Should we just give up and find a new sport? Gabby Thomas - formerly of Harvard - receives doping ban for missing 3 tests

reel tok wrote:

American Fake Tan wrote:

I told y'all the Brits were dirty! When is snooty Lord Coe going to come clean about the Bradley Wiggins package? Kick them out of the sport and stop robbing Galen of gold medals!!

Coevett, the three best endurance athletes ever from GB are/were dirty. You are not above reproach.

Wait, are you saying that Walter George was on EPO?

This is all really sad. Did not see this one coming. Her statement also looks not great. She's disputing one of the whereabout failures. I start getting skeptical when an athlete misses one test. Throw in the stay at home order & there really isn't a convincing reason out there to be missing tests rn.

Several people arguing that Harvard students cannot be expected to understand whereabouts rules.

No such understanding for the Kenyan Alex Korio Oloitiptip, of course. Just a note from Don Rosa basically throwing him under the bus ("he stopped representing Oloitiptip in November 2019").

NERunner053 wrote:

This is all really sad. Did not see this one coming.

No? One (or rather, two) of our top sprinters? Again?

Literally everyone saw that coming, it was only a question of time.

What's currently missing is one of our top distance runners getting caught with blood doping.

Kick her out. I don't have time to read this stuff.

Yes, moran, just give up and find a new sport.

I guess rojo is making an excuse for a professional athlete who seems really stupid because they don’t understand what being a professional entails? If so, there are consequences. Or maybe she is a cheater?

Kenyans have destroyed distance running as a sport. They have driven other athletes out of the sport because their performance levels seem unattainable. They have caused the media to cover less events because 10 Kenyans took the first 10 places at the local 10k. Stop inviting them to races and see the sport bloom again.

I have pretty much given up on running and mostly follow soccer/football now. They do a much better job of keeping their drug problem under wraps. I like that better.

Jamped!!! wrote:

Haz Hah-vaad JAMPED Da SHARKZ?!?!?!?

0/10 Shahk not Shark

sub sub elite local hobby jogger wrote:

I have pretty much given up on running and mostly follow soccer/football now. They do a much better job of keeping their drug problem under wraps. I like that better.

Hate to break it to you kid, but they dope just as much. Maybe more because they test less.

tin can man wrote:

sub sub elite local hobby jogger wrote:

I have pretty much given up on running and mostly follow soccer/football now. They do a much better job of keeping their drug problem under wraps. I like that better.

Hate to break it to you kid, but they dope just as much. Maybe more because they test less.

Hate to break it to you, Boomer, but you don't read so we'll.

Well not we'll.

No need to find a new sport. Just let them use whatever they want. Put a level on how far they can go and let them use whatever. The stuff is good for you. You can live much more productive lives way older than you used to be able to. Why should we keep this from them? Plus it helps them repair and get back from injury. Also why wouldn't we allow this.

The NFL has zero problem allowing it. The track and field world needs to desensitize themselves and move on.

Because a Harvard grad cheated that's the end all be all? Wth made you think Harvard equals honesty?! Haha. You do know the two businesses most Harvard graduates go into? Neither are known for their ethics. Both of these women are B level sprinters. Neither would mostly not represent the USA other than a relay. Definitely have zero chance at an individual medal.

Plus just because they missed there three dates in a year that they can fail to tell where they are doesn't mean they cheated.

I couldn't careless. Casual fans couldn't careless. People want to see records. Bolt was the best thing for t&f in a long time. Just because he's most likely dirty we should ruin all the good he's done? No t&f knew they had a star and let him get by. T&f actually needs this. Get over it and yes find a knew sport if you need to.

I have followed Thomas since her freshman year at Harvard. I have watched and read just about everything that's online about her. I followed Thomas with interest because she remined me of someone I knew, Meredith Rainey, who was also a professional Black female athlete from Harvard. The process and mindset required to dope so early in a career is almost unfathomable for this type of athlete. Some of the greatest enticements to doping is an immense need for success for self-worth and/or financial reasons; thinking you need to do it; believing you can get away with it and not understanding the risks; succumbing to a heard mentality and being easily influenced. And then there are also people who lying, stealing and cheating is just part of their nature, they cheat at everything because it's just how they operate. Based on everything I know, I find it difficult to believe Thomas fit the above profile.

With all of that said, athletes are not perfect, that why USADA/WADA has inadvertent use and 3 whereabouts instead of one. Missing one whereabout is easy, some of the most trusted and respected athletes have missed one. Missing 2 happens much less and my understanding is that when an athlete has missed 2, its basically all hands on deck to insure the athlete does not miss the third one. I want to believe Thomas is clean and perhaps she is, but when you miss 3 whereabouts in a 12-month period, you lose the presumption of innocence and should suffer consequences.

The threshold for a suspension is 3 in a 12 month span but Thomas missed 3 in 5 months. April, August, and September.

I don't care if her degree is from Harvard or Roxbury Community College, she deserves a suspension. Did they announce the length of the suspension yet?

This is such a bummer to read about. When will her appeal be heard?