Why would Bekele fly to Ethiopia for 4 days?

Maybe he wanted to sleep in his own bed and relax for a few days.

It could be nefarious and it could be innocent. I, for one, am tired of the endless doping speculation, it takes all the fun out of the damn sport. Sometimes you fly back home so you can dope to the gills, sometimes you fly back home because you want a break from the rat race. Who the f*** knows why Bekele did it and what is the point in speculating?

He gets laid more there. That'll put the zing back in yer trousers!

Your reasoning is ridiculous. Bekele has been gone from his home and family for at least the entire length of the WC and then Zurich (did he get home at all in July?) and he wants to get home for a few days and you say "BLOOD DOPING!!!" Is it okay if he goes to the bathroom by himself or do you want a WADA agent with him at all times?

You've obviously done little or no business travel or you would know how important it is to get home occasionally, staying in hotel rooms away from your family gets old in a hurry.

I have no idea what elite runners cheat and what elite runners don't cheat, but your post is nonsense.

I said I want to believe he is clean, however waiting one more week before flying home makes more sense when you are trying to win your share of 1 Million dollars.

It is not restful to fly for 14+ hours round trip in the foul air of an airplane to train for 4 days.

He would have been better off staying in Europe and going to the Alps to train.

broken arrow wrote:

I said I want to believe he is clean, however waiting one more week before flying home makes more sense when you are trying to win your share of 1 Million dollars.

It is not restful to fly for 14+ hours round trip in the foul air of an airplane to train for 4 days.

He would have been better off staying in Europe and going to the Alps to train.

I think Bekele is at a point where he can make his own decisions about his training. He's balancing life and running to the best of his judgment. If he loses this next race, then maybe you have something to criticize him about.

He's done this (going home for short periods between races) for a long time. Get back to altitude. If he's used to the schedule, what's the problem with it?

POOOOOOOOOOOOONN TAAAAAANG

no kidding

Wouldn't you agree that there's easier access to doping technology in Europe than in Addis Ababa?

Ethiopians like to be home as much as possible when they're training or competing. They believe the thin air and to some extent their diet, rich in minerals from teff, for example, are key factors in their strength as a people and as athletes. Gebrselassie did the same thing when he was competing, and so do virtually all the top Ethiopians competing today. Bekele will feel better having four days of training in Ethiopia and four nights in his own bed than he would have if he'd stayed in a hotel in Europe during that time. It would be a little different if he were competing in America or Asia, losing an entire day to travel, but there are enough direct flights to Ethiopia from Europe that it makes it doable.

I agree that it is very strange to go up to altitude to aid recovery. The mountaineering adage isn't to climb low and sleep high. Hmmmm.

dyestatloser#44 wrote:

I agree that it is very strange to go up to altitude to aid recovery. The mountaineering adage isn't to climb low and sleep high. Hmmmm.

Of course it is strange. If a European or American - or Arab - did this, the clowns engaging in their spine-cracking reasoning to make sense of KB's move would be screaming about doping or things looking "suspicious" or what have you. The long flights involved in a short period don't make sense for recovery. Simply look at Jos Hermens and the controversy surrounding him when he was a competitor, never mind the "rumours" about Kostre and his alleged approval of "win at all costs" methods etc. Who knows? All anyone can be sure of is the fact that anyone who thinks all of the East Africans are clean is an idiot.

First class on Ethiopia Air is niiiiiice. flight is 11hrs from Frankfurt but you can sleep, and the service is amazing.

In his mind, the trip is worth it. The press is all over St. Moritz. In Addis, he is like royalty, and can live a cloistered life.

Oy speaks the truth - face it guys.

To the OP. Do you think Ritz is legit?

Agreed...everyone wants to make excuses for KB. C'mon guys, the trip makes no sense unless he has access to something in Ethiopia that he doesn't have in Europe. And don't say it's his family. If that is what he is trying to provide for, then it makes a helluva lot more sense for him not to violently disrupt his training and wait until AFTER he's won his share of the jackpot to return.

10 hour flights and only 4 days at altitude...like that's really all about recovery. Please.

spot on.

Exactomundo. You've nailed the proverbial bullseye.

It's clear that the people who think this is suspicious have a) not travelled much on business if at all and b) never flown first class.

Viren was the greatest runner of his time, Bekele is the greatest runner of his time

They have the right to fly back to their homes whenever they feel like it, is it a crime to go home?

Stop being so suspicious, why would he go to the alps instead of Ethiopia, he isn't so retarded tourist, how many African's do you see run by you in the Rockies in America?

God forbid someone runs on their favorite trail for a bit before going back to beating the shit out of everyone else in their disciplines.