sidelined

7 responses so far ↓

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  Shaun // Apr 3, 2007 at 11:09 pm

  If there is something untoward actually happened it wiill be like trying to determine which shark bit first in a feeding frenzy. We love our heroes and love savaging them when the “betray” us.

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  Phil // Apr 4, 2007 at 8:58 am

  Interesting comment in the Oz’s Peter Lalor’s blog.

  Raymond of Melbourne (03 April at 08:35 PM)

  Ian Thorpe has a testosterone/epitestosterone (tst/eptst) ratio greater than 4. It is a breach of the rules. It should have been dealt with immediately and not covered up by ASADA. Medically speaking a NORMAL tst/eptst ratio is 1:1. Yes, that’s right 1:1. The media have reported incorrectly. Hence the sporting bodies set their limits well above the norms, and they are the limits and the rules.

  One question begs, what is the result of the carbon isotope ratio test of the hormone. International rules dictate this test is to be performed when an athlete exceeds the previous ratio test (even though the ratio test is enough evidence for proof of exceeding the levels permitted by the rules). ASADA have some explaining to do.

  It’s simple, if an athlete exceeds the limit, he has a unfair advantage.

  In Thorpe’s case, it is even more simple to question cheating. He was found with high doses of Luteinizing hormone (LH). A substance which elevates testosterone, and is the stimulating hormone to drive production. LH is absorbed in test testies and testosterone is produced in DIRECT correlation to this. However, unless he has testicular cancer or some testicular problem, LH levels decrease medically as the testosterone is increased. It’s a balancing situation.

  So we have evidence that Thorpe’s high levels for both, in the absence of testicular malfunction (which always hences causes low testosterone), begs the question of whether Thorpe is using Luteinizing hormone to drive his testosterone.

  This is why Luteinizing hormone injections are banned and is considered cheating.

  You cannot have a high level for both. It just medically doesn’t happen. Even in swimming heros.

  I don’t care what Ian says. The facts of these results speak for themselves.

  This is a story that will be teased out slowly over the next few weeks. Like Chinese water torture, drip, drip, drip………….

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  Five // Apr 4, 2007 at 11:04 pm

  Yikes, who knows what to say in a circumstance like this? Some of those tall poppy lopping types will be salivating. Others will be too partisan to ever see this objectively.

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  Phil // Apr 5, 2007 at 5:07 am

  One other interesting snippet. Apparently Thorpys usual T/Te ratio in previous tests was 1.5/1, the initial sample returned above 4/1.

  Now usually this triggers something with the authorities, the athlete is informed and then the B is tested in front of reps. He would have known about the elevated levels from the first test yonks ago.

  In all probability this won’t go much further because it looks like the B side came up as normal, still there are rich veins of questions to be asked of all parties involved, it’ll be interesting to see who is going to piece things together and where it leads. Chris Masters anyone?

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  Club Troppo » Missing Link // Apr 5, 2007 at 6:42 pm

  [...] Phil at Sidelined muses about the Thorpedo’s guilt or innocence of drug cheating. This comment under Phil’s post rather suggests that Thorpie might well be in strife. [...]

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  Thoglette // Apr 10, 2007 at 7:40 pm

  “In all probability this won’t go much further”

  Huh? Check out what’s happened to Floyd Landis, who has had an almost exactly identical result leaked in an almost exactly identical way after the 2006 Tour de France.

  To quote Dick Pound (the WADA chief and supposed independent arbitor)
  “You’d think he’d be violating every virgin within 100 miles. How does he even get on his bicycle?”

  For anyone interested in what T/E ratios means or just how out of control the whole doping/anti-doping thing is, google the Floyd Landis case.

  Thog

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  Phil // Apr 10, 2007 at 8:27 pm

  Thog, I know a lot about the Landis case. I’ve commented at my own blog and in other places about him. No longer, at least until the hearing is finished.

  For anyone interested in what T/E ratios means or just how out of control the whole doping/anti-doping thing is, google the Floyd Landis case.

  I think you have this the wrong way around.

  Anyway, I will come out of my self imposed vow of silence to say this, Landis and his team have been very successful in prosecuting his case via the media and a Wiki approach, the ASADA hearing will be in an open forum….a first.

  However, we have not heard from the doping authorities, unlike Pound they have been silent.

  I’d reserve judgment until the scientists have their say. The Landis side isn’t the last word on doping, their case is specific to their circumstances.

  And believe me it isn’t about reform as they like to say, it’s about total destruction…..with nothing left and a landscape where the dopers win.

  Like climate change they always attack the scientists and methodology when many of these tests are used routinely in medicine.

  My opinion? Landis got done for tax evasion and not murder. Despite the claims his system was seriously screwy.

  BTW, no one that I know in cycling believes his performance that day. And watching it live on SBS that night I laughed my head off and actually said “I wonder if he’ll get done”. Presto!

  Lastly, regarding Pounds famous “violating virgins” comment. From what I keep hearing in Sydney our virgins (if there are any left) have nothing to fear from the Thorpedo.