Athletes not such dopes
Wednesday 6 May 2009
It is well known that athletics is a world leader in sport's fight against doping and that the UK is a leader amongst athletics nations. Because of its prominence in this fight, athletics gets more than its fair share of adverse publicity. The truth is that athletics is a long way down the list of offending sports and official figures from UK Sport show this. But which are the sports that lead the pack in positive tests? Is athletics cleaner than snooker? The answers might surprise you. Read on...
The Financial Times (of all papers - shows what I read!) recently published an article in which it found that "it (athletics) is far cleaner than many other sports, including snooker."
This is what the article said, in full.
Quote:-
Athletics has been left with a tattered reputation by media coverage of the use of prohibited substances, including performance-enhancing drugs. But recent figures show that it is far cleaner than many other sports, including snooker.
According to the country's national anti-doping agency, UK Sport, between 2004 and 2008, athletics recorded only two cases that were proven to violate anti-doping rules. There were 4 in snooker, 14 in Welsh rugby union (separate tests for English, Scottish and Northern Irish rugby union fell further down the table), 24 in powerlifting and 28 in English rugby league.
Here we show the top eight offending sports over that four-year period - as well as figures for athletics and cycling, both of which have been associated with drug taking. They are shown as the number of positive cases per 1,000 tests.
A new, independent drug-testing body will take over from UK Sport this year. Equipped with stronger powers, it will aim to drum out drug cheats well before they reach the starting-line, sports pitch - or snooker table.
Number of positive results for prohibited substances per 1,000 tests:
1. Bodybuilding: 57.5
2. Powerlifting: 43.8
3. Basketball: 31.2
4. Weightlifting: 18.6
5. Snooker: 17.7
6. Welsh rugby union: 15.6
7. Rugby league: 13.8
8. Boxing: 7.9
Cycling: 1.9
Athletics: 1.1
End of Quote.
Source: Financial Times/UK Sport 2004-2008.
Even if athletics comes out of this very well, do not be tempted to take a chance. IT IS NOT WORTH IT.