How did El Guerrouj Escape While Many of His Countrymen Got Caught?

Well there was no real chance of catching him until an EPO test came about at end of 2000. After that he was Morocco's great star, so they would have made sure that he was never over the limit before competitions.

Was he randomly tested in Morocco's mountains out of season? Or did he evade such testing like it appears the Kenyans did, according to recent revelations.

Almost all El G's fellow Moroccan competitors and rabbits were busted at some point, so it makes it very unlikely that El G was not doping as well. His consistent and prolific fast time trial like races for season after season is just beyond what mere mortals can do. Not to mention his rate of recovery and his fresh as a daisy appearance at the end of races. Too good to be true.

There is also the theory that some guys are to big to go down. It looks very bad for the sport when the faces of the sport get caught.

Come undone wrote:

Not to mention his rate of recovery and his fresh as a daisy appearance at the end of races. Too good to be true.

When were these supposed fresh as a daisy appearances?

1997 WC 1,500 final... Runs 3:27 in a championship race, letting up and waving to the crowd. Not even a sweat.

Canova>God wrote:

There is also the theory that some guys are to big to go down. It looks very bad for the sport when the faces of the sport get caught.

I actually thought of that one but I just don't think it's as much of a factor as what I wrote above since Marion Jones was outed and we know how big of a star she was internationally. That pretty smile and welcoming face and beautiful body, oh how perfect she was for promoting Track and Field. I guess your point stands that the 'big stars' can only be protected as long as possible before the 'organization' turns on them. Care to expand on your thought?

The same way Lance did, Geb did, Komen did, Bekele did, Michael Johnson did, Bolt does, etc. Planning and intelligence. Failing drug tests in his day = failing an IQ test.

1 doper takes over the King of the Doper reign from another.

Neither looked out of breath at all. I thought maybe El G was exhausted, but he was just kissing the track, 30 seconds later you can see him running around with his flag like he is an airplane, not breathing at all.

I saw ELG run 4.45 in Rome in 2001. He looked like he had just done a 100 m stride at the end of it.

I cant work that out.

I think there are a few "legends" in our sport who got away with it. Marion Jones would have if not for the trial. Lance would have in a sport like track and field where not so many needed to know about his drug taking.

It's quite sad.

Marion Jones got caught after her prime, she wasn't the money maker anymore. Athletes get caught when they refuse to disappear I guess it's hard to admit you're not relevant anymore. El G knew when to fold them and walk away.

I really think the idea that one can judge a runner's effort by how fatigued they look or how much they sweat is a weak reason to question whether someone is doping or not. I think factors such as how much faster than their PB, the weather and how the race unfolded effect how an athlete feels in the end. Don't forget that a victorious athlete is more likely to look fresh than the second placer just a second behind.

not a fanby wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRaq9bXG-Sc

1 doper takes over the King of the Doper reign from another.

Neither looked out of breath at all. I thought maybe El G was exhausted, but he was just kissing the track, 30 seconds later you can see him running around with his flag like he is an airplane, not breathing at all.

Seriously, you probably are right.

How about Morceli and Said? In hindsight, I think they were cheaters as well.

Marion didn't get busted by the IAAF, WADA or any federation level testing, it was from the Balco disclosures. She only did time because she was stupid enough to lie to a grand jury.

Guys like El G, Michael Johnson, etc. were "untouchables" as long as they kept their end of the "deal".

taco truck wrote:

How about Morceli and Said? In hindsight, I think they were cheaters as well.

I agree but then so did Coe.

High Wire wrote:

Marion didn't get busted by the IAAF, WADA or any federation level testing, it was from the Balco disclosures. She only did time because she was stupid enough to lie to a grand jury.

Guys like El G, Michael Johnson, etc. were "untouchables" as long as they kept their end of the "deal".

I thought she tested positive for EPO on the first sample but was negative on the second sample.

This man was a science project. Morocco took their most talented runner, pumped him full, put him through incredible training, and protected him at all costs.

It's disturbing really.

too good to be true wrote:

This man was a science project. Morocco took their most talented runner, pumped him full, put him through incredible training, and protected him at all costs.

It's disturbing really.

Would you say the same about bekele or geb or even rupp who fits along of what you describe?

Is it possible that El G was the Usain Bolt of the 1500/mile? Still as doped as everybody else, but undeniably more talented? Is that a fair assumption? How much faster were other 1500m times on average during the "EPO Era"? Obviously El G ran a ton of times sub 3:30, but how frequently were others cracking sub 3:30 as, say, compared to sub-3:30 times from 2005-present?

I'm of the belief that the guy is an amazing athlete who is the most genetically superior 1500m/miler ever. If we assume that Asbel Kiprop is 'clean,' I don't think doping him to El G proportions would produce the kind of performances El G had.

No, because I believe that any drug regimen Rupp or Bekele or Geb is/was on does not compare to the level of enhancement El G was receiving