With the recent drug charges against a number of the Russian women, I started to wonder about Russia's male middle distance star. Seems like everyone's always going on about the Russian women being dirty (with good reason, we now know), but you don't hear a lot of people questioning Borzakovskiy. Is there any reason not to suspect him of being tied to what appears to be a fairly large-scale doping conspiracy?
I think the first time I saw him on TV was in '99 when he was 18 in Paris and his kick from the back of the pack was pretty amazing back then even though he didn't win. You could tell he was going to be good. He seems to do more meets in Europe and even the US lately than the other Russians. Maybe this means he gets tested more. I don't know.
1. runs a lot of meets even indoor so he's tested a lot.
2. is skinny (doesnt rule out EPO but for an 800 guy he's small.
Nicely done, My Friend!
It is a fair question!
Yes - He has been amazing since age 17, in fact, over the years he gotten slower, except for this year.
Relative consistency is usually a good indicator of non-doping prowess. Borza has been good for a few years, been mediocre for a few years....but never anything sudden. his recent 1:42.79 was not out of a sudden because:
1. He is not a stranger to 1:42s
2. He had recently run 2:15, which is not too shabby.
3. He has been good, at the elite level, since 1999...so no big surprise here.
4. Borza used to be a decent 400m guy before he started running 800m, so the speed is legit and that explains his late-kick tactics.
adafagasdf wrote:
Relative consistency is usually a good indicator of non-doping prowess.
Or consistent doping.
like duh man wrote:
adafagasdf wrote:Relative consistency is usually a good indicator of non-doping prowess.
Or consistent doping.
I think he won world jrs at 18; do you think he was dopping as a teen?
Thanks for the responses! Obviously, we can never know for certain, but I'd say that my suspicions have been mostly placated. The question, then, is why the Russian women's widescale doping isn't replicated on the men's side?
Aren't most of those Russian women in the same camp? It's like saying why isn't Trevor Graham's group replicated in other US athletes.
like duh man should go back to the hills (cave) that he came from.
Reason for: Obviously something has been "broken"in the Russian system for nailing cheaters. They have been swapping out urine somehow, with someone looking the other way.
Against: There aren't five Russian guys running 1;43-45 right behind him.
I think he won world jrs at 18; do you think he was dopping as a teen?
I raced in Moscow when I was 17 and all the Russian kids had some nurse in the bullpen administering something weird right before the race. They were all pretty shady.
TrackCoach wrote:
I think he won world jrs at 18; do you think he was dopping as a teen?
It's extremely sad how naive people are thinking people don't cheat as kids. Steroids are huge in High schools, and this guy is from Russia. Russia and China are two countries known to drug their children from earlier ages to make them great. Not sure why that would be a shock.
I'm not saying he's on drugs...but don't be naive to think running fast at 18 is a reason to be clean.
People thought the same about Marion, when it was clear as day she just had been on drugs since she was like 16.
The women have a lot more to gain from doping in terms of the percentage improvement. Compare the success of the old East German women's team to that of the men. Systemised doping will always end up focusing more on the women IMHO.
"Russia and China are two countries known to drug their children from earlier ages"
Not the only two. Cough CoUSAgh Cough.
I don't doubt that Borzakovskiy is very talented. With or without drugs he is a very good athlete. But I know for a fact that he is dirty. I wish he were clean but he isn't
Dade County wrote:
I don't doubt that Borzakovskiy is very talented. With or without drugs he is a very good athlete. But I know for a fact that he is dirty. I wish he were clean but he isn't
Yeah, sure. Lagat IS dirty, has been caught, and politics, him being from a "poor, third world nation" got him off the hook. But you wouldn't remark on that, would you? Of course not. Komen was filthy as hell, but very few had the balls to call him on it. When he was caught, the silly "excess caffeine" story was used. Heh. What a pussy.
trollism wrote:
"Russia and China are two countries known to drug their children from earlier ages"
Not the only two. Cough CoUSAgh Cough.
Wrong, i didn't say the only countries who's youth's use drugs, i said countries who drug their youth. There is a difference.
I never said a word about Lagat, Komen, or the Kenyans. I was just commenting on Borzakovskiy. I happen to know some distance runners from Russia and the Ukraine. And its common knowledge in their circles the Borzakovskiy is dirty. I have my suspicions about others in the sport but I was responding with facts and not rumors.