Check this article out.
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/02/espn-embarrasses-refuses-drug-testing-x-games-oslo/
ESPN, which each year takes in more than $10 billion in revenue, is refusing to pay for drug testing at the X Games Oslo. Norwegian, IOC and WADA officials aren't happy about it - particularly given the fact the event receives $5 million in public subsidies.
And here's the kicker, ESPN has apparently never ever paid for drug testing at the X Games.
Do any networks pay for drug testing? What drugs are you taking that would lead you to believe the network should pay?
Party at Rojo's wrote:
Do any networks pay for drug testing? What drugs are you taking that would lead you to believe the network should pay?
ESPN is the owner of the X games.
Rats. "The Flying Genetically Modified Tomato" doesn't fit as a poster name.
Think before you post Rojo.
Someone at Disney/ESPN figured out the IOC's scam and did it for themselves at 0.01% of the cost. The kicker is they get a free ride off the IOC.
Why in the world would they test? It costs money and they have no intention of ever testing anyone positive as it only damages the brand.
What kind of bubble do you live in where you can't see this?
They are not worried about real PEDs. They are worried about weed, cocaine, and other recreational drugs that are rampant at those games.
There would be no X Games if they drug tested. They'd all fail the pot test.
yeah, exactly, the last two posts are right on, i'm good friends with a number of pro freeskiers and athletes from some other sports and there's definitely a significant proportion of those athletes who would fail if tested for pot 100% of the time.
ESPN is a joke now. They have pro wrestling shows as well as "e-sports." Shell of what it used to be. John Skipper has run it into the ground.
Who is responsible for drug testing at the super-serious Crossfit Games?
Can't disagree more.
The IOC, USATF, WADA, USADA are doing such a terrible job of it, why would ESPN throw in with them? Makes zero sense.
And, this is the X Games, not the Olympics or World Champs. No one cares if some snowboarder is smoking weed (or taking PEDs, for that matter).
Is it the network's job?
Who cares if an X Games athlete is taking PEDs? Not sure how it would be an real benefit. I don't think they need to test. I don't see where you think they should. Should they start testing at other made-for-tv competitions like the Amazing Race? You're wasting time.
XFActord wrote:
Who cares if an X Games athlete is taking PEDs? Not sure how it would be an real benefit. I don't think they need to test. I don't see where you think they should. Should they start testing at other made-for-tv competitions like the Amazing Race? You're wasting time.
I care because some of the athletes are competing at Olympic sports. They should be subject to year round WADA testing. I don't care if they are smoking pot but if someone is taking steroids (or stimulants during competition) they should get caught.
Geez Robert...posts # 5, 6, 7, and 8 are all spot on bro. The comment (front page) about "bean counters" has perhaps 2% of truth to it...but the reality is that there is no way they want to bring in a mechanism that can ONLY bring negative headlines to their event. none of the public will really care (ok, perhaps 1.5% of the viewing audience), advertisers will still line up, and they skip both the hassle of coordinating testing, paying for it, negative headlines, and have smoother access to the athletes (imagine if they wanted to get an interview w/ the star athlete, yet he/she was in doping controls. ha, a network exec would immediately say "screw that").
no brainer for espn, especially by doing it outside the auspices of the ioc (I assume the x games are not sanctioned by any particular national federation, which allows them to circumvent the requirement to abide by ioc/wada code(s)??)
BFD.... IOC, MLB, NBA, IAAF, NHL, NCAA, etc. have alwaays refuseed to allow independent drug and pain killer testing
XFActord wrote:
Who cares if an X Games athlete is taking PEDs? Not sure how it would be an real benefit. I don't think they need to test. I don't see where you think they should. Should they start testing at other made-for-tv competitions like the Amazing Race? You're wasting time.
I care because some of the athletes are competing at Olympic sports. They should be subject to year round WADA testing. I don't care if they are smoking pot but if someone is taking steroids (or stimulants during competition) they should get caught.
What do you expect from a company that thinks poker is a sport?
This just shows that the X Games are a joke, like American Gladiator or any other exhibition that doesn't require clean, legitimate competition.
ESPN is part of Disney. Says it all.
Here comes the Ocho wrote:
What do you expect from a company that thinks poker is a sport?
This just shows that the X Games are a joke, like American Gladiator or any other exhibition that doesn't require clean, legitimate competition.
You do know the E stands for entertainment, right? Come on bro.
Is there a rule against attaching a helium balloon to yourself while running a road race?
Am I living in the twilight zone? The Boston Marathon weather was terrible!
How rare is it to run a sub 5 minute mile AND bench press 225?
Move over Mark Coogan, Rojo and John Kellogg share their 3 favorite mile workouts
Mark Coogan says that if you could only do 3 workouts as a 1500m runner you should do these
Red Bull (who sponsors Mondo) calls Mondo the pole vaulting Usain Bolt. Is that a fair comparison?