Christine Ohuruogu

[Pacman]

It's not as black and white as some seem to think. What I've heard of her public statements since winning the medal do sound suspiciously like those given by some cyclists - 'non-denial' denials, evasive, pointing to the faults of others rather than discussing her own situation, etc. However, that response isn't evidence of anything since it may simply be the result of months or years of argument over the case that we have not really followed very closely.

There is a moral difference between missing a test and failing one - it is simply that from a disciplinary point of view they are deemed to be (much) the same. So it's all very well getting hot and bothered about people like this woman who are caught up in (as opposed to 'by', since there is no moral equivalence between missing tests and cheating) the rules imposed by a reasonably stringent drug testing policy but I am constantly surprised about how little is said about the failures of drug testing in other sports, particularly football.

I've missed you

[Neil Young]

I've missed you

Thanks. I've missed you too.

[Warren]

but I am constantly surprised about how little is said about the failures of drug testing in other sports, particularly football.

Are there big failures in football drug testing?

[AFII]

Are there big failures in football drug testing?

The players isn't tested often enough.

Every player should be tested once a month, at least in the PL. They can afford it IMO so why not do it?

The reason to why so many athlets and cyclist tests positive is because they are tested very often compered to other sports.

[Dirk07]

She was actually tested 1 week before the test that she missed, it was a blood test also meaning "masking" would not have worked if any drug had been used.

Not one person thinks she has taken any drugs in athletics, also Team GB have many, many atheletes on two missed tests at the moment, Cathrine was the first person to be caught out by this system which was new and came in halfway through a season which was not explained properly to the atheletes (their excuse)

[mick the click]

She didn't forget to attend anything. The whole point is that they are random out of competition tests. She failed to tell the testers where to find her which is potentially a very different thing.

I think people in teh athletics community are keen to expose cheats yet in general she has been thought to have been hard done by. I tend to think that this means she should be given the benefit of the doubt. She was tested at all competitions she entered over that time period.

...is how I see it too. Daft bugger, nonetheless....

[Ben_Itez]

I'm normally very sceptical about these things but actually believe she is innocent and deserves a fair chance.

It's not like the Ferdinand case where the testers were actually at ManUres training ground, told him he was to be tested, then he 'forgot' they were there. Very suspicious and he deserved his 8month ban....

In athletics as someone has mentioned you have to tell the testers where you are, for one hour of the day, 5 days out of seven. Apparently for the third missed test she went to the track she trained at and there was a school sports day there so they had to go and train somewhere else. The testers turned up and obviously she wasnt there. She didnt even know the testers had turned up til a week later and hence that she'd missed a test. She was tested by blood sample a week before also and no drugs found.

Now is it just me or couldnt a better system be implemented. I mean in todays modern age surely a contact number for the athlete and coach might be useful. Hence if the testers turn up and the athlete isnt there they can at least ring and say..'where the **** are you!', allowing the athlete to return or meet the testers that day.

Even Darren Campbell ( the moaning slow ****) believes her and he's the first to condemn anyone. In fact he thinks that anyone who has ever beaten him must be on drugs he's such an arrogant dick.

[disco]

There's some real no nothing gob-****es on this thread.

She has taken plenty of tests, but 'missed' some when she'd originally agreed to be at one stadium, found it was in use by a school etc. so had to go to a different stadium.

She has the backing of her fellow athletes, and Darren Campbell in particular supports her. Good enough for me.

[AFII]

The reason to why they will only get banned after missing three tests is that one or two times could be a mistake but if they miss three tests then that's one to many and you must draw a line somewhere.

You can't allow them to miss test after test and you must test them out of competition because most of the doping is made then.

I think a year is to much. Six months or something would be better and during that time they should be tested at least once a month.

[Dirk07]

unfortunately for her she become the example to everyone of what the consequences are and became the reason why athletes are no longer missing as many tests

[kemm1]

Athletics: Ohuruogu hits back at critics of gold medal feat
By Simon Turnbull in Osaka
Published: 31 August 2007

A furious Christine Ohuruogu yesterday rounded on critics who branded her World Championship 400m success a "hollow victory" in light of a 12-month ban for failing three drugs tests.

"I must admit I'm very upset and very disappointed," Ohuruogu said, when asked about the mixed reception of her remarkable feat in triumphing in the World Championship just three weeks after serving the full term of the suspension after the missed tests. "I'm not angered. I am very disappointed. It has made it a bit sour for me."

The phrase "hollow victory" was put to Ohuruogu live on air before the world champion of 17 hours took her seat at a press conference in Osaka in the company of Nicola Sanders, the Great Britain team-mate she had beaten to the gold by the margin of 0.04sec.

Ohuruogu and her coach, Lloyd Cowan, accused critics of double standards, citing the precedents of the footballer Rio Ferdinand (missed drugs test) and cricketer Shane Warne (failed drug test), who are still regarded as sporting heroes. "We've done nothing wrong. We just made a mistake. When you miss a test, it's about people's perceptions. And I can't help that. Chris can't help that.

"This girl was tested last night before we left the stadium and she's been tested 14 times, I think, in the year she's been off. You've got to remember she was tested the weekend before she missed the last test and on the Friday after. So what can you have? Stuff in your system, and it disappears in five days? Come on. When you have been caught then fair enough, but we ain't doing anything wrong. The talent that Christine has is natural."

"It annoys me that people want to pick and choose who they want to slam down and who they want to raise up," Ohuruogu said.

"They hear second-hand stories, and think this is what they need to write about, and it's absolute rubbish. The evidence speaks for itself. You've got loads of athletes missing tests." Across the range of sports in Britain, 126 missed tests have been registered by UK Sport in the past 12 months.

"People in the sport are very supportive," Ohuruogu said. "It's the people outside that you have to educate." There was sympathy from the rival Ohuruogu kept off the top of the podium. "It's a shame," Sanders said, "we can't celebrate the fact that Christine's a world champion, and she's run a fantastic time."

Now Ohuruogu must battle the British Olympic Association if she is to be selected for Beijing 2008.

http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article2914389.ece

[saveferris]

She was actually tested 1 week before the test that she missed, it was a blood test also meaning "masking" would not have worked if any drug had been used.

According to the BBC she passed a test a week after her last missed test for which she was banned.

[Neil Young]

Are there big failures in football drug testing?

The players isn't tested often enough.

Every player should be tested once a month, at least in the PL. They can afford it IMO so why not do it?

The reason to why so many athlets and cyclist tests positive is because they are tested very often compered to other sports.

Especially cycling.

[mersey86]

She's British so the missed drugs tests are being swept under the carpet.

She may be a druggie but [affects deep accent, while fighting back tears] she's our druggie and she won a gold medal for us.

[Pacman]

She may be a druggie but [affects deep accent, while fighting back tears] she's our druggie and she won a gold medal for us.