We don't know the intent yet, and Geek may be quite harsh in his assessment of the situation, but I think a lot of people share the general sentiment. Personally, at this point with athletics, I could care less about intent either. The rules are out there, they are professionals, and there's been enough publicity and awareness about doping that no one can claim ignorance.
It is her job now to prove that it was never her intent to dope. She and her lawyers have the task of having her supplements tested and going through the long and arduous process of clearing her name. If indeed she was the victim of a contaminated substance, then it is another valuable lesson for everyone that you must exercise utmost caution with supplements and that you are responsible for everything in your body. Apparently Kicker Vencil wasn't a big enough name, and we need another lesson to ram it home.
If she rolls over and accepts whatever punishment (ban) is handed to her with no appeals or fight, then I think it is perfectly fair for everyone to make the assumption that she has admitted she was caught. No one would let their professional career and reputation be torn to shreds if they knew they were innocent. They would fight to the bitter end. Some fight to the bitter end even when they know they are guilty, for goodness sake.
My personal opinion is that she has already made that admission of guilt by dropping the process and withdrawing from the Olympic team. It may be cynical of me, but I also believe that there are American swimmers that are cheating and one was caught. No facts to back that up, but it would strike me as odd that a nation of 300 million people wouldn't have the same issues as the other nations.
I'm tired of it, tired of the doping, tired of the excuses, the blame-game, and people not taking responsibility for their actions. Which, from what I've read, she still has not verbally taken responsibility for failing the test. We've been duped enough by athletes, and it's time we accept the fact that some of our own will attempt to get away with cheating and will be caught.
We don't know the intent yet, and Geek may be quite harsh in his assessment of the situation, but I think a lot of people share the general sentiment. Personally, at this point with athletics, I could care less about intent either. The rules are out there, they are professionals, and there's been enough publicity and awareness about doping that no one can claim ignorance.
It is her job now to prove that it was never her intent to dope. She and her lawyers have the task of having her supplements tested and going through the long and arduous process of clearing her name. If indeed she was the victim of a contaminated substance, then it is another valuable lesson for everyone that you must exercise utmost caution with supplements and that you are responsible for everything in your body. Apparently Kicker Vencil wasn't a big enough name, and we need another lesson to ram it home.
If she rolls over and accepts whatever punishment (ban) is handed to her with no appeals or fight, then I think it is perfectly fair for everyone to make the assumption that she has admitted she was caught. No one would let their professional career and reputation be torn to shreds if they knew they were innocent. They would fight to the bitter end. Some fight to the bitter end even when they know they are guilty, for goodness sake.
My personal opinion is that she has already made that admission of guilt by dropping the process and withdrawing from the Olympic team. It may be cynical of me, but I also believe that there are American swimmers that are cheating and one was caught. No facts to back that up, but it would strike me as odd that a nation of 300 million people wouldn't have the same issues as the other nations.
I'm tired of it, tired of the doping, tired of the excuses, the blame-game, and people not taking responsibility for their actions. Which, from what I've read, she still has not verbally taken responsibility for failing the test. We've been duped enough by athletes, and it's time we accept the fact that some of our own will attempt to get away with cheating and will be caught.
