I know from very close sources that Viren may not have been all he was cracked up to be. According to a couple of american distance athletes that competed at the same time, Viren timed his training perfectly to come down from altitude to run at the olympic games. There is a distinct possibility that during a certain window of time after coming down from altitude, he got away with blood doping. Didn't think most people were aware of that.
This is a rumour that's been doing the rounds for years. I have no idea if it's true or not, but I always assume 'clean' unless proven otherwise.
Obviously noone will ever know for sure, but I happened to run into a prominent American female distance runner from the same time period the other day and we had a conversation about it. I was never really aware that there was a possibility to begin with. I was a bit surprised which is why I posted.
the thing with this is, is that he was "clean" by the rules in place at the time because at the time, blood doping was not banned.
As far as I know, it wasn't illegal back then. Furthermore, if Lasse was doping (legally or illegally), I'm sure the American athletes who are so quick to point the finger were just as guilty.
I actually met Viren once. Interesting guy to talk to. Even sat in his Sauna with him. Who really knows if he blood doped or not. More of the impression I came away with from him was this: after the 1972 Olympics, he went back to his village in Finland (about 1000 residents at the most) and said he everything else didn't matter, he was just going to get ready for 1976. I kind of envied the guy for that. You certainly can't do that in the states.
Karlo Mainikka (sp?) medaled at Moscow, later admitted blood dopeing. Marti Vainio (sp?) busted after medaling in LA. Can't think of any prominent American distance runners who have been busted.
Vaino getting busted in L.A. was totally stupid. The guy took steroids, then had his blood taken out, went off the steroids, and then just before L.A. had the steroid tainted blood put back in. Busted!
I KNOW wrote:
I know from very close sources that Viren may not have been all he was cracked up to be. According to a couple of american distance athletes that competed at the same time, Viren timed his training perfectly to come down from altitude to run at the olympic games. There is a distinct possibility that during a certain window of time after coming down from altitude, he got away with blood doping. Didn't think most people were aware of that.
Thanks for the bulletin.
Think Nixon'll resign?
Using you logic...Ben Johnson was busted, so that means he was the only one in that race on something. Get real, prominent Americans never get busted. USATF throws a lamb to the wolves every so often to make it appear like they are trying to keep it clean. But I digress to my earlier comment...I don't think blood-doping was illegal in the early 70s (Someone correct if I'm wrong), so what's the big deal. The thought process was the same as it is now with athletes who use altitude houses or tents. Who's to say in 10 years, that the use of tents aren't made illegal.
I KNOW wrote:
I know from very close sources that Viren may not have been all he was cracked up to be.
Of course anyone who beat Frank Shorter or Paula Radcliffe had to be cheating.
Anyone knows you can't beat a whiner, unless you're hyped up on lots of cheese and crackers.
Who cares? You have nothing to lose in trying to win. I won 4 gold, what did you get? I also set WR on the biggest stage in the world after falling down with my little African buddy, what you get? Do you think I did this on drugs? I ran alot, alot. You talk to your JK about base, well I put in 3-1/2 years of base for each Olympics. Talk to me about drugs you people who want to look at sport through the eyes of the amateur. The best people are on the stuff, can't you see it? How fast can a man run 10K without drugs you tell me? Good-day to you.
I have beaten alot of Americans who lost alot. In 72 your Pre(RIP), was in a fairly clean race, he was beaten by better runners. By 1976 the sports world had evolved alot & some of the runners were pushing the envelope with drugs, but who cares? Drugs & the use of drugs are part of the evolution of the sports world, losers play by the rules. Look at NBA, do you think they play without traveling or carrying the ball at times? Oh ya how much shit are those guys on????????? Get back to me about NFL players, ha?????? Don't be a loser make a phone call & get on the best stuff you can afford & train alot.
I know a runner that finished top 10 in one of the Olympic distance races in 72 and he said : "It was as frustrating for us back then like it is for clean runners running against EPO dopers today. We knew about the blood doped Finns, talked about it and felt that we were badly cheated" During the big doping bust in Finnish cross country skiing in 2001, Viren pretty much admitted the blood doping through the Finnish press.
Yeah--we need IP registrations to get rid of so many anonymous dumbass posters.
guest wrote:
I know a runner that finished top 10 in one of the Olympic distance races in 72 and he said : "It was as frustrating for us back then like it is for clean runners running against EPO dopers today. We knew about the blood doped Finns, talked about it and felt that we were badly cheated" During the big doping bust in Finnish cross country skiing in 2001, Viren pretty much admitted the blood doping through the Finnish press.
Can you point to a link in English that supports this "admission"?
As I recall, blood doping (the classic method of autologous blood replacement) went back and forth as to the rules. At some point, it was not banned and later it was and then it was not again and then it was again.
Who cares, Luv2Run?