Suspect signs of doping

markeroon wrote:

I didn't realize this. Do you have a picture of him with a gap in his teeth in later years?

38) Athlete fails drug test

39) Athlete passes drug test

Wow. Thank you.

Ever thought that they get braces because they can now afford to do so?

A pro athlete that's better looking is more marketable than an ugly one with jacked up teef.

from a logical point of view, if ur competing in a sport where ur livelihood (and the livelihood of ur family) depends on ur performances u r going to do anything to gain an advantage. Thus if doping will help u, then u will dope.

36. Athlete leads a private life. They are obviously attempting to cover up their guilt.

37. Athlete looks tense/nervous before a race- clearly they are afraid they will be found out to be doping.

38. Athlete looks relaxed before a race- they are unashamedly waving their guilt in the face of others.

39. Athlete is staunchly against doping within the sport. They are covering up their guilt and detract attention from themselves.

40. Athlete doesn't openly condone doping within the sport- clearly want to avoid any attention which might uncover their doping.

Augustinius wrote:

Can be said more simply:

(Almost?) every top competitor in a physical demanding sport where winners receive big money and fame are using performance enhancing drugs

"See God gave us talent, but the Devil made us famous"-Barry Sanders

umm wrote:

36) Athlete is consistent

37) Athlete is inconsistent

I am as skeptical as anyone here but this is funny. I have seen it argued both ways many times.

My serious opinion of two of the biggest tells are.

#1. Poor form while running world-class time: It's possible that someone may be doing something that is simply not understood, but it's very uncommon. Take P. Jeptoo for instance. Her right leg return is very awkward, but she is EXTREMELY lean compared to most of her competitors, which gives her a big advantage over an hour plus of running. Also, sprinters often move their legs in this identical way their first step out of the blocks so there may be something quite natural to this movement. Mary Cain ran a bit like this when she laid down a 2:03 800 relay leg as a freshman too.

#2. The look immediately after winning the race: Many cheaters have horrible poker faces. They win and the look in their eye says "Uh oh. Sh.t's about to get real." Watch Alptekin in the seconds after she wins, it's like she instantly regrets having done it. The link below cuts towards the end where she is running like a donkey, arms flailing all over the place, you know, like one of these girls in the fitness adds where you can tell she is not actually a runner?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWzqfiWRE9Q#t=413

#3. Having a BMI that is much higher than the other athletes in the race. Again, witness Alptekin, it just doesn't look right.

None of these 3 things are proof of doping, but they raise red flags in my eye. If someone is guilty of all 3 that makes the performance very difficult to believe.

I think OP's list and TrackFan2014's addendum are the posts of the year on LRC. They sum up thousands of threads on LRC in a single neat list.

I have no doubt that there's undetected doping going on but the discussions about who is doping are like watching people bang their heads against a wall over and over again.

The teeth gap thing is often from a tooth pulled during various Kenyan tribal initiation rights upon reaching the manhood threshold.

I agree, though, that Zatopek's post is quite comprehensive and helpful.

How do you know what is physically possible for someone else?

Try these:

Decent through college - all conference; maybe eke out an NCAA qualifier

Gradual progression for five or six years, make a couple OTs

Huge drop in times at 30

Develop acne, wear braces, circle the wagons (dump friends & such)

Continue dropping times, running significantly faster for distances 3X longer than college post races...

Win championships, go to international championships, cash in

Retire

Athlete suddenly needs braces at the age of 30, ie Carl Lewis, El G, Leroy Burrell, Dennis Mitchell, Flo Jo, Bernard Lagat (yes he is a doper). Need I go on? I bet all the NOP athletes wear night braces.

Really, the only ones I call out as being juiced are all of the NOPers. Everyone else, I would need to see proof.

I have NOP is dirty. One other athlete who had a "calf injury" and didn't compete for almost 18 months prior to the 2011 WC men's 10,000 was told that unless he laid low for 18 months his positive test would be made public. Yes I'm referring to KB.

Steelman4ever

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How long did this take you OP?

Coupla minutes, why? You think my "time to write a post PR" is too good to be true? Should we add this to the list?

Maybe someone mentioned this very important fallacy, you can't run fast without drugs.

Extensions of this are, you can't be healthy without drugs, you can't take a crap without drugs, you can't pass a test without drugs, you can't get a girl without drugs etc etc.