Watershed Moments: Olympic Swimming
- Thread starter TheGrandSophy
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- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
I don't like cheats either, but whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? Is it fair to shame and accuse world renown athletes of cheating by splashing headlines around the world without providing the details surrounding their cases, shredding their reputation and possibly causing massive loss in income and costing them their livelihood? Efimova tested positive while she was training in the US while taking a legal supplement containing DHEA. It seems even herbs like cordyceps are considered drugs by WADA. :sarcasm:These tests detect the substances but do not provide an indication as to the concentration/threshold. Let's get off the high horse and remember that these athletes dedicate their lives to their sport. Until an authoritative body ruled that they intentionally cheated, they should be given the benefit of doubt like the rest of us.
For example, the details around Sun Yang's suspension at that time (this article was published in 2014) appear to exonerate him. Trimetazidine was briefly banned only in 2014 but no longer. It is a drug that metabolizes and provides no benefits unless taken "In-Competition". It was not banned Out-Competition in 2014. Surely Horton would have known:
https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/sun-yang-doping-case/
"The crux of the story is this: If Sun went to his doctor a few days or anytime before the competition and properly took his medication, that is fine. He is NOT in violation of the anti-doping rules for taking a medication containing Trimetazidine the days before the competition.
But, then he swam in the Chinese National Championships after he took his medication. The anti-doping authorities conducted an in-competition doping test after his race. All good. All correct. But, consequently, that in-competition doping test picked up the Trimetazidine, producing a positive IN-COMPETITION test, therefore Sun was disqualified for doping and given a three-month ban.
There were no thresholds in place to protect an athlete from the trace amounts in his system.
Thresholds should be in Place
Dr. Klaas Faber, CEO of Chemometry in the Netherlands says, “Given the Banned List, there should be safeguards in place, namely thresholds. Why? Because the labs report what they are asked to report i.e., the identity of substances, leaving out the possibility of the exonerating part of the evidence- the concentration.”
Faber is considered one of the top minds in anti-doping and one of Europe’s leading criminal chemical forensic specialists. Faber has been studying the CAS cases and watching the legal carnage destroy the lives of innocent athletes around the world as athletes pay the price for WADA’s, CAS’ or a sport federation’s learning curve.
Nichols further helped clarify the current situation by adding a section of the “Code In-Competition, S6 Stimulants. Some drugs that metabolize… are reclassified because they are now recognized as less likely to be used as doping agents: cathinone… and trimetazidine…”
Essentially, trimetazidine has been reclassified and downgraded. As of January 1, it will not be on the banned stimulant list.
Trimetazidine will be moved from a S.6 Stimulant to S.4 Modulator. “Trimetazidine was originally included in S.6.b. based upon the similarity of its chemical structure to some of the listed Stimulants,” according to WADA information. “It has been moved to the newly created sub-section S4.5.c as it is pharmacologically classified as a modulator of cardiac metabolism.”
Inconsistent Anti-Doping Rules Threaten Athletes
Whether Sun Yang is innocent or not, the fact remains that he broke the current rules. But many athletes face “grossly inconsistent anti-doping rules,” according to Dr. Klaas Faber.
Faber has pointed out for years the necessity to establish thresholds for all substances detected so as to avoid any inadvertent positive doping cases.
Faber has also pointed out the inconsistencies in banned substances in which some substances are banned in-competition, but, not outside competition. Faber has detailed some of these observations published in the Science and Justice Journal, “A Plea for Thresholds, i.e., Maximal Allowed Levels for Prohibited Substances to Prevent Questionable Doping Convictions,” Michael Burke, USA, Klaas Faber, NED, April 13, 2011.
It should be noted that John Ruger, U.S. Olympic Committee Ombudsman, Tackling Doping in Sport, Global Conference, March, 2013, in the UK stated, “between 40% to 60% of positive test doping results were inadvertent (non-deliberate) cases.” (Source: “Lee Chong Wei a Victim of Inconsistent Anti-Doping Rules,” by Dr. Klaas Faber, The Malay Mail Online.)
In many cases like these, the athlete is punished and accomplishments become questionable in the eyes of many resulting in the athlete being unjustly tainted for life. Sun Yang is likely to face this for the remainder of his swimming career."
For example, the details around Sun Yang's suspension at that time (this article was published in 2014) appear to exonerate him. Trimetazidine was briefly banned only in 2014 but no longer. It is a drug that metabolizes and provides no benefits unless taken "In-Competition". It was not banned Out-Competition in 2014. Surely Horton would have known:
https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/sun-yang-doping-case/
"The crux of the story is this: If Sun went to his doctor a few days or anytime before the competition and properly took his medication, that is fine. He is NOT in violation of the anti-doping rules for taking a medication containing Trimetazidine the days before the competition.
But, then he swam in the Chinese National Championships after he took his medication. The anti-doping authorities conducted an in-competition doping test after his race. All good. All correct. But, consequently, that in-competition doping test picked up the Trimetazidine, producing a positive IN-COMPETITION test, therefore Sun was disqualified for doping and given a three-month ban.
There were no thresholds in place to protect an athlete from the trace amounts in his system.
Thresholds should be in Place
Dr. Klaas Faber, CEO of Chemometry in the Netherlands says, “Given the Banned List, there should be safeguards in place, namely thresholds. Why? Because the labs report what they are asked to report i.e., the identity of substances, leaving out the possibility of the exonerating part of the evidence- the concentration.”
Faber is considered one of the top minds in anti-doping and one of Europe’s leading criminal chemical forensic specialists. Faber has been studying the CAS cases and watching the legal carnage destroy the lives of innocent athletes around the world as athletes pay the price for WADA’s, CAS’ or a sport federation’s learning curve.
Nichols further helped clarify the current situation by adding a section of the “Code In-Competition, S6 Stimulants. Some drugs that metabolize… are reclassified because they are now recognized as less likely to be used as doping agents: cathinone… and trimetazidine…”
Essentially, trimetazidine has been reclassified and downgraded. As of January 1, it will not be on the banned stimulant list.
Trimetazidine will be moved from a S.6 Stimulant to S.4 Modulator. “Trimetazidine was originally included in S.6.b. based upon the similarity of its chemical structure to some of the listed Stimulants,” according to WADA information. “It has been moved to the newly created sub-section S4.5.c as it is pharmacologically classified as a modulator of cardiac metabolism.”
Inconsistent Anti-Doping Rules Threaten Athletes
Whether Sun Yang is innocent or not, the fact remains that he broke the current rules. But many athletes face “grossly inconsistent anti-doping rules,” according to Dr. Klaas Faber.
Faber has pointed out for years the necessity to establish thresholds for all substances detected so as to avoid any inadvertent positive doping cases.
Faber has also pointed out the inconsistencies in banned substances in which some substances are banned in-competition, but, not outside competition. Faber has detailed some of these observations published in the Science and Justice Journal, “A Plea for Thresholds, i.e., Maximal Allowed Levels for Prohibited Substances to Prevent Questionable Doping Convictions,” Michael Burke, USA, Klaas Faber, NED, April 13, 2011.
It should be noted that John Ruger, U.S. Olympic Committee Ombudsman, Tackling Doping in Sport, Global Conference, March, 2013, in the UK stated, “between 40% to 60% of positive test doping results were inadvertent (non-deliberate) cases.” (Source: “Lee Chong Wei a Victim of Inconsistent Anti-Doping Rules,” by Dr. Klaas Faber, The Malay Mail Online.)
In many cases like these, the athlete is punished and accomplishments become questionable in the eyes of many resulting in the athlete being unjustly tainted for life. Sun Yang is likely to face this for the remainder of his swimming career."
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^^ just you 
lol
just kidding... i didn't notice the resemblance...
Back on topic... I am just super excited about Penny Oleksiak... Canada hasn't had a swimmer like that in ermm maybe forever? 16 and 3 medals already.... and she qualified for another final with another amazing time.. She has 2 bronzes in the relays and 1 silver in the 100 fly.... let's go for gold Canada!!!!
loljust kidding... i didn't notice the resemblance...
Back on topic... I am just super excited about Penny Oleksiak... Canada hasn't had a swimmer like that in ermm maybe forever? 16 and 3 medals already.... and she qualified for another final with another amazing time.. She has 2 bronzes in the relays and 1 silver in the 100 fly.... let's go for gold Canada!!!!
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Efimova won another silver....eh? 
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so happy... funny how you said Our canadian penny is worth gold as i wrote this on my facebook before seeing what you wrote...
That race was epic... she turned in 7th place... i thought it was game over... but no.... gold medal... olympic record.... youth world record.... Penny is amazing... and i think she must be swimming in the 4X 100M medley relay... who knows.. .maybe one more is coming?
That race was epic... she turned in 7th place... i thought it was game over... but no.... gold medal... olympic record.... youth world record.... Penny is amazing... and i think she must be swimming in the 4X 100M medley relay... who knows.. .maybe one more is coming?
Efimova won another silver....eh?
there were less boos in 200 m breaststroke, the classless were also able to restrain themselves
Efimova flying under the radar during qualifying and semis was good strategy, Lily King oth failed to make the finals.
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- Feb 25, 2014
He did it!! Congratulations Joseph Schooling 
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Although I'm a foreigner here, I'm so happy for all the Singaporean who could finally feel proud of this achievement which is won by a local talent instead of imported ones.
. Although I'm a foreigner here, I'm so happy for all the Singaporean who could finally feel proud of this achievement which is won by a local talent instead of imported ones.
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- Jun 7, 2014
Joseph Schooling made the headlines after crushing the competitions in the South East Asian Games in 2011. In the South East Asian Games held in Singapore in 2015, he said in a montage during the opening ceremony that he wanted to win OGM. Now that dream has come true. It took only 5 years. :yes2:
Incredible achievement. Surreal. And a fairy tale Olympics for him really. I saw that photo of him and Phelps in 2008, how amazing.
Yeah, there is obviously great talent there. They should put more belief in locals.He did it!! Congratulations Joseph Schooling
Although I'm a foreigner here, I'm so happy for all the Singaporean who could finally feel proud of this achievement which is won by a local talent instead of imported ones.
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Wait. I thought he moved to Florida in high school? He competes for the University of Texas. He has the Longhorn tattoo on his back. Does he live in Singapore? I'm confused, but that's nothing new.
And I know I'm in the minority, but I am NOT on Team Efimova. Still, I'm sure she must be glad this experience is over.
I'm not sure what you're getting at but plenty of athletes train overseas, many also in figure skating, which you should know, since you've been on this forum for over 3 years.
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I'm not getting at anything. The quote I was replying to said he was a "local talent" which I took to mean "living and training in Singapore.". And that is not what the media is reporting. Which is why I asked, "Does he live in Singapore? I'm confused."
Having spent an hour feasting on videos of celebrations in Fiji celebrating their home-grown gold medal in rugby, I am only too ready to celebrate "local" athletes from small nations who do well. Heck, I still celebrate his win, no matter where he lives and trains; I'm sure it is a very big deal in Singapore.
But thanks for your thoughtful reply.
By "local talent" they mean he was born and raised in Singapore.
And, no need to thank me for this reply.
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- Feb 25, 2014
Local talent means born, raised and competed for that country. It does not matter where they train. Examples: Schooling, Javi, Yuzu, D10, Kei Nishikori.
Imported talent means born and raised in one country. Then changed nationality to another country when they are in adulthood so that they can compete and win.
Singapore govt giving monetary incentives for winning gold in Sea/Commonwealth games etc. For Olympics, it is S$1Million for OGM.
So the citizens were not happy when they imported China table tennis players, gave them citizenship, money etc. and they get gold in some games. When they received their monetary after winning and they retire, they immediately returned to China.
So Schooling really is a lesson learned to the Singapore govt. Initially he was coached locally i believe. Luckily his parents is well to do to be able to afford good training/coach overseas. I'm not sure how much the govt invested in him compared to the foreign imports. Nevertheless this is what the citizens wants to have Singapore born and breed athletes.
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