I watched the East-German women (and men) win plenty of medals they did not deserve - and I always thought the punishments for doping were almost too light - but now I am starting to change my opinion.
I am sick and tired of watching football, baseball and basketball players get a slap on the wrist at worst - for obvious doping violations, while swimmers (and track athletes and cyclists) get vilified for offenses that are the same or even less severe. Just in this last month there was an actual countdown for Manny Ramirez to come back to the Dodgers -- he got standing ovations after a 50 game or 2 months supsension -- they had special promotions and what have you not. If you read the responses on Jessica Hardy dopng ban reduction ( a few months ago), there are people out there who want to throw out of the sport for good --- that is just plain wrong.
I think a six months suspension was more than enough - and that crazy Olympic ban rule has to be some sort of joke. I will accept that as soon as the US basketball, hockey and baseball team has to go through the same testing the swimmers have to pass through.
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I do think it would be a bit harsh for her to be prevented from competing in two Olympics if there's verifiable cred to what her defense team alleges about Advocare.
However there's still a few things about Hardy's case that bother me. I would like her lawyers to release the full findings of the testing they conducted on her behalf. This way all that information is subject to the scrutiny of the sports science community at large. I do find it strange given Advocare's profile that there's no instance of its products triggering a positive test for Clenbuterol. Their list of clients extends into many sports and athletes that are tested and tested often. It's a bit of a wild west atmosphere for supplements but given some past litigation these companies have a lot at stake too especially if they're marketing this to athletes subject to doping controls. While some swimmers ditched Advocare I know a couple that still take it. Not smart to be sure but they still don't believe that their supplements triggered her positive test results, they basically think she just got caught.
I do think it would be a bit harsh for her to be prevented from competing in two Olympics if there's verifiable cred to what her defense team alleges about Advocare.
However there's still a few things about Hardy's case that bother me. I would like her lawyers to release the full findings of the testing they conducted on her behalf. This way all that information is subject to the scrutiny of the sports science community at large. I do find it strange given Advocare's profile that there's no instance of its products triggering a positive test for Clenbuterol. Their list of clients extends into many sports and athletes that are tested and tested often. It's a bit of a wild west atmosphere for supplements but given some past litigation these companies have a lot at stake too especially if they're marketing this to athletes subject to doping controls. While some swimmers ditched Advocare I know a couple that still take it. Not smart to be sure but they still don't believe that their supplements triggered her positive test results, they basically think she just got caught.
