Doping in Soccer/Football

[the sceptic]

That's what the evidence suggests. I don't deny that some Brits dope, I am highly suspicious of Bale, Murray and Farah for starters. I only compared Britain to Spain though, a country where doping isn't just overlooked, it's pretty much compulsory.

well you still havent explained why brits dope less than other people.

if not for their superior morals then what is it?

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

well you still havent explained why brits dope less than other people.

if not for their superior morals then what is it?

I didn't say that, I said they dope less than the Spanish. Stop making stuff up.

 

[Gavandope]

well you still havent explained why brits dope less than other people.

if not for their superior morals then what is it?

Cos they will get caught far easier in the most chequebook tabloid journalism ridden country in the world there is doping.

And in the case of English footballers - most have never attained higher education, the only degree they know is on a thermometer and are as thick as a plank. They would get caught easily.

I have a funny Paul Merson story when I bumped into him in a nightclub in 1996 that the details unfortunately I cannot post on the web, only detail I can say it totally reinforces my view in the previous paragraph. For the pub over a pint only

 

[neineinei]

FIFA say doping is a minor problem. Glad to see Tygart sees through the nonsense.

http://keirradnedge.com/2014/10/09/tygert-warns-football-against-complacency-in-battle-against-dope-cheats/

Here is another reacton to FIFAs rosy story:

http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1...08/is-fifa-complacent-over-doping-in-football

D'Hooghe says that football is unique in that it relies heavily on technique and that is something you cannot 'dope'. He is wrong there. What is technique if not repeated, meaningful practice? And what better way to improve technique than with more practice? And what gives you more opportunity to practice? More training, better recovery, more stamina, more endurance.

Let's look at some figures. D'Hooghe put the number of drug tests in football annually at around 30,000. For 2013, the World Anti-Doping Authority (Wada) recorded 27,353 drug tests. Those figures cover all levels of football, however, and not only the senior men's game. To get a snapshot of how many tests are done at the senior men's level it is necessary to break it up a bit.

Football, in total, conducted 376 in-competition tests for steroids in 2013. There were 209 out-of-competition tests.
For the blood booster EPO there were 1611 tests coming in competition and 764 out of competition. For human growth hormone the figure was 38 in competition and 97 out of competition. There were 44 in-competition tests for blood replacements and one test out of competition. For blood transfusions, the figure was 188 in competition and none out of competition.

Let's drill down a little further to the elite level of the men's game.

For Uefa, which covers tests for the Champions League, Europa League and European Championship matches, those figures were 18 in-competition tests for steroids and 21 out-of-competition. There were 305 in-competition tests for EPO and 311 out. For human growth hormone there were 10 tests done out of competition.

Fifa itself in 2013 conducted 13 tests for steroids in competition and four out. It conducted 170 tests in competition for EPO and one out of competition. Fifa did 12 tests for human growth hormone out of competition.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) did two tests in competition for EPO and 12 out. For a nation dealing with a pretty heavy doping problem, those figures are nothing short of scandalous.

On those figures, a senior men's football player could conduct blood transfusions before every match and not get caught.

He could be relatively safe in the knowledge that out of 764 tests, in total, in football for EPO, he is not going to be among the unlucky few in the 65,000+ professional footballers tested for that substance.

D'Hooghe's argument that players know they will be tested just does not add up.

Less than one per cent of all doping controls in football in 2013 came in the form of out-of-competition blood tests, the 2013 Wada testing figures have revealed. Many anti-doping authorities and national associations failed to conduct a single blood test in 2013 - including Brazil, Spain and Netherlands.

Out-of-competition testing is considered to be more effective because in-competition testing means that athletes have prior notice as to the testing period and can effectively suspend a doping programme to guarantee a negative test.

Blood testing is the most effective way to detect certain performance enhancing drugs such as Human Growth Hormone (hGH) and the blood booster EPO. A tiny fraction of football's anti-doping controls carried out in 2013 involved blood tests. Only 667 (2.38%) of all football's dope tests in 2013 involved blood testing. In all, there were 173 (0.61%) out-of-competition blood tests conducted. No blood test revealed an atypical finding (ATF) or adverse analytical finding (AAF).

 

[Peter70]

Which Murray are you talking about? The tennis champion who isn't on drugs or some sad rugby league grass-shagger who is?

 

[Andynonomous]

Which Murray are you talking about? The tennis champion who isn't on drugs or some sad rugby league grass-shagger who is?

Mr. Lantern Jaw :

Before Steroids ( & after HGH):

After Steroids ( & HGH):

 

[BradCantona]

"That is for the medics", nothing like accountability at the top

http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spai...-tells-messi-my-advice-is-to-avoid-injections

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique believes his players should avoid taking pain-killing injections after reports that Lionel Messi required treatment prior to the Clasico on Saturday.

Reports in the Spanish media have emerged suggesting the Argentina ace required the treatment before the 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid due to ankle problem.

While his coach admitted Messi was suffering from a minor knock, he refused to discuss openly the medical concerns of his players - though he did fire a warning when it comes to preventative pain-killers.

"That is for the medics," he said when asked about the reports. "If he needs an injection that is their decision - it is something for the medics and the player. I don’t know, but he was 100 per cent fit for the game.

"My advice is to avoid injections. Some injections can fix you, but you [reporters] know my clear recommendation. He’s got a knock, but he is OK, he is better.

"Medical issues are private matters for the player in question."

Messi failed to score against Madrid, meaning the wait goes on for him to break the all-time La Liga goal record, but Luis Enrique is more concerned by his side's results.

"We started with a lot of records and the possibility for more. We are interested in the collective and that’s more important than any individual objective," he said.

Jeremy Mathieu claimed after the match on Saturday that he was "surprised" to have started at left-back, with Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano deployed at centre-half.

While Luis Enrique maintains responsibility for the defeat, he has made it clear Mathieu can expect to be utilised in different positions again this season.

"I’m generally self-critical and I feel responsible for bad results. Mathieu can play as a centre-back or a left-back. If he’s surprised to be at left-back we should pack up and go home," said the former Celta Vigo boss.

"I’m not worried about the defensive fragility of the team. We have been below our level and made clear mistakes. We are working to change things. We said there would be tough moments and there will be more. We will have better games too."

Luis Enrique also stresssed that Thomas Vermaelen is not yet fully fit to return, adding: "I don’t know what you are digging around for. He is in the process of recovering. It is not about taking a magic pill and getting better

 

[gooner]

Tygart was in Dublin this week for an anti-doping seminar. Spoke about football among many other things.

Q: Football introduced biological passports at the World Cup but, when only 2-3% of all tests are blood tests, how much do we really know about its cleanliness as a sport?

TT: I don’t know the specific numbers. I think all sports, including football, have to have an intelligent robust programme that smartly tests urine and blood, and does special analysis – CIR tests [testosterone] on the urine. If all you’re doing is collecting urine and not doing CIR, not doing GHRP [growth horomone] and some of the other substances that you have to specially request, then that’s a real problem.

The urine is only as good as what you’re doing with it. Same with the blood – hopefully it’s not only being collected for human growth hormone testing but synthetic haemoglobin or Mircera where it’s appropriate or ABP, the athlete biological passport, where it’s appropriate.

What’s the magic number? I think the new WADA [technical guidelines] would say you’ve got to do 10%, and they’ve got criteria of what you should be doing percentage wise of that special analysis.

I think what’s really important, whether it’s American football or European football, the threat of these drugs is so high particularly given the money involved in those sports that you’ve got to have a robust, smart, intelligent programme to deter and ultimately to detect athletes who are going to use these drugs.

I’ve heard leaders in those sports say that human growth hormone or EPO wouldn’t do athletes in their sport any good and I think that’s just sticking your head in the sand. They will do good and every athlete unfortunately will use those drugs if you don’t have a robust programme in place.

http://www.thescore.ie/travis-tygart-usada-lance-armstrong-1787767-Nov2014/

 

[neineinei]

http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/139193/messi-annoyed-by-anti-doping-control/

Messi upset because the testers wanted both blood and urine from him.

Although there are no causes for concern and obviously, Messi is clear of any doping use, this side of the doping process and being the only one chosen, of the five Barcelona players, was an annoyance for him on this occasion.

ok

 

[Almeisan]

How much blood do they withdraw? When I did blood tests in the past they withdrew always at least 2 tubes.

I can imagine with football players, not used to transfusions, and superstitious as many are, withdrawing blood 1 day before the match isn't something that gives you confidence.

 

[neineinei]

How much blood do they withdraw? When I did blood tests in the past they withdrew always at least 2 tubes.

I can imagine with football players, not used to transfusions, and superstitious as many are, withdrawing blood 1 day before the match isn't something that gives you confidence.

The blood test probably was for the bio passport; only one sample : 3 ml. If it was for a regular doping test (A+ B) it was 2x3 ml (to test for human growth hormone etc). Whatever it was, +/- a teaspoon full.

http://www.european-athletics.org/m.../DCDSeminar9-BloodTestingProtocol_English.pdf

 

[sniper]

http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/139193/messi-annoyed-by-anti-doping-control/

Messi upset because the testers wanted both blood and urine from him.

Although there are no causes for concern and obviously, Messi is clear of any doping use, this side of the doping process and being the only one chosen, of the five Barcelona players, was an annoyance for him on this occasion.

ok

wow, just friggin wow to that bit of 'journalism'.

 

[neineinei]

Tippeliga* player: - I have no doubt that the best players do drugs

He thinks the best players are performing at an super human level.

- I think that the best players on the top level internationally, must be using something. It makes no sense that they can train as much and play as many matches and perform consistently at the level they do.

I watched matches during the Worlds and thought 'this is not possible. "Players who had already been through a very tough season, with both the domestic league and Champions League games, embarked on some outrageous sprints and parked opponents in the 110. minute in the fourth and fifth match of the championship.

*Norw. top leauge

 

[sniper]

Tippeliga* player: - I have no doubt that the best players do drugs


*Norw. top leauge

not impossible that he's referring to Arjen Robben there.

anyway, sounds like an interesting piece, a pity i can't read it. I see Armstrong and cycling get mentioned.
(will try google translate later)

 

[The Hitch]

Thank you neineinei

 

[the sceptic]

Impressive. It's very rare for a professional athlete to say things like that.

 

[bewildered]

not impossible that he's referring to Arjen Robben there.

anyway, sounds like an interesting piece, a pity i can't read it. I see Armstrong and cycling get mentioned.
(will try google translate later)

can you explain the Robben reference? He doesn't even mention any player as an individual in the article? It is all collective, 'players', he is talking about top players generally. You haven't even read the article?

Interesting what he says unions protecting players. Add all the players, teams, team & player sponsors, governing bodies and tv companies. They all have the same interest and far too much to lose collectively. Multiply those losses x 1m for top level soccer in comparison to cycling

 

[sniper]

can you explain the Robben reference? He doesn't even mention any player as an individual in the article? It is all collective, 'players', he is talking about top players generally. You haven't even read the article?

#facepalm.

sounds like an interesting piece, a pity i can't read it.

anyway, the bit that was quoted in english to which i responded sounded like he could have someone like Robben in mind.
Which other player fits that description? Messi perhaps, but that's it.

Interesting what he says unions protecting players. Add all the players, teams, team & player sponsors, governing bodies and tv companies. They all have the same interest and far too much to lose collectively. Multiply those losses x 1m for top level soccer in comparison to cycling

true story.

 

[bewildered]

'you didn't read the article?' a rhetorical question.

 

[neineinei]

The Asian Cup is being held, and there has been a couple of interesting incidents:

http://www.insidethegames.biz/sport...t-after-claiming-doping-test-made-striker-ill

Jordan's Football Association has lodged an official complaint to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after they claimed a poorly conducted doping test caused striker Ahmad Hayel to be ill.

Hayel was reportedly made to drink "several litres" of water in a short space of time after he was unable to produce a urine sample following Monday's (January 12) match with Iraq owing to dehydration.

This caused him to vomit, he felt dizzy and he had developed hypothermia, according to the Jordanian FA, and the test was then cancelled.

"Ahmad Hayel arrived at the hotel after the doping test [in a] semi-coma, and with hypothermia," said the organisation's general secretary Fadi Zureikatt.

And after Iraq won the quarter-final against Iran, Iran has lodged a complaint against Iraq for fielding a player who'd tested positive, Alaa Abdul-Zahra.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-...t-over-asian-cup-quarter-final-result/6045114

 

[neineinei]

Eberhard Gienger, Hansi M?ller, Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoene?'s names poping up around Armin Kl?mper and the Freiburger Institut f?r Sportmedizin.

http://www.hr-online.de/website/rubriken/sport/index.jsp?rubrik=6068&key=standard_document_54531251 (German)

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Breitner was clean.

 

[sniper]

Eberhard Gienger, Hansi M?ller, Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoene?'s names poping up around Armin Kl?mper and the Freiburger Institut f?r Sportmedizin.

http://www.hr-online.de/website/rubriken/sport/index.jsp?rubrik=6068&key=standard_document_54531251 (German)

Luckily that's all part of the past.

 

[neineinei]

Luckily that's all part of the past.

still from the past, but it is getting close to Joachim L?w

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/do...-fuehrt-nach-stuttgart-und-freiburg-1.2374291

http://www.zeit.de/sport/2015-03/doping-vfb-stuttgart-sc-freiburg

 

[sniper]

still from the past, but it is getting close to Joachim L?w

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/do...-fuehrt-nach-stuttgart-und-freiburg-1.2374291

http://www.zeit.de/sport/2015-03/doping-vfb-stuttgart-sc-freiburg

yep, Low played for one of the implicated teams.

more details sipping through:

His cherished memory of 1954 is now questioned by the study?s report that players in Berne were given Pervitin, an amphetamine. It was commonly known as ?speed? in sporting circles, and as ?Panzer chocolate? because it had been developed to help make Nazi pilots and soldiers fly or fight for longer and better.

One aspect in the report that makes for chilling reading is that all of the players who took the dose were injected with a shared syringe. And one, the winger Richard Herrmann, died eight years later, of cirrhosis at the age of 39.

So the grim catalog goes on. It impinges on each of the three World Cups ? 1966, 1970 and 1974 ? for which ?der Kaiser? Beckenbauer played so artistically and so competitively.

It relates to ephedrine being used by members of the 1966 World Cup team. Ephedrine is one of those drugs that can be used as a decongestant, a common cold cure, but also as a stimulant.

The study goes into the whole pharmacy of drugs used to corrupt sporting performance ? including anabolic steroids and testosterone. It states that the Bonn government funded the institutional push to match what was happening across the wall, and, tellingly, to match America.

The authors quote a sports federation official saying in the early 1990s: ?Coaches always told me that if you don?t take anything, then you will not become something. Anyone who became something was taking it.? It, apparently, was testosterone.

We will of course never learn the full extent of the doping report:

Indeed, it took a leak of the findings, in the S?ddeutsche Zeitung newspaper over the weekend, to flush out what has been disclosed thus far.

And some sections of the research, relating to athletes from the late 1990s onward, remain unpublished.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/s...Throws-Shadow-Over-Germanys-Success.html?_r=0