The Athletics Thread (... but predominantly about Bolt)

[Vermilion]

Gutter press like a dog with a bone!

[gratziani]

Bolt is the biggest sports star in the world for me , showman who delivers time after time and agree hope he blasts Gatlin and Gay with another world record

[Daniel 7]

Its a disappointing example of the press building them up to knock them down. I loved watching Farah win his golds, it was genuinely inspiring and moving, even for a cynic like me.

[gratziani]

Its a disappointing example of the press building them up to knock them down. I loved watching Farah win his golds, it was genuinely inspiring and moving, even for a cynic like me.

I was at a BBQ watching one of his attempts that summer and was shouting at the TV for him to win as well as Rutherford and cant recall the third gold we got after too many ciders

[Shaggy]

I absolutely loved it too. I roared him home in both races, but if someone's been cheating I want them to get caught. And it looks pretty nailed on Farah has been cheating, so **** him. If he's guilty I hope he gets caught.

[Pablo]

Nearly man for years, then suddenly, almost out of the blue, became almost unbeatable.

Alarm bells ringing everywhere!

I think it's been obvious for years and years to be honest.

[Shaggy]

Nearly man for years, then suddenly, almost out of the blue, became almost unbeatable.

Alarm bells ringing everywhere!

I think it's been obvious for years and years to be honest.

Yep

His sudden improvement was pretty fishy.

And he's come across as a bit of a cunt lately too. His behaviour on Twitter towards his team mate was piss poor and he's totally arrogant. Funny as **** if all that arrogance is based on him cheating. Haha get your coat you cheating cunt.

[Reece]

Plus, you know, Quorn

[gratziani]

Plus, you know, Quorn

Quorn full of whizz that explains it

[Pablo]

As others have said catching Bolt would be the real game changer. I think it would all but finish athletics as a public interest.

I don't think Bolt is a cheater though for the very reason I think Farah probably is; Bolt has always been a phenomenon. There's been no sudden, alarming, improvement other sportsmen have had, he's always been a freak.

Still nothing would surprise me. I bet it's rife in all sports...

Tennis: Nadal, Djokovic and probably Murray have been at it for years I suspect. Look at Murray's vast improvement in fitness; it's ridiculous. I'm giving Federer a pass here.

Football: I reckon it's commonplace here too. Ronaldo for instance is in ridiculous shape. Bale all of a sudden had a dramatic change in physique too.

It might all be hard work and extra training, but I bet there's more to it than that.

[gratziani]

It hasn't stopped cycling after Armstrong though.

From what I have read on the continent it doesn't seem as frowned upon compared to us in the UK when someone is caught.

[Buzzo]

As others have said catching Bolt would be the real game changer. I think it would all but finish athletics as a public interest.

I don't think Bolt is a cheater though for the very reason I think Farah probably is; Bolt has always been a phenomenon. There's been no sudden, alarming, improvement other sportsmen have had, he's always been a freak.

Still nothing would surprise me. I bet it's rife in all sports...

Tennis: Nadal, Djokovic and probably Murray have been at it for years I suspect. Look at Murray's vast improvement in fitness; it's ridiculous. I'm giving Federer a pass here.

Football: I reckon it's commonplace here too. Ronaldo for instance is in ridiculous shape. Bale all of a sudden had a dramatic change in physique too.

It might all be hard work and extra training, but I bet there's more to it than that.

I dunno, Murrays improvement in fitness was achieved over a few years. And Nadals has dropped off after injury. You also have to want to cheat, you have to make the decision - and Andy Murray does not come across as a guy lacking in integrity.

The problem is that when someone is caught it casts doubt over everyone who has achieved in sport. The documentary from the other week showed how hard it is for them to keep on top of doping. The other message I took from the guy who managed to get through the tests, was that he did feel a conscious decision was made that he was going to cheat - I mean you are having to inject, its not as if you can just take a couple of pills. You then look at the individual and wonder if it would mean as much to them achieving success by cheating? For some sportsmen clearly the answer is yes, but it is lax, and a bit sensationalist to tar them all with the same brush.

I really hope Mo Farah is innocent, his Gold Medals wins were inspirational. But if he was missing tests and is proved to have been a doper, then he deserves to be exposed.

Anyway, bottom line I don't like hearing aspersons being cast over Andy Murray - you......take it back

[ChesterDave]

Yep

His sudden improvement was pretty fishy.

And he's come across as a bit of a cunt lately too. His behaviour on Twitter towards his team mate was piss poor and he's totally arrogant. Funny as **** if all that arrogance is based on him cheating. Haha get your coat you cheating cunt.

Casta Semenya destroyed her PB in the space of 9 months yet wasn't on drugs.

[Red_Polo]

I still don't get why Christina Ohuruogu is treated like an angel, while Dwain Chambers is demonised. Her missing tests is as bad as failing, under the doping rules, but there's very little outcry about her. He was treated like a pariah when he returned, despite serving his full ban and trying to make amends.

She made the mistake of double booking a training session meaning they turned up to test her at one place when she was training at another, so missed a third test. Having passed one about a week before and another about a week after.

Chambers tested positive on the other hand. Surely you'd treat them differently given that?

[Red_Polo]

Plus how brilliant is it to watch her run?! Absolutely ****ing blasts the final third. Makes for epic races.