 'the right to boo gatlin'. Within that 3 minutes each of them said this was a wider issue - cram said he was fine with gatlin being the lightning rod for the wider debate and DL and MJ said they weren't. All emphasised the need for the wider debate and MJ tried (pretty ineffectively to my mind) to point the finger at athletes and broadcasters for letting gatlin happen. DL tried to do the same with focus on athletes.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Apologies if I missed that. Did they say they are only speaking about Gatlin when there is a wider debate more subtle debate that should be had?

With all the time they spend bullshitting about nothing, it would be easy to devote more time to it. But they don't. That's why I say dishonest. They must have spent an hour taking about an average heptathlete over the last 2 days for example.

I don't think you can really blame the coverage for concentrating on an athlete from this country who is competing at the time.

Yes there is a better debate to be had about drugs in sport but maybe not at a time when various heats and finals are happening. Hence them doing it at 10aam this morning

 

[Mr Retro]

Steve Backley: What does Holly need to do here, Tony?
Toni Minichiello: Get over the bar.
Steve Backley: Thanks for that, Tony.

I'm really enjoying Minichiellos analysis. He's good at explaining how technique effects the jumps and vaults. I was a fucking desperate long jumper when I was young. If Toni had seen me he'd have probably shot me to put me out of my misery

 

[Lord Camomile]

Langford!!

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Well done Kyle Langford!

 

[Hollis]

Are they ultimately responsible though, in that case? Seems harsh.

Hollis's link earlier does make very interesting reading, and the question of being set up has to be a real one, given how easy it would be to do. Also, the notion of strict liability has always struck me as fundamentally unfair - it assumes people have more control over events than they possibly can have. I'm not declaring Gatlin's innocence or anything, but it does seem that the drug regime is something that it is very easy to fuck up even with the best of intentions.

Tbf - you can find some other links that paint a less favourable picture of the second offence..

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Oooh that's posted twice!

 

[Casual Observer]

You can be generous and give Gatlin the benefit of doubt on the first offence but anyone who swallows the 'disgruntled physiotherapist' excuse for the second more serious offence really shouldn't be so gullible. You're effectively saying let all transgressors off if you swallow that. All dopers come up with an excuse and that's the second worst I've heard.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

That was an exciting 100m!

 

[Lord Camomile]

It was indeed. Seen some pretty good competition so far in these Championships.

 

[butchersapron]

Blimey, ET looked she was about to run out of lane there as well - very odd.

 

[Lord Camomile]

I really thought Ta Lou had it, and I'm usually not bad at calling those (*ahem* ).

Oh, and Schippers got bronze!

US on top of the sprints - not seen that in a while.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Gawd bless Johnson

"What happened", "so confusing", "really weird"...

Johnson: *ahem* "so this is what happened..."

 

[Casual Observer]

Going back a bit, good to see Aries Merritt and his new kidney making it to tomorrow's 110m hurdles final.

 

[Sue]

Going back a bit, good to see Aries Merritt and his new kidney making it to tomorrow's 110m hurdles final.

Quite incredible, being a world class athlete after having a kidney transplant. He came across well too so hope he wins.

 

[baldrick]

Steve Backley: What does Holly need to do here, Tony?
Toni Minichiello: Get over the bar.
Steve Backley: Thanks for that, Tony.

 

[felixthecat]

Quite incredible, being a world class athlete after having a kidney transplant. He came across well too so hope he wins.

It's amazing isn't it? I'm an NBA fan and I remember when Sean Elliott came back to play in 2000 following his transplant. A kidney transplant and then you play a contact sport at the highest level? Unbelievable!
Shows just how good the treatment has become

 

[colacubes]

Off to the stadium tonight . Hoping might get to see Laura Muir and Sophie Hitchon get medals

 

[Wilf]

They literally said in their 3 minutes that they were talking about 'the right to boo gatlin'. Within that 3 minutes each of them said this was a wider issue - cram said he was fine with gatlin being the lightning rod for the wider debate and DL and MJ said they weren't. All emphasised the need for the wider debate and MJ tried (pretty ineffectively to my mind) to point the finger at athletes and broadcasters for letting gatlin happen. DL tried to do the same with focus on athletes.

I've always found Michael Johnson to be sound and informative (and just about the best summariser in any sports broadcasting), so I'll have to track that clip down.

On the testing issue more generally: in terms of Gatlin and others who have claimed their readings were because of meds or otherwise legal 'supplements', there might be an element of truth in a few cases. However, for the last 20 years or more, I'd have thought honest athletes and coaches lived in a state of paranoia about such things and discussed everything with the team doctors etc. So in the main, such lines of defence are bollocks/dishonest. For those who know anything about athletics or elite sports generally, is that correct? I know there's a kind of arms race between cheats and testers and all kinds of complexities, but pointing at cold remedies seems a bit 'dog ate my homework'.

 

[butchersapron]

MJ is great - no not great, probably the best - on explaining what had happened and why he think it has. He's not so good when he starts with his black people are faster from running away from slavemasters stuff. Maybe he's changed his views on that though.

 

[Smangus]

MJ is the best analyst, I think Tony Minichello has offered some great insight into the technicalities of the field events this time round too.

Got tickets for the weds evening session, really looking forwards to it.

 

[Sirena]

The women's 800m tonight will be the usual parade of hyperandrogenists with Semenya coming first, Niyonsaba second and Wambui third.

I look forward to the return to a level playing field

 

[Lord Camomile]

Got tickets for the weds evening session, really looking forwards to it.

Us too! I'll make sure I wave at every single spectator, just in case one of them is you

 

[Maggot]

The women's 800m tonight will be the usual parade of hyperandrogenists with Semenya coming first, Niyonsaba second and Wambui third.

I look forward to the return to a level playing field

There are so many things wrong with this post. The 800m isn't even on tonight for a start . . .

 

[Casual Observer]

Comfortable win for Ringo Starr in heat 5 of the 200m.

 

[Sirena]

There are so many things wrong with this post. The 800m isn't even on tonight for a start . . .

I accept that as a wrong thing. But that's the only one......

 

[stavros]

Logan during the drugs debate: "Do you think there are any positives that can be taken from this?"

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Mr. QofG's had just won't the princely sum of....44p on Mcleod's win

 

[Sue]

Mr. QofG's had just won't the princely sum of....44p on Mcleod's win

What's he going to spend it on????