Taoufik Makhloufi NOT Competing in Moscow

Damn it. I wanted my London fit Mak-Daddy to actually square off against a healthy Kiprop.

Good for American medal chances though.

"viral illness," = blood doping infection.

well this doesn't pass the giggle test.

I suspect big makh will never break 3:35 again or be a factor.

it's good news I suppose, but sadly indicative.

Of course he's not. I mean still healthy enough to run in Stockholm - not in Moscow. This sport is now BLATANTLY becoming a f%$king farce

I can't stand the smirk that obvious cheater has.

great news for the sport

Saving himself for Zurich apparently.

clarified wrote:

Saving himself for Zurich apparently.

nicely done

SPMBLNPF wrote:

Makhloufi is expected to return to competition in Stockholm after the WC, and if not there, in Zurich. He has reportedly been battling a viral illness...

Why don't you post your source, ahole?

Word on the street is that it _is_ a viral infection.

winter wonderland wrote:I can't stand the smirk that obvious cheater has.

This guy wins an Olympic gold medal and shows no joy, just smug gloating. We know there's a lot of doping, but I'm always gonna hate on this guy for his display after he so easily snatched something that was the unattainable dream for no lesser runners than Bannister, Ryun, and Cram.

Many of you have convicted Makhloufi because you just KNOW that he is cheating. You just KNOW it. Of course it is largely due to the fact that you dislike him at some visceral level. Even if Makhloufi were competing in Moscow, you'd still say he is cheating, so why would this alter the equation one iota? No matter what he does, you'd still say he was using PEDs, so don't act like this news changes anything for you.

Based on his amazing run last year vs. his crappy running this year, I'd say that no he is not cheating **this year**.

SPMBLNPF wrote:

Many of you have convicted Makhloufi because you just KNOW that he is cheating. You just KNOW it. Of course it is largely due to the fact that you dislike him at some visceral level. Even if Makhloufi were competing in Moscow, you'd still say he is cheating, so why would this alter the equation one iota? No matter what he does, you'd still say he was using PEDs, so don't act like this news changes anything for you.

I completely agree he is getting judged unfairly.

I mean christ, he is the best 1500m runner I've seen since Ramzi!

someone had to do it wrote:

SPMBLNPF wrote:

Many of you have convicted Makhloufi because you just KNOW that he is cheating. You just KNOW it. Of course it is largely due to the fact that you dislike him at some visceral level. Even if Makhloufi were competing in Moscow, you'd still say he is cheating, so why would this alter the equation one iota? No matter what he does, you'd still say he was using PEDs, so don't act like this news changes anything for you.

I completely agree he is getting judged unfairly.

I mean christ, he is the best 1500m runner I've seen since Ramzi!

I NEVER stated that he is being judged unfairly. That is a matter of opinion. I am simply observing that his absence from Moscow is being utilized as "proof" of his doping by those who have already convicted him.

SPMBLNPF wrote:Many of you have convicted Makhloufi because you just KNOW that he is cheating. You just KNOW it. Of course it is largely due to the fact that you dislike him at some visceral level. Even if Makhloufi were competing in Moscow, you'd still say he is cheating, so why would this alter the equation one iota? No matter what he does, you'd still say he was using PEDs, so don't act like this news changes anything for you.

We know that doping is widespread, and that there's a decent chance that anyone at the top is a cheater. We can look at a number of red flags with regard to an individual, and say that the odds are even better that this particular person is a cheater. Do our emotions play into who we suspect and who we give the benefit of the doubt? Absolutely. For example, Tyson Gay didn't arouse nearly enough suspicion this year. But the fact remains that even if Makhloufi were as charismatic as Geb, he'd still be super freaking suspicious.

Innocent until proven guilty is great for the criminal justice system, but this isn't criminal justice, and the penalty that we are collectively meting out isn't nearly as serious as loss of life or liberty; the penalty is loss of respect. In the dirty world of professional sports, I have no qualms about looking at a few red flags and concluding that someone is dirty as sin. I think Makhloufi can live without my respect.

Is it unfortunate that clean athletes have to deal with the cloud of suspicion created by the actions of the cheaters? Yes, it is a shame. But competing in elite athletics is a privilege, not an inalienable right. These athletes can decide for themselves whether trying to be a clean athlete in a world of drugs is worth it.

Turkey has a very good male 1500-meter runner this year. Watch out.

I've never been especially suspicious of Makloufi (any more than any other runner I don't know much about) and I don't really know why people are.

He was the only healthy 3:30 guy in the final at London so one would expect him to win the race convincingly. Iguider was 3:31-mid, Leo was 3:32, Centro was 3:31-high, Silas and Asbel were hurt.

Someone pointed out that they basically ran the same first 700 as El Guerrouj did, but close it 5 seconds slower. The 2012 final was just that much weaker (and hopefully cleaner).

I'm not saying he's clean, he just isn't any more suspicious than anybody else.

wut? wrote:

Based on his amazing run last year vs. his crappy running this year, I'd say that no he is not cheating **this year**.

You could easily be describing Nick Willis (3:30 last year), and nothing very impressive this year.