BBC Blog Network

User Profile

lostinmaine

Listed below are comments made by lostinmaine between Sunday, 17th August 2008 and Tuesday, 19th August 2008.

«Newer
Older»

A tactical masterpiece 9:22pm on 19 Aug 2008 Missing three tests in 18 months is NOT considered as testing positively. It IS a violation of the drug-testing program and punished accordingly. BUT ' missing 3 tests in 18 months' why is that the rule? Entirely arbitrary. it could have been 4 in 12 months or 2 in 24 months. Those who set up the program (IAAF or WADA?) decided 3 in 18 was correct.

But as to enforcement...for it to be a 'good' or fair rule then the frequency of unannounced testing would have to be about the same for all athletes ..the whole world. I won't bother asking whether all you well-informed commentators have any idea whether unannounced testing is consistently applied throughout the world (..in the US, for example)...i'll just tell you it isn't. Not even close...UK has THE MOST stringent drug-testing program including comprehensive and frequent unannounced testing AND the toughest penalties.

..and just to dispel another idiotic notion...at the time in question, Christine was NOT a professional athlete...she was a university student trying to balance those demands with a training schedule presided over by Lloyd Cowan. Yes, she was 'funded' by UK Athletics but that then allowed her to go to school rather than have a part-time job which would have prevented her from training. Yes..she was careless...imagine, a 21-year-old university student being careless!! But i bet she would rather have skipped a drug test possibility than a training session with Lloyd!!
A tactical masterpiece 8:29pm on 19 Aug 2008 ..these comments suggesting that she is/was a drug cheat are gross and should be removed! The missing of tests has been discussed ad nauseam by many better informed than those posting above. It ALWAYS seems to be forgotten that in the 18 month-period she was tested without any problems a number of times (..i forget how many but it was many more than 3). She was a 21-year-old university student...drug testing is set up at short notice and testers arrive UNANNOUNCED. She missed tests because she wasn't where she thought she would be when they showed up..her schedules...which juggled training and university ..had changed. It is highly probable that she failed to recognise that she was heading into danger by missing a test..after she wasn't a drug cheat and she was passing other tests. AND UK Athletics in its wisdom (..mistaken in my opinion..) do not watch oit for their athletes (..who are incidentally contracted to them) by reminding them and cautioning them when they miss a test.

Christine OH (aka TBO) is not tainted..she is a great and true Olympic champion!!!!
Paula deserves praise and plaudits 2:51pm on 17 Aug 2008 it is so wrong-headed and mean-spirited to criticise Paula's decison and efforts. To suggest she was 'wrong' to run because someone else might have done better is to ignore that the Olympics have been Paula's focus for years and everthing was done ....including choice of races, buying special equipment, hiring trainers, etc ....from her own earnings btw..to maximise her opportunity. Injuries are part of an athlete's life and her stress fracture came at a particularly inopportune time...but before, during and after the injury she was completely focussed on being the best at Beijing. She went into the race not knowing whether she had been able to do enough running but knowing that she could run pain-free and had put in as many miles, etc as possible since the injury. she could not know whether she could handle the pace of more-fortunate runners but she decided to stick with the pace for as long as possible...a gutsy decision..she didn't set out to finish but to win! she failed to win because her lack of training finally showed up as it probably was bound to...but she never quit and she'll be back
As to selfish and only driven by money...utter nonsense....no track (or road) athlete in the UK is going to be driven by money...it takes too long, too much daily grind, year-after year to get to the top...she is very bright but has chosen to completely dedicate these years to being the world's best long-distance runner and acroos the range of distances...she comes pretty darn close. she chooses high-profile races ..not for the money but for what they mean in terms of a racing program. Paula runs to be the best but ever since i saw her win the Junior cross-country in Boston many years ago..i know she runs for her country too.

«Newer
Older»

^ Back to top

BBC MMVI

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

BBC.co.uk

BBC Blog Network

Find and talk to the BBC's bloggers.

User Profile

lostinmaine