Cathal Lombard, former EPO guy returns with good result

I thought Lombard deliberately used EPO as an experiment to see what it was worth as a performance enhancement. In other words, I didn't think he was caught so much as he confessed using it, not so much to cheat and win money and titles, but to see if it really was as good as advertised and just how good for an otherwise decent but not great runner?

He got caught (buying it over the internet) and THEN owned up. (and claimed that his improvements were mainly not due to the EPO)

ghost wrote: It is good to see him back, and Lombard promises to reach a high level without the use of EPO or other illicit products.

No, it most definitely is NOT good to see him back. And what's with the BS "former EPO guy" in your thread title? He's still that same EPO cheat. Personally, I respect that he came clean when he was caught. That shows some character, and because of that I wish him all the best in his other pursuits (whereas Ben Johnson can rot in hell, since to this day he still denies responsibility for his cheating). But as far as I'm concerned, he's not welcome back in competitive athletics. Not like I have any say, but if I did, that's what it would be.

Pete in Canada

....do tell how finishing nearly a minute behind the winner is considered a "good result"????

ghost, sometimes you can be a real troll, but i guess at least you get people talking.

yes, do tell.... wrote:

....do tell how finishing nearly a minute behind the winner is considered a "good result"????

I believe the idea was that the TIME he ran was pretty good. Not earth shattering but good and showing progress.

That is how it may be considered a good result

24 is EXACTLY what I would expect from a 14:30 guy.

He'll never run faster than 14:10

assuming he can stay off the "b-12" shots

Saying in the 24 range is a bit misleading. He ran 24.46. Not a good result at all in my book. It was very windy but regardless of that he looks heavy, far too muscled for my liking.

His EPO exploits were in no way a "self study" he was a cheater fair and square. He was on his way to the bloody Olympics when he got caught!

Im a forgiving guy and would actually like to see him make a comeback and would even shake his hand at the end of the race. However I dont see any reason to shout about a 24.46 5 miles time. He has a long way to go.

Cragg wrote:

Im a forgiving guy and would actually like to see him make a comeback and would even shake his hand at the end of the race. However I dont see any reason to shout about a 24.46 5 miles time. He has a long way to go.

Nor do I. That is why it is merely a good result, not a great one.

ghost wrote:

Lombard promises to reach a high level without the use of EPO or other illicit products.

Ok, well then as long as he PROMISES not to use EPO it's all good ...

Sounds like you've been using some cheap drugs yourself, Ghost.

Proven drug cheats have no place in this sport.

Lombard's Irish coach in Ireland never suspected anything, and with or without EPO, Lombard would have improved a lot, because he had radically changed his training system.

Cathal used to train like a lot of the Irish boys - just run hard every day.....with little emphasis on rest, variety and core work. His coach changed all that and had Cathal doing bounding work, quick steps work on the track and all those other things world class runners do.

So Cathal would have improved a lot. He might not have reached 27:30 and 13:18, but he would have certainly run under '14' and '29' for 5000 and 10,000.

Only the future will tell how far the man can go now. It will be an interesting study and somewhat unique. He is a modern day lab rat, because we will now be able to assess his true potential post EPO.

Cathal has done his time, and has been ostracised in some circles. That is sad. It is time to turn the page.

Ghost in Korea

c.moulton (www.gifle.go.kr)

Cragg wrote:

His EPO exploits were in no way a "self study" he was a cheater fair and square. He was on his way to the bloody Olympics when he got caught!

I have set 25 world records. And you all love me.

I have set 25 world records. And you all love me.[/quote]

Geb, my man! You, sir, are the greatest fraud in the history of sports!

Don't test him, just keep throwing money and accolades at him!

Ghost:

were you stalking cathal around town on on your bike? how much does a serving of spuds cost over there? you heard it here first folks, start quick stepping your way to world class- is that what they call taking epo in ireland these days ghost?

the guy went from what 13:58 to 13:19 in a year. yeah, epo had little to do with his improvement

ghost, i think you did way too many mind altering drugs as a young lad...

Lombard is a dirty cheat. If you don't believe any of us then go ask Dr. Phil: once a cheater, always a cheater.

Would EPo bring a runner running just below 14mins to rnning below 13:20 in a year without any other atributes??? no way. The kid cheated but to say his achievements where purely from EPO is uneducated. Doping will give you your best day 3 times a week instead of once with luck of being well to unwell or fit to injuried, so it fast tracks a talent but bottom line is you have to have the talent first and foremost or else drugs would be a avenue to the top for anyone who every took them. Its an advantage don't get me wrong, but at the top its just a buffer, thats why lance Armstrong won the Tour a few times by 7-9 mins instead of 1 to 3 mins.

ghost wrote:

Only the future will tell how far the man can go now. It will be an interesting study and somewhat unique. He is a modern day lab rat, because we will now be able to assess his true potential post EPO.

Yes but we don't know his true potential WITH epo. He was caught....who knows what he would have run with it if he wasn't busted. So the study is rather irrelevant eh?

Ghost, thank you for posting about the return of Cathal Lombard to racing.

I'd like to see him get back with his training and do well.

There certainly are many who believe in the benefits of drugs for running, such as those who spout their acceptance of such on this thread. Personally I am quite sure they don't any use or benefit whatsoever.

The only benefits of any so called performance enhancing drugs are for the companies and corporations who produce them, and the agencies who benefit by more research and means to "stop" the use of the very things they produce - typical in today's society. There is no benefit to the athletes.

Whether you have used drugs or not - I never have and don't believe them, don't care for them - all athletes are being victimized by the corporations who produce them, advertise them, research and "test" them, and who in the process continue to run down our sport with their various nefarious evil schemes.

gld mdl wrote:

I have set 25 world records. And you all love me.

Geb, my man! You, sir, are the greatest fraud in the history of sports!

Don't test him, just keep throwing money and accolades at him![/quote]

DO test him, so he can correctly claim he passed the tests, just like Flo-Jo, Marion Jones, Koch, Armstrong, etc.

J. R. wrote:

The only benefits of any so called performance enhancing drugs are for the companies and corporations who produce them, and the agencies who benefit by more research and means to "stop" the use of the very things they produce - typical in today's society. There is no benefit to the athletes.

Whether you have used drugs or not - I never have and don't believe them, don't care for them - all athletes are being victimized by the corporations who produce them, advertise them, research and "test" them, and who in the process continue to run down our sport with their various nefarious evil schemes.

Right, and body builders get that big by eating protein....whether steroids, or endurance drugs..they have proven effects that enhance the athlete. There's no debating whether they help. How much do they help? Sure you can debate that...but don't be a moron.