Why Marijuana is on the WADA Prohibited List

SayWhat29 wrote:

Greg get real! How often do you EVER hear and or read about someone smoking weed getting behind a wheel killing someone??? I guarantee ALCOHOL is the number reason why vehicles getting into other lanes and killing people. I guess the many hurdlers who are falling into other lanes are on that weed. It's a ridiculous rule.

Get real? ok, easy

sorry wrote:

Greg wrote:

People get behind the wheel and kill others while high. If you get behind the starting blocks and are high and end up veering into a competitors lane, that could seriously injure them.

So USATF does have a point, as unlikely as it is for an athlete to show up to competition high, it is still possible.

Lots of defence for someone who tested for a banned substance.

Not a lot of discussion about abstaining from drugs.

Estrogen is a helluva drug.

You sound like a pothead.

Uncle Rico wrote:

My cousin Shane died from a marijuana overdose last year.

That's why I support it being on banned list. We must do something to fight this epidemic before it gets worse.

There are zero documented cases of death from Marijuana overdose. I'm sorry but this is bs. Even you're making this up or she had product laced with something else that caused her death

Greg wrote:

SayWhat29 wrote:

Greg get real! How often do you EVER hear and or read about someone smoking weed getting behind a wheel killing someone??? I guarantee ALCOHOL is the number reason why vehicles getting into other lanes and killing people. I guess the many hurdlers who are falling into other lanes are on that weed. It's a ridiculous rule.

Get real? ok, easy

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fatal-crash-cannabis-impairment-charges-1.5048639

Driving while impaired by any substance is a despicable action. Alcohol happens to be the biggest culprit, but the risk is just as great being high on THC or any other substance that affects concentration and reaction times.

We aren't discussing driving though. Competing under the influence of THC (has this ever happened ever? Just a dumb hypothetical scenario to be used to justify this stupid rule on so many levels) wouldn't pose the same risk as operating a multi ton killing machine...

ummmmmm wrote:

Greg wrote:

People get behind the wheel and kill others while high. If you get behind the starting blocks and are high and end up veering into a competitors lane, that could seriously injure them.

So USATF does have a point, as unlikely as it is for an athlete to show up to competition high, it is still possible.

Lots of defence for someone who tested for a banned substance.

Not a lot of discussion about abstaining from drugs.

Is this a real take or are you trolling? You really think the effects of cannabis would cause an athlete to veer into a competitors lane? I'd like to see an old "reefer madness" style film simulating this... could be hilarious! Maybe Paul Chelimo was smoking the reefer?

Is your post serious or are you trolling?

If you read my post you'd see that I presented an example that was in line with rule 1.

1. "Athletes who smoke cannabis or Spice in-competition potentially endanger themselves and others because of increased risk taking, slower reaction times and poor executive function or decision making

Does it make sense now?

The rule says what it says. At least I provided a hypothetical example. I even admitted it would be unusual for this to happen. I thought outside of the box. I never said I agreed with the rule. I'm just logically considering why it might exist.

All these threads criticizing the rule are just from a bunch of whiners who don't like the rule. Well, the rule exists so until it is gone (if ever), what are you guys gonna do besides whine?

I think there are two different conversations to be had here:

1. Particular drugs being used recreationally (including training).

2. Particular drugs being used actively during competition.

Once you are able to separate the two it is easier to talk specifics and come to terms.

I am as pro-cannabis as one can be.

I don't have the peer reviewed evidence to back up my following statements but here is what I have to add:

1) Cannabis can help with recovery and appetite stimulant. The appetite stimulant would be beneficial for a thrower trying to bulk up or a distance runner trying to keep caloric intake high. I can see why this is potentially performance enhancing.

2) Cannabis use is not ideal if you are trying to train anything involving the CNS. Success in sprinting comes down to fractions or a fraction of a second...even light use of weed is going to hinder this. I also believe it can lower testosterone levels...again, a poor choice for sprinters.

3) Can it be used as a masking agent? Unclear on that one.

4) I have to believe she lost AT LEAST $250,000 if not more in lost contract bonuses, prize money and endorsements. That is the saddest part I think.

The governing bodies are to blame for being caught in the 1950s...but Richardson 100% knew this was a reality she was facing when she decide to use cannabis. Such a quick fall from grace. Luckily she is young and has plenty of time left to salvage her career.

Greg wrote:

Does it make sense now?

It did the first time for me :-)

Bodybuilders sometimes use marijuana as a masking agent for steroid / testosterone use. Better to get 1 month for weed than 4 years for something else. Take a look at pictures of Richardson from her LSU days and from the trials. Look at the facial musculature, the triceps, etc. It looks like she is getting a little help from something other than protein powder in her smoothies.

LSU days:

http://thesportdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/richardson-05-19.jpg

Trials:

https://s31242.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GettyImages-1324597957-1024x683.jpg

Greg wrote:

1. "Athletes who smoke cannabis or Spice in-competition potentially endanger themselves and others because of increased risk taking, slower reaction times and poor executive function or decision making

Does it make sense now?

Athletes who drink alcohol and smoke in-competition potentially endanger themselves and others because of increased risk taking, slower reaction times and poor executive function or decision making!!!

Alcohol: much worse the marijuana ... running in a straight line is impaired.

Smoking: poor executive function or decision making ... hacking before and while racing.

When can we have ban on athletes who do drink and smoke while not competing!!! THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW!!!

Greg wrote:

420 Dogecoin wrote:

usada.org/athletes/substances/marijuana-faq/

According to USATF, this is why Marijuana meets the criteria

People get behind the wheel and kill others while high. If you get behind the starting blocks and are high and end up veering into a competitors lane, that could seriously injure them.

So USATF does have a point, as unlikely as it is for an athlete to show up to competition high, it is still possible.

Lots of defence for someone who tested for a banned substance.

Not a lot of discussion about abstaining from drugs.

You just as easily show up to a race drunk, end up veering into competitors lane and injuring them as well. Yet not only is alcohol not banned, it is often handed out or sold ON SITE.

khcglhc wrote:

Banned list is not sport specific

Canabis is clearly a performance enhancer in shooting

https://pa.mcrlabs.com/resources-post/why-is-cannabis-banned-in-sports/

The athlete pictured in your article appears natural to me.

Wasn't it THC she tested positive for?

First, I am pro-legalization, but I don't think we can just say that cannabis is as harmless as a drug can be. I think the potential for slowing reaction time is there---not sure I wanted pole vaulters stoned. Likely effects on some things have a bell curve, a little does nothing, a little more allows for focus, then a little more and you are staring at your speakers seeing the music come out (okay an exaggeration and more likely with LSD). There are negative impacts that occur without death needing to be the decision making aspect.

The role model aspect might be out dated here in the US and other western countries, but is it world-wide?

rt6 wrote:

Why isn't alcohol on the list? Heck let's just ban everything. The purpose of drug testing should be to discourage and punish athletes that take substances which give them an unfair advantage over competitors. Period. It should not be used as some sort of subjective moral standard.

The WADA code had a "spirit of sport" element to it that is one reason. Many moral standards are subjective.

Runner10287 wrote:

Hailewya wrote:

What an unbelievably stupid rule. As if weed is on the same tier as literal EPO. And they wonder why track's viewership continues to decrease, keeping living in the stone age and it surely will.

Before you go that route. NFL is always suspending guys for weed. Both are dumb rules:

NFL stopped testing for it.

portsea57 wrote:

AGAIN. Track and field should be about getting young people fit and HEALTHY, and medical opinion is unaminous that dope is not HEALTHY.

Unaminous? really? every single doctor and nurse don't see any benefit to cannabis? (Smoking it is bad but not for the THC but for the smoke).

I think the compromise here is that it not prohibited out of competition so its benefits can be gained, but like other substances is banned in competition. Maybe the worry about an athlete hurting him/herself or others is overblown at least in track and field.

It is interesting that she is accepting this and not coming up with some BS excuse (second hand smoke---which the paper you shared seems to mock). Good for her in accepting responsibility unlike so many others.

The Angel of Death wrote:

Greg wrote:

People get behind the wheel and kill others while high. If you get behind the starting blocks and are high and end up veering into a competitors lane, that could seriously injure them.

So USATF does have a point, as unlikely as it is for an athlete to show up to competition high, it is still possible.

You just as easily show up to a race drunk, end up veering into competitors lane and injuring them as well. Yet not only is alcohol not banned, it is often handed out or sold ON SITE.

THANK YOU.

If one more poster says, “well, they could show up high and get someone hurt” but doesn’t address the same concerns with alcohol, then you’re intentionally being obtuse.

Is Nicotine banned?

“Nicotine acts as both a stimulant and a depressant to the central nervous system. Nicotine first causes a release of the hormone epinephrine, which further stimulates the nervous system and is responsible for part of the "kick" from nicotine-the drug-induced feelings of pleasure.