Doping in XC skiing

[bambino]

Re:

http://www.dn.se/sport/sergej-ustiugov-det-ar-inte-rattvist/
Sergey Ustiugov wins and says it's not fair his buddies were banned ...
also
http://fasterskier.com/fsarticle/ustiugov-wins-stage-one-sprint-val-mustair-canadas-harvey-sixth/

I know there are dark clouds in general above Russian skiers, but does anyone else think it is absolutely riduculous that Norwegian papers, VG in front, are directly asking Ustiugov whether he is clean or not? I bet 50% of Norwegians are really happy of a) Mclaren report and b) Ustiugov doing monster as those combined takes pressure and publicity away from their own "little" doping saga.

In the shoes of Ustiugov, I would tell VG to ask the same question from Sundby and see what mahen unleashes.

 

[Robert5091]

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ingen-ryss-borde-fatt-vara-dar/
Swedes think it's really odd that Ustiugov is competing too. "No Russians should be competing". After seeing Ustiugov sprint away from Sundby, it does n't look good.

 

[BullsFan22]

Re:

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ingen-ryss-borde-fatt-vara-dar/
Swedes think it's really odd that Ustiugov is competing too. "No Russians should be competing". After seeing Ustiugov sprint away from Sundby, it does n't look good.

The self-righteous Swedes strike again! In all seriousness though, Ustiugov is a massive talent. A quick look up of his palmares on the FIS website shows 6 individual starts at world juniors-4 golds. At the U23's, 5 individual starts, 3 Golds, 1 silver. Made his WC debut at 18, but didn't have another WC start until 20. Won his first individual WC race at 21 when he absolutely destroyed everyone at the Nove Mesto skate sprint. I remember that one. He just picked apart everyone. Won the qualifiers by 3+ seconds (he's done that a number of times already...won the Val Mustair qualifier by 4+ seconds). The 10 km race in Val Mustair was his 7th individual WC win. He's got a natural high hemoglobin, probably solid V02 max numbers and has been coached by foreign coaches, same coaches that coached Dario Cologna, Curdin Perl, Nicole Fessel, Franz Goering, among others...Does that make him clean? No. I liken him a bit to Greg Lemond. When you dominate the junior ranks in Russia, then at World Juniors, then at U23's and now at World Cup level....you are progressing based on your talent, and he's obviously got LOADS of talent.

p.s., VG did an interview with him after the 10km, and he said he was tested 8-9 times November-mid December (so probably was tested at La Clusaz-top three in each race get tested and then it's another two or three random skiers in the top 10 followed by random skiers down the order. He passed all of them. SVT also picked up the interview and has had a number of articles on him in the last few days. He's raced 99% of WC's outside of Russia. Has anyone manipulated his tests outside of Russia? It's international WADA/FIS agents/employees that administer these tests and then take them to be tested.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ingen-ryss-borde-fatt-vara-dar/
Swedes think it's really odd that Ustiugov is competing too. "No Russians should be competing". After seeing Ustiugov sprint away from Sundby, it does n't look good.

The self-righteous Swedes strike again! In all seriousness though, Ustiugov is a massive talent. A quick look up of his palmares on the FIS website shows 6 individual starts at world juniors-4 golds. At the U23's, 5 individual starts, 3 Golds, 1 silver. Made his WC debut at 18, but didn't have another WC start until 20. Won his first individual WC race at 21 when he absolutely destroyed everyone at the Nove Mesto skate sprint. I remember that one. He just picked apart everyone. Won the qualifiers by 3+ seconds (he's done that a number of times already...won the Val Mustair qualifier by 4+ seconds). The 10 km race in Val Mustair was his 7th individual WC win. He's got a natural high hemoglobin, probably solid V02 max numbers and has been coached by foreign coaches, same coaches that coached Dario Cologna, Curdin Perl, Nicole Fessel, Franz Goering, among others...Does that make him clean? No. I liken him a bit to Greg Lemond. When you dominate the junior ranks in Russia, then at World Juniors, then at U23's and now at World Cup level....you are progressing based on your talent, and he's obviously got LOADS of talent.

p.s., VG did an interview with him after the 10km, and he said he was tested 8-9 times November-mid December (so probably was tested at La Clusaz-top three in each race get tested and then it's another two or three random skiers in the top 10 followed by random skiers down the order. He passed all of them. SVT also picked up the interview and has had a number of articles on him in the last few days. He's raced 99% of WC's outside of Russia. Has anyone manipulated his tests outside of Russia? It's international WADA/FIS agents/employees that administer these tests and then take them to be tested.

Norwegians has commanded their media to attack everyone that are their threath in TDS... they've now pulled in also 2001 scandal in Finland back to billboard. Just waiting when Swedes will follow....

 

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ingen-ryss-borde-fatt-vara-dar/
Swedes think it's really odd that Ustiugov is competing too. "No Russians should be competing". After seeing Ustiugov sprint away from Sundby, it does n't look good.

The self-righteous Swedes strike again! In all seriousness though, Ustiugov is a massive talent. A quick look up of his palmares on the FIS website shows 6 individual starts at world juniors-4 golds. At the U23's, 5 individual starts, 3 Golds, 1 silver. Made his WC debut at 18, but didn't have another WC start until 20. Won his first individual WC race at 21 when he absolutely destroyed everyone at the Nove Mesto skate sprint. I remember that one. He just picked apart everyone. Won the qualifiers by 3+ seconds (he's done that a number of times already...won the Val Mustair qualifier by 4+ seconds). The 10 km race in Val Mustair was his 7th individual WC win. He's got a natural high hemoglobin, probably solid V02 max numbers and has been coached by foreign coaches, same coaches that coached Dario Cologna, Curdin Perl, Nicole Fessel, Franz Goering, among others...Does that make him clean? No. I liken him a bit to Greg Lemond. When you dominate the junior ranks in Russia, then at World Juniors, then at U23's and now at World Cup level....you are progressing based on your talent, and he's obviously got LOADS of talent.

p.s., VG did an interview with him after the 10km, and he said he was tested 8-9 times November-mid December (so probably was tested at La Clusaz-top three in each race get tested and then it's another two or three random skiers in the top 10 followed by random skiers down the order. He passed all of them. SVT also picked up the interview and has had a number of articles on him in the last few days. He's raced 99% of WC's outside of Russia. Has anyone manipulated his tests outside of Russia? It's international WADA/FIS agents/employees that administer these tests and then take them to be tested.

What has that so called "talent" to do with that?

Anyway, if some of the Norwegians athletes would support some of their compatriots the way Ustiugov did Russians, there would be reaction from those like you how it's hypocritical or so. I share all the objections against Norwegians, but that is not reason to have double standards.

 

[Kokoso]

I remember what massive reaction raised news that Norwegians are treating their athletes with anti-asthmatic drugs. People talked real BS about how salbutamol is performance enhacing (Norwegians defending Norwegians talked about how it's nothing because salbutamol is not performance enhancing ) and so on. But nowhere in the news was said that they are actually giving them salbutamol!!! There are other way how to treat asthma other than salbutamol. Hate to say that, but amount of hate against Norwegians makes people act emotionally, not rationally, including otherwise often reasonable people like python. But when it's about Norwegians, blinds are on at least from time to time, as someone said.

Anyway, is there any new on this topic? What about that so called "undepedent" comission investigating use of asthma treatment, are there any resutls? Or did that gone with the wind?

 

[BullsFan22]

Re: Re:

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ingen-ryss-borde-fatt-vara-dar/
Swedes think it's really odd that Ustiugov is competing too. "No Russians should be competing". After seeing Ustiugov sprint away from Sundby, it does n't look good.

The self-righteous Swedes strike again! In all seriousness though, Ustiugov is a massive talent. A quick look up of his palmares on the FIS website shows 6 individual starts at world juniors-4 golds. At the U23's, 5 individual starts, 3 Golds, 1 silver. Made his WC debut at 18, but didn't have another WC start until 20. Won his first individual WC race at 21 when he absolutely destroyed everyone at the Nove Mesto skate sprint. I remember that one. He just picked apart everyone. Won the qualifiers by 3+ seconds (he's done that a number of times already...won the Val Mustair qualifier by 4+ seconds). The 10 km race in Val Mustair was his 7th individual WC win. He's got a natural high hemoglobin, probably solid V02 max numbers and has been coached by foreign coaches, same coaches that coached Dario Cologna, Curdin Perl, Nicole Fessel, Franz Goering, among others...Does that make him clean? No. I liken him a bit to Greg Lemond. When you dominate the junior ranks in Russia, then at World Juniors, then at U23's and now at World Cup level....you are progressing based on your talent, and he's obviously got LOADS of talent.

p.s., VG did an interview with him after the 10km, and he said he was tested 8-9 times November-mid December (so probably was tested at La Clusaz-top three in each race get tested and then it's another two or three random skiers in the top 10 followed by random skiers down the order. He passed all of them. SVT also picked up the interview and has had a number of articles on him in the last few days. He's raced 99% of WC's outside of Russia. Has anyone manipulated his tests outside of Russia? It's international WADA/FIS agents/employees that administer these tests and then take them to be tested.

What has that so called "talent" to do with that?

Anyway, if some of the Norwegians athletes would support some of their compatriots the way Ustiugov did Russians, there would be reaction from those like you how it's hypocritical or so. I share all the objections against Norwegians, but that is not reason to have double standards.

What does it have to do with talent?!? Are you kidding me?? Did you actually read my entire comment, or did you pick and choose what suited you and then decided to reply to the things that suited you? Also, did you just start watching the world cups three days ago? Ustiugov's rise to the top, is not surprising. Like I mentioned in the comment (in case you didn't read, I'll repeat it), the guy has been at the top in every age category. Where was Sundby? He was mediocre. He won his first world cup at 24, then won his second after 4 years and since 2013/2014 he's been dominating the world cup. After not being able to finish races, he is now dominating everyone. How about his sprinting? No sprinting whatsoever until two-three years ago. Now he is making finals and beating sprint specialists with ease.

You want to talk about double standards? Ok, fine, let's talk about double standards. Norwegians point fingers at everyone that's able to beat Norwegians. For years they've done this. Considering what Mads Drange, Bengt Saltin, Kari-Pekka Kyro, Bengt-Erik Begnston, Jim-Stray Gunderson, etc, had to say on high blood values in the 90's, and what has been made public about asthma use (be it symbicort, ventoline, whatever) and the fact that almost 70% of Norwegian medals at Olympics 1992 on, have been won by those that are 'suffering' from asthma, it's a complete joke by the Norwegians to call anyone else out, even the Russians. Does this mean that the Russians aren't doping? Of course not, but you are bringing up 'double standards' and 'hypocrisy.' In actuality, it's the Norwegians that are experts in 'double standards' and 'hypocrisy.' Notice how most of the posters that have for years defended Norwegians and used the pathetic lines of 'well, it's due to many xc skiers in Norway, the tradition, the good skis, the wax, the grinds...' are gone. Surprisingly, they never brought in, 'well, it's due to oil money that ballooned in the 70's and 80's.'

I guess I didn't follow Python's advice to ignore your responses, like Libertine has, but what is a man to do? Walk away and not defend himself?

ps, some very self-righteous words by Koukalova and Schlesingr recently...

 

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

What does it have to do with talent?!? Are you kidding me??

No I'm not. SUPPOSED should hint what I think about that; there is no way to know how the real talent is. Thus there is not much point to prove something with talent. That some guy begins to perform later than other guy doesn't mean he's better talent.

You want to talk about double standards?

Yes, that was my intention. I know that Norwegians have double standards, I fully agree with you on that and I've never argued against that. But that doesn't give us, me or you or anybody else, right to use double standards too. If we begin to use same double standards as Norwegians do, we are the same.

I guess I didn't follow Python's advice to ignore your responses, like Libertine has, but what is a man to do? Walk away and not defend himself?

Maybe you react on me actually becuase you actually know very well python was not fair, to put it mildly. He was throwing mud on me. I don't know if it ws because I proved him wrong somewhere and he couldn't swallow it. Maybe he hates to be proven wrong especially by someone whom he dislikes, like me. And, to the top of that, python actually still was reacting to me, albeit not directly. Libertine reacts to me. If python's way appeals to you, choose it.

ps, some very self-righteous words by Koukalova and Schlesingr recently...

What words?

Edit: actualy Norwegian self-righteous approach is the least appealing thing they do and because I've read this discussion and others for long time enough, I am aware of that. Maybe that's what makes me notify on double standards; because I don't want contributing people get the same. That only gives Norwegians weapon against people who blame them.

 

[bambino]

To be fair both of you guys seem to have double standards (suspecting kokoso mainly for trolling purposes).

I remember discussion 3 pages ago where Bullsfan22 said something like "blah blah blah" about Dählie being talented while now using exactly the same argument for Ustiugov. Kokoso the opposite of course.

 

[Kokoso]

Re:

To be fair both of you guys seem to have double standards (suspecting kokoso mainly for trolling purposes).

I remember discussion 3 pages ago where Bullsfan22 said something like "blah blah blah" about Dählie being talented while now using exactly the same argument for Ustiugov. Kokoso the opposite of course.

I am not trolling. Is that so big problem for you to look that back that 3 pages to see what was the point back then? Do it and correct yourself.

The point was that you have clearly stated Daehlie doped but python and Bullsfan argued with you that he's suspect and being talented doesn't make one clear. That made no sense. I've just argued that you clearly stated Daehlie WAS DOPING thus there is no point arguing. No talk about talent from me.

You've really angered me.

 

[BullsFan22]

Re:

To be fair both of you guys seem to have double standards (suspecting kokoso mainly for trolling purposes).

I remember discussion 3 pages ago where Bullsfan22 said something like "blah blah blah" about Dählie being talented while now using exactly the same argument for Ustiugov. Kokoso the opposite of course.

Daehlie apparently had high VO2 max, but he was never a good junior skier. Not saying that if you are not winning races a junior, you are not going to amount to anything, but what I was simply getting across with Ustiugov is that his talent was evident a while back and he's climbed the ladder nicely, the same way Cologna and Northug have, the same way Heidi Weng and Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg have. Excellent in the juniors and U23, excellent in the senior class.

 

[BullsFan22]

And now German TV (ARD/BR) lost for words, almost, regarding that performance from Ustiugov. The female reporter just couldn't help herself. Thankfully Florian Notz came by their media stand and Peter Schlickenrieder interviewed him.

But yes, that was dope performance by Ustiugov that deserves questioning. There. Are we happy now?

 

[BullsFan22]

Oh, and almost forgot. Hellner came straight to Ustiugov and asked him, "where did that come from." I think I know what he meant.

 

[kingjr]

Re: Re:

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ingen-ryss-borde-fatt-vara-dar/
Swedes think it's really odd that Ustiugov is competing too. "No Russians should be competing". After seeing Ustiugov sprint away from Sundby, it does n't look good.

The self-righteous Swedes strike again! In all seriousness though, Ustiugov is a massive talent. A quick look up of his palmares on the FIS website shows 6 individual starts at world juniors-4 golds. At the U23's, 5 individual starts, 3 Golds, 1 silver. Made his WC debut at 18, but didn't have another WC start until 20. Won his first individual WC race at 21 when he absolutely destroyed everyone at the Nove Mesto skate sprint. I remember that one. He just picked apart everyone. Won the qualifiers by 3+ seconds (he's done that a number of times already...won the Val Mustair qualifier by 4+ seconds). The 10 km race in Val Mustair was his 7th individual WC win. He's got a natural high hemoglobin, probably solid V02 max numbers and has been coached by foreign coaches, same coaches that coached Dario Cologna, Curdin Perl, Nicole Fessel, Franz Goering, among others...Does that make him clean? No. I liken him a bit to Greg Lemond. When you dominate the junior ranks in Russia, then at World Juniors, then at U23's and now at World Cup level....you are progressing based on your talent, and he's obviously got LOADS of talent.

p.s., VG did an interview with him after the 10km, and he said he was tested 8-9 times November-mid December (so probably was tested at La Clusaz-top three in each race get tested and then it's another two or three random skiers in the top 10 followed by random skiers down the order. He passed all of them. SVT also picked up the interview and has had a number of articles on him in the last few days. He's raced 99% of WC's outside of Russia. Has anyone manipulated his tests outside of Russia? It's international WADA/FIS agents/employees that administer these tests and then take them to be tested.

Loginov was a big talent in Biathlon too winning Gold Medals on Junior Level (born in 1992 like Ustiugov ) and look what happened to him.

 

[BullsFan22]

Re: Re:

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ingen-ryss-borde-fatt-vara-dar/
Swedes think it's really odd that Ustiugov is competing too. "No Russians should be competing". After seeing Ustiugov sprint away from Sundby, it does n't look good.

The self-righteous Swedes strike again! In all seriousness though, Ustiugov is a massive talent. A quick look up of his palmares on the FIS website shows 6 individual starts at world juniors-4 golds. At the U23's, 5 individual starts, 3 Golds, 1 silver. Made his WC debut at 18, but didn't have another WC start until 20. Won his first individual WC race at 21 when he absolutely destroyed everyone at the Nove Mesto skate sprint. I remember that one. He just picked apart everyone. Won the qualifiers by 3+ seconds (he's done that a number of times already...won the Val Mustair qualifier by 4+ seconds). The 10 km race in Val Mustair was his 7th individual WC win. He's got a natural high hemoglobin, probably solid V02 max numbers and has been coached by foreign coaches, same coaches that coached Dario Cologna, Curdin Perl, Nicole Fessel, Franz Goering, among others...Does that make him clean? No. I liken him a bit to Greg Lemond. When you dominate the junior ranks in Russia, then at World Juniors, then at U23's and now at World Cup level....you are progressing based on your talent, and he's obviously got LOADS of talent.

p.s., VG did an interview with him after the 10km, and he said he was tested 8-9 times November-mid December (so probably was tested at La Clusaz-top three in each race get tested and then it's another two or three random skiers in the top 10 followed by random skiers down the order. He passed all of them. SVT also picked up the interview and has had a number of articles on him in the last few days. He's raced 99% of WC's outside of Russia. Has anyone manipulated his tests outside of Russia? It's international WADA/FIS agents/employees that administer these tests and then take them to be tested.

Loginov was a big talent in Biathlon too winning Gold Medals on Junior Level (born in 1992 like Ustiugov ) and look what happened to him.

Fair point. Though the Russians would be very stupid to keep using EPO. EPO was so 1990's. They are just naive and lazy to find some 'new methods.'

 

[Kokoso]

Re: Re:

Loginov was a big talent in Biathlon too winning Gold Medals on Junior Level (born in 1992 like Ustiugov ) and look what happened to him.

Fair point. Though the Russians would be very stupid to keep using EPO. EPO was so 1990's. They are just naive and lazy to find some 'new methods.'[/quote]
That's exactly my point - no point to asses whether one is doping or is not based on so called "talent". But you don't see to give me credit for that...quite on the contrary

P.S. part of it is that you can always have athlete doping from, say, 15 yers of age, who towers above his compatriots. All in all, no way how to assess real talent. And this is not only argument for that, but most important one. Loginov moght be great example.

 

[Kokoso]

[quote="BullsFan22

But yes, that was dope performance by Ustiugov that deserves questioning. There. Are we happy now?[/quote]
Why? Superior sprinter in great shape beat not so good sprinters in the short finish effort, with no great margin.

 

[Blaaswix]

Oh, and almost forgot. Hellner came straight to Ustiugov and asked him, "where did that come from." I think I know what he meant.

I think that was to do with some shoving and jabbing with ski poles out in the løype. Ustiugov's trainer said he needs to calm down a bit, or words to that effect.

Viewing figures for the Tour de Ski are down a lot in Norway. Could be due to some big names missing, could be due to a dwindling interest in asthma-assisted ski racing. Ustiugov is bringing some excitement though. (Edited for spelling)

 

[Discgear]

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ingen-ryss-borde-fatt-vara-dar/
Swedes think it's really odd that Ustiugov is competing too. "No Russians should be competing". After seeing Ustiugov sprint away from Sundby, it does n't look good.

The self-righteous Swedes strike again!

Agree, there was some really sickening comments from two Swedish sports journalists in that TV-sofa:

Johan Esk from DN: – Man vet inte om den ena ryssen eller den andra varit dopad. Jag tycker att ingen ryss borde fått vara där, eller alla.
Translation: - You don’t know which Russian have been doped. No Russian should be allowed into Tour de Ski, or everyone.

It’s always allowed today to puke over the Russians. I don’t like it.

But the worse comment was from Pamela Andersson, Expressen:

– Det känns jättekonstig att se honom vara så otroligt överlägsen under de här två dagarna. Att gå ifrån Sundby på det sättet. Jag satt bara och tänkte ”jaha, han är också dopad”.
Translation: - It’s really strange to see him (Ustiugov) that extremely superior during these two days. To ski away from Sundby like that. I just sat down thinking, “okay he’s also doped”.

Well then, what about Johnsrud Sundby himself the two last seasons, or Johaug the last season?

But to be fair, they are not investigative journalists and they have fully swallowed the official Norwegian Ski Federation press conferences about MJS and TJs doping cases. I doubt they have the full picture. That said, it’s no excuse being so totally naïve and stupid, even being a sports journalist.

Finally, I really think it’s sickening with all the doping that has been exposed within Russian sports, even if the general western treatment of Russia today is totally unfair. Even you BullsFan22 must be worried?

Oh, and almost forgot. Hellner came straight to Ustiugov and asked him, "where did that come from." I think I know what he meant.

In the interview with Hellner afterwards the doping subject wasn’t mentioned at all. It turns out he and Ustiugov both had a fight about space in the crowded tracks. So your comment is unfair to Hellner.

 

[Kokoso]

Re:

It’s always allowed today to puke over the Russians. I don’t like it.

Me neither. I could partially understand that from someone from my country, where Russians made them really, really bad name over the years, but it is unjustice to blame some athlete anyway. But Sweden? Why?

Well then, what about Johnsrud Sundby himself the two last seasons, or Johaug the last season?

Did anybody asked on Ustiugov? Or was them mentioning him spontaneous? Did anybody asked on Sundb or Johaug? If not, maybe that's the reason why she wasn't commenting on Sundby or Johaug. To comment Johaug wouldn't make much sense anyway when she's suspicious of doping to the extent that everybody is clear on that she doped anyway, would it?

Anyway, you can't expect reasonable answer from Pamela Anderson

 

[BullsFan22]

Re:

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ingen-ryss-borde-fatt-vara-dar/
Swedes think it's really odd that Ustiugov is competing too. "No Russians should be competing". After seeing Ustiugov sprint away from Sundby, it does n't look good.

The self-righteous Swedes strike again!

Agree, there was some really sickening comments from two Swedish sports journalists in that TV-sofa:

Johan Esk from DN: – Man vet inte om den ena ryssen eller den andra varit dopad. Jag tycker att ingen ryss borde fått vara där, eller alla.
Translation: - You don’t know which Russian have been doped. No Russian should be allowed into Tour de Ski, or everyone.

It’s always allowed today to puke over the Russians. I don’t like it.

But the worse comment was from Pamela Andersson, Expressen:

– Det känns jättekonstig att se honom vara så otroligt överlägsen under de här två dagarna. Att gå ifrån Sundby på det sättet. Jag satt bara och tänkte ”jaha, han är också dopad”.
Translation: - It’s really strange to see him (Ustiugov) that extremely superior during these two days. To ski away from Sundby like that. I just sat down thinking, “okay he’s also doped”.

Well then, what about Johnsrud Sundby himself the two last seasons, or Johaug the last season?

But to be fair, they are not investigative journalists and they have fully swallowed the official Norwegian Ski Federation press conferences about MJS and TJs doping cases. I doubt they have the full picture. That said, it’s no excuse being so totally naïve and stupid, even being a sports journalist.

Finally, I really think it’s sickening with all the doping that has been exposed within Russian sports, even if the general western treatment of Russia today is totally unfair. Even you BullsFan22 must be worried?

Oh, and almost forgot. Hellner came straight to Ustiugov and asked him, "where did that come from." I think I know what he meant.

In the interview with Hellner afterwards the doping subject wasn’t mentioned at all. It turns out he and Ustiugov both had a fight about space in the crowded tracks. So your comment is unfair to Hellner.

To the Hellner part, because I think that needs to be dealt with first. Yes, you are right. I read a number of articles on the incident and I was too quick to judge, or at least come to a quick conclusion. There was the incident between U. and H. partway through the skate leg, when they came through the stadium/lap area and Ustiugov extended his pole towards Hellner and Hellner took a look at him after that. Then at the finish H went straight to U and asked him what he was doing. Obviously not a doping related feud but about the contact during the race. So my apologies for jumping to a conclusion and unfairly criticizing Marcus (who I actually like as a ski racer and he seems like a fairly good, easy going guy). I can't go over every quote of U's and H's, but go on SVT as well and they have a couple articles on the incident. NRK has a short clip of the incident and obviously one can go on youtube to find the race and take a look at it there. U was also criticized for upping the tempo when Sundby and Heikkinen went the wrong way on one of the skate loops. Sundby wasn't overly concerned, and he had a bit of a chuckle in regards to U's aggressive skiing. Toenseth, however, was not so friendly. He said that it was unsportsmanlike to up the pace when someone makes a mistake.

Ustiugov was quoted as saying 'I am not a person that likes to be beaten.' Essentially, he doesn't like losing. Well, you are not the only person, Sergey.

I didn't see what Cramer (Ustiugov's coach) had to say about today's incident(s), but it does appear that Ustiugov is skiing as one very angry man. Angry because of the recent doping allegations and withdrawals but also because that's how he races, aggressively.

To doping specifically, yes it's worrying, only because of the possibility of banning an entire country from competing at the Olympics. I am not shocked about the doping, but I just think, as I've had throughout the past couple years, that the never ending reports and calls for bans and sanctions are mostly politically motivated, not because of actual doping cases. Why do I keep saying it's politically motivating? Because there are plenty of other cases and suspicious performances in ever professional sport that warrants the same kind of response to when a Russian is winning, but it never gets mentioned, at least not in the same breath. And I hear a lot of 'state sponsored doping...' What about when skiers like Ustiugov, Legkov, Chernousov, Belov, Volzhentsev, etc train with foreign coaches, on foreign soil, get tested on a regular basis and then are not allowed to compete because some Rasputin like character has an axe to grind and manipulates urine samples? And what about other athletes that are, as of now, not implicated in any scandal (like Ustiugov, as a great example)? Do we need to throw a blanket over all of them and say auf wiedersehen jungs? One of the reasons that Legkov and Chernousov left the national team to train exclusively in central Europe and Scandinavia was to be independent of the national team and its practices. Was part of that the doping? I don't know, maybe it was. I'd feel the same way if another country was being constantly spat at.

 

[Rider]

Re: Re:

Me neither. I could partially understand that from someone from my country, where Russians made them really, really bad name over the years, but it is unjustice to blame some athlete anyway.

What country?

 

[Robert5091]

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ustiugov-slog-till-mig-med-staven/
New form of biathlon? skiing and fencing? "en garde!" :lol:

If you think Sundby is full of asthma medicine then it makes you wonder what illness Ustiugov might have. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[kingjr]

What, they're having a go at Ustiugov because Sundby is too dumb to find the right track? If you're stupid you get punished, that's sport and that's how it should be.

 

[Kokoso]

http://www.svt.se/sport/vintersport/ustiugov-slog-till-mig-med-staven/
New form of biathlon? skiing and fencing? "en garde!" :lol:

If you think Sundby is full of asthma medicine then it makes you wonder what illness Ustiugov might have. We'll just have to wait and see.

Looks like Sundby isn't full of asthma medicine anymore. Certainly you've noticed the change, don't you?