Haile's take on doping in Ethiopia

Haile G. wrote:

One or two athletes, it’s not such a big problem

So when Haile and Komen ruled the track it wasn't such a big problem.

Haile was the worst wrote:

Haile G. wrote:

One or two athletes, it’s not such a big problem

So when Haile and Komen ruled the track it wasn't such a big problem.

Yes, because they weren't doping. The one or two refers to some mediocre runners.

Not only was it not such a big problem with one or two, it was a very very good thing!

Renato has assured us that these drugs don't work on African runners so it doesn't matter that they were using it.

Yes, because 12.55 for the 2nd 5k of a 10k seems totally feasible without drugs, Haile. What did your "coach" pick up from his time spent behind The Iron Curtain? Are the current elites not doing enough push-ups?

Green tights and magic legs wrote:

Yes, because 12.55 for the 2nd 5k of a 10k seems totally feasible without drugs, Haile. What did your "coach" pick up from his time spent behind The Iron Curtain? Are the current elites not doing enough push-ups?

Try 12:57, but when you can run 12:40 something and you start with a 13:50 5k, you can see that it's doable.

It sure isn't magically "doable" anymore. I don't want to hear about the lack of 10k opportunities or exodus to the road as an excuse, either.

I appreciate the correction, as well. For some reason, 12.55 was what I remembered.

Green tights and magic legs wrote:

It sure isn't magically "doable" anymore. I don't want to hear about the lack of 10k opportunities or exodus to the road as an excuse, either.

Of course it's doable today. Tell me about a recent 10000m championship when you've had three men capable of sub 12:50 all willing to work together to kill the rest of the field.

Jeff you've toed the party line for years now but, I'm afraid it's time for you to work on your exit strategy.

Jefe in the CO wrote:

Jeff you've toed the party line for years now but, I'm afraid it's time for you to work on your exit strategy.

I wouldn't write what I do if I didn't have good reason to.

Green tights and magic legs wrote:

It sure isn't magically "doable" anymore. I don't want to hear about the lack of 10k opportunities or exodus to the road as an excuse, either.

Well too bad, because that's why you don't see it. The quality in the 10k has gone way down because the money has gone to the roads.

Jeff Wigand wrote:

I wouldn't write what I do if I didn't have good reason to.

I personally think that you're one of the best posters here on LRC and that what you post you believe to be true.

Good luck in the next couple of years- it's going to get messy.

Jefe in the CO wrote:

I personally think that you're one of the best posters here on LRC and that what you post you believe to be true. ...

+1

Ethiopia and Kenya won't learn until they get everyone off the gas but that won't happen because everyone has such a low median GDP and the benefits of taking EPO and everything outweighs the danger of getting caught. Haile G was definitely on the El Guerrouj drug cocktail as well.

It's crazy how Haile, Seb and Paula can pretend like they're staunch anti-dopers when they ruled the track and road racing realms when tests didn't exist for half of the drugs. It's the classic Lance Armstrong case where people convince themselves that they were clean even thought they were shooting up everything under the sun.

There are no more role models in track. The few that are clean can no longer compete with everyone in the grey zone and are being slowly edged out in all competitions. My advice is to look at every race with a grain of salt and realize that nothing can really be done to fix the state of this sport. Doping is endemic.

Did you see Geb's quote in the article: "Ethiopia is serious about doping" he said

.....Geb!!!, the correct way to phrase your message is "Ethiopia is serious about ANTI-doping."

OK... close enough...We all know that is what you intended as your message!