Positive test at Ras Mumhan!

C3PO

Wouldn't have thought that cannabis was performance enhancing?

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/irish-rider-banned-after-positive-drugs-test-at-kerry-group-ras-mumhan/

But I'm glad to see that the Sports Council and Cycling Ireland issued a "joint" statement!

Columbia

I'm sure it isn't performance enhancing, otherwise he'd be facing more than a 7-week ban surely.

It'll blow over quickly. The guy smoked a joint, shock-horror

Darkglasses

I really hope his dreams haven't gone up in smoke.

ROK ON

Columbia wrote: »

I'm sure it isn't performance enhancing, otherwise he'd be facing more than a 7-week ban surely.

It'll blow over quickly. The guy smoked a joint, shock-horror

+1.
I know rules are rules, but if a guy drinks a bottle of vodka or smokes 100 cigs, he can can race without fear of being sanctioned.
This is unfortunate. While it was correct to investigate the failed dope test, maybe a sanction (despite how short) was not in order in this situation.

C3PO

Don't really understand why they test for cannabis at all?

colm_gti

C3PO wrote: »

Don't really understand why they test for cannabis at all?

Can they screen for specific drugs? Or just for abnormalities in blood composition? If it's the latter they probably just picked up on increased levels of dopamine and upon further investigation it turned out to be as a result of a spliff he had smoked earlier in the day or the previous day.

dooverylittle

colm_gti wrote: »

Can they screen for specific drugs? Or just for abnormalities in blood composition? If it's the latter they probably just picked up on increased levels of dopamine and upon further investigation it turned out to be as a result of a spliff he had smoked earlier in the day or the previous day.

They test specifically for THC, if you dont test for something you dont find it.

colm_gti

dooverylittle wrote: »

They test specificaly for THC, if you dont test for something you dont find it.

Cool, I don't know how drug tests are done. Why is THC a banned substance?

Beasty

C3PO wrote: »

Don't really understand why they test for cannabis at all?

It's on the in-competition WADA banned list, so presumably there is a requirment to test

There is a suggestion that it may be perforamce enhancing in some sports that require a "steady hand", such as shooting and golf

There is a suggestion that it me made sport specific and banned only from those sports where it is shown to be performance enhancing

kumate_champ07

same with beta blockers, no benefit for a cyclist but for archery it would give a performance boost

Actual Paramedic

Drugs can be of benefit to other drugs, many an athlete has taken a substance to help eliminate or disguise the use of another substance. He may be using other drugs or needing to calm himself down. Regardless of the drug its on the banned list and none of the other competitors failed the test for the substances on the list.

Lumen

Actual Paramedic wrote: »

Drugs can be of benefit to other drugs, many an athlete has taken a substance to help eliminate or disguise the use of another substance. He may be using other drugs

Which other drugs does cannabis eliminate or disguise?

kenmc

he should be given more points tbh, if he did so well despite a bout of the munchies a few days prior he deserves them

victorcarrera

Cannabis is a powerful pain reliever. It may not be performance enhancing but it could help a rider sustain a higher stressful state for longer on the lumpy bits.