Breaking News - Steven Colvert

NiallG4

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/irish-sprinter-steven-colvert-fails-drugs-test-30368066.html

ASIMON0V

Ouch. I thought that EPO was unusual for a sprinter - but it seems that's not the case. He's declaring his evidence - so its not fair to say much until the B sample is tested.

ecoli

ASIMON0V wrote: »

Ouch. I thought that EPO was unusual for a sprinter - but it seems that's not the case. He's declaring his evidence - so its not fair to say much until the B sample is tested.

There are a few cases of sprinters using it (Chambers, Kelli White etc)

There are debates as to the effectiveness on sprinters (both muscle repair and neural activity)

As said the B sample will clear things up one way or another.

rom

ecoli wrote: »

There are a few cases of sprinters using it (Chambers, Kelli White etc)

There are debates as to the effectiveness on sprinters (both muscle repair and neural activity)

As said the B sample will clear things up one way or another.

how long will it take for the B sample ?

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/other-sports/irsquove-been-accused-of-doping-but-irsquom-innocent-says-irish-athlete-272569.html

dna_leri

Victor Conte on Dwain Chambers use of EPO:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/athletics/7403158.stm

EPO was used three days per week during the "corrective phase", which is the first two weeks of a cycle. Typically, it was on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It was only used once per week during the "maintenance phase" thereafter, typically this was every Wednesday. The dosage was 4,000 IU per injection. The purpose was to increase the red blood cell count and enhance oxygen uptake and utilization. This substance provides a big advantage to sprinters because it enables them to do more track repetitions and obtain a much deeper training load during the off season. EPO becomes undetectable about 72 hours after subcutaneous injection (stomach) and only 24 hours after intravenous injection

Also interesting that Colvert mentions "an iron supplement".

http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/anemia/treatment.html

Treatment of Anemia of Chronic Disease. In general, the best treatment for anemia of chronic diseases is treating the disease itself. In some cases, iron deficiency accompanies the condition and requires iron replacement. Erythropoietin, most often administered with intravenous iron, is used for some patients.

Let's see what the B sample shows

ecoli

rom wrote: »

how long will it take for the B sample ?

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/other-sports/irsquove-been-accused-of-doping-but-irsquom-innocent-says-irish-athlete-272569.html

I think it can take up to 6-8 weeks atleast for blood tests to get tested and notify the athlete

rom

dna_leri wrote: »

Victor Conte on Dwain Chambers use of EPO:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/athletics/7403158.stm




Also interesting that Colvert mentions "an iron supplement".

http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/anemia/treatment.html



Let's see what the B sample shows

My wife has been told to take Galfer as her iron is low but for athlete who does not believe in supplements its a strange one to take. It will make you constipated which is not ideal for any distance. If he believes that in getting iron through food then why isn't he eating liver or dark green veg etc.

The context around how the test was carried out is irrelevant.

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/aldi-price-comparison/Womens_Health_And_Family_Planning/Activ_Max_Womens_Health_Evening_Primrose_Oil_500mg_Capsules_45.html

Perhaps EPO = Evening Primrose Oil. (too soon but couldn't help myself)

Why is it not the case that the B sample is automatically tested against a finding on the A sample? It is very rare that the B sample is not tested in such a situation. It should be then that this would be made public. If it is the case that it is a false positive then the process of disclosure is flawed. However how often does the B sample revert the A decision? very rare indeed.

ChickenTikka

Per www.eirpharm.com, galfer is a permitted substance:

Sports

Galfer Capsules
WADA Status: Permitted
You should record your reference number: 226654
19/06/2014 16:57:50
Drug category: Iron Supplement
Used for: Iron Supplementation
Explanation of status: Permitted when used in accordance with the product's Marketing Authorisation.
Ingredient Status
Ferrous fumarate 305mg Permitted
Intravenous infusions are prohibited except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions or clinical investigations.

Krusty_Clown

dna_leri wrote: »

Victor Conte on Dwain Chambers use of EPO:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/athletics/7403158.stm

That is absolutely crazy. How could you not feel like the greatest cheat on the planet, with every syringe into the stomach? A great read....

LacticAthlete

@rom Most distance runners with a brain take some form of iron supplement like ferrograd c or galfer.



"Irish distance runner Martin Fagan has just returned from a two-year ban after testing positive for EPO in 2012, but he openly admitted to taking the substance."

Colvert obviously wouldn't let IOR do any reps with him. "is this pace too fast for you stephen?"

SWL

NiallG4 wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/irish-sprinter-steven-colvert-fails-drugs-test-30368066.html

Taking iron is not going to give you a positive for EPO, complete BS, that is not how the body works, nor how iron or EPO affects the blood, if its was that simple every "fun runner" would be in trouble.

RayCun

SWL wrote: »

Taking iron is not going to give you a positive for EPO, complete BS, that is not how the body works, nor how iron or EPO affects the blood, if its was that simple every "fun runner" would be in trouble.

I don't think he's saying the iron caused the positive, he's saying they are the only supplements he has taken

Stazza

LacticAthlete wrote: »

@rom Most distance runners with a brain take some form of iron supplement like ferrograd c or galfer.

{Off topic, but responding to quote}
Before everybody heads off to the Chemist and stocks up on iron - not a good idea, especially if you're male. Men are good at storing iron and supplementing with iron can lead to serious problems. In fact, there are probably only a handful of distance runners on here that should even think about supplementing with iron.

And for those that do take iron supplements, you shouldn't take them with calcium. Calcium in the morning; iron at night - with Vit C.

For the record, I supplement with iron:2 months on - 1 month off. Although my diet is iron rich, I'm running around 100 mpw.

Think carefully before using iron supplements...

rom

Stazza wrote: »

LacticAthlete wrote: »

@rom Most distance runners with a brain take some form of iron supplement like ferrograd c or galfer.

{Off topic, but responding to quote}
Before everybody heads off to the Chemist and stocks up on iron - not a good idea, especially if you're male. Men are good at storing iron and supplementing with iron can lead to serious problems. In fact, there are probably only a handful of distance runners on here that should even think about supplementing with iron.

And for those that do take iron supplements, you shouldn't take them with calcium. Calcium in the morning; iron at night - with Vit C.

For the record, I supplement with iron:2 months on - 1 month off. Although my diet is iron rich, I'm running around 100 mpw.

Think carefully before using iron supplements...

Of course you are in that handful :rolleyes:

Increase your ferritin level can be done by eating better and more iron rich food. Why would you take a supplement if you are not doing that right?

Clearlier

rom wrote: »

Why is it not the case that the B sample is automatically tested against a finding on the A sample? It is very rare that the B sample is not tested in such a situation. It should be then that this would be made public. If it is the case that it is a false positive then the process of disclosure is flawed. However how often does the B sample revert the A decision? very rare indeed.

Some athletes admut culpability after the first test so there's no need to do the second test but more importantly IIRC the athlete is permitted to be present at the second test hence no automatic testing of the second half of the sample. The risk as one headline put it so memorably about ten years ago is that someone will take the piss!

rom

Clearlier wrote: »

Some athletes admut culpability after the first test so there's no need to do the second test but more importantly IIRC the athlete is permitted to be present at the second test hence no automatic testing of the second half of the sample. The risk as one headline put it so memorably about ten years ago is that someone will take the piss!

Why doesn't this go public when :
A the athlete admits.
B the 2nd sample proves it also.

It seems to me that guilt is established and it goes public before that so it in the case where the 2nd sample may tell otherwise the damage is done.

Clearlier

rom wrote: »

Why doesn't this go public when :
A the athlete admits.
B the 2nd sample proves it also.

It seems to me that guilt is established and it goes public before that so it in the case where the 2nd sample may tell otherwise the damage is done.

I completely agree. It certainly used to be the case that the testing authorities would only make an announcement after either of the 2 conditions you mention were met. I don't know who has released the information in this case. In the past some dopers have used the gap between A and B tests to launch a PR offensive so perhaps policy has changed about releasing the results of an A test although it would seem unfair. I can only recall one public case of an A sample being positive and a B being negative although that was some time ago and I can't remember who the athlete was. IIRC testing protocols were subsequently amended because of that case.

Clum

If Steven had a big sponsor (like a major shoe manufacturer) I don't think it would matter that he tested positive.

Bans aren't being taken seriously anymore.

Tyson Gay got 12 months. Powell and Simpson have had their suspensions suspended meaning they served just under a year out of competition.

What happened to 2 year bans?

If Colvert's B sample gives him the all clear and (getting way ahead of myself) he progresses to qualify for the 100m World Championships final in Beijing next year lining up against Powell, Gay, Gatlin and Chambers would anybody really care? <snip>

Being a relatively unknown in international sprinting they'll throw the book at him but the same should be happening to all other dopers too.

ecoli

Clum wrote: »

If Steven had a big sponsor (like a major shoe manufacturer) I don't think it would matter that he tested positive.

Bans aren't being taken seriously anymore.

Tyson Gay got 12 months. Powell and Simpson have had their suspensions suspended meaning they served just under a year out of competition.

What happened to 2 year bans?

If Colvert's B sample gives him the all clear and (getting way ahead of myself) he progresses to qualify for the 100m World Championships final in Beijing next year lining up against Powell, Gay, Gatlin and Chambers would anybody really care?<snip>

Being a relatively unknown in international sprinting they'll throw the book at him but the same should be happening to all other dopers too.

Actually while Powell's ban was reduced to 11 months by WADA it was not signed off on by JADCO so ban is upheld is it was in breach of their charter

“No final decision of, or Consequences of Anti-Doping Rule Violations imposed by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel shall be quashed, varied, or held invalid by any court, arbitrator, tribunal or other hearing body other than the Jamaica Anti-Doping Appeals Tribunal or CAS for any reason, including for reason of any defect, irregularity, omission or departure from the procedures set out in these Anti-Doping Rules, provided there has been no miscarriage of justice.”

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/We-couldn-t-sign-document-reducing-Powell-s-ban----JADCO

TFBubendorfer

<mod>A gentle reminder of the charter, guys. Please leave out the speculation and stick to the known facts</mod>

walshb

Almost all drugs cheats protest vehemently their innocence, but am I naive to see something sincere and honest with this protestation?

dna_leri

Clum wrote: »

If Steven had a big sponsor (like a major shoe manufacturer) I don't think it would matter that he tested positive.

Bans aren't being taken seriously anymore.

Tyson Gay got 12 months. Powell and Simpson have had their suspensions suspended meaning they served just under a year out of competition.



Being a relatively unknown in international sprinting they'll throw the book at him but the same should be happening to all other dopers too.

That's not always true. Most sponsors will drop you like a hot sh1t if you test positive as Adidas did with Gay:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/10180187/Tyson-Gays-sponsorship-deal-with-Adidas-suspended-after-positive-out-of-competition-dope-test.html

Dwain Chambers sponsors are still thin on the ground - he uses his own logo clothing brand.

Krusty_Clown

Clum wrote: »

Tyson Gay got 12 months. Powell and Simpson have had their suspensions suspended meaning they served just under a year out of competition.

I wonder if they get tested during their bans? Wouldn't it be a great opportunity to dope up and get a year of uninterrupted training under the belt?

SWL

RayCun wrote: »

I don't think he's saying the iron caused the positive, he's saying they are the only supplements he has taken

If this sprinter hasn't been to altitude, never tested positive for EPO and the only supplement taken is an iron tablet then he needs to get to a lab straightaway, his kidney are clearly acting out of the norm for humans, people don't just fail EPO tests out of the blue, if his B sample is positive, where and how did he get the EPO, he is based in Ireland I believe?

Pherekydes

The real question in all this is why the blood sample didn't show up EPO?

If the two samples are different then surely the blood sample takes precedence?

RayCun

SWL wrote: »

If this sprinter hasn't been to altitude, never tested positive for EPO and the only supplement taken is an iron tablet then he needs to get to a lab straightaway, his kidney are clearly acting out of the norm for humans, people don't just fail EPO tests out of the blue, if his B sample is positive, where and how did he get the EPO, he is based in Ireland I believe?

He says he thinks there has been some sort of error or false positive, and that will be demonstrated when his B sample is tested.

ecoli

Pherekydes wrote: »

The real question in all this is why the blood sample didn't show up EPO?

If the two samples are different then surely the blood sample takes precedence?

I think the blood test results take longer to come back so results probably aren't know as of yet

RayCun wrote: »

He says he thinks there has been some sort of error or false positive, and that will be demonstrated when his B sample is tested.

Exactly I think best to hold off any sort of witch hunt until the B results come back. False positives in the general testing process (this would not just be confined to WADA sports testing) have been found to produce false positives and negatives in anything between 5%-15% of tests carried out* so it is not out of realms of reality.

*research paper pending peer review

MacSwifty

Pherekydes wrote: »

The real question in all this is why the blood sample didn't show up EPO?

If the two samples are different then surely the blood sample takes precedence?

From http://www.antidopingresearch.org/EPOtestJuly08.pdf

EPO (erythropoietin) is a natural hormone and a blood booster. It is also available as a pharmaceutical.The use of this artificial form, or recombinant EPO, to enhance performance by boosting endurance, is prohibited.

Historically, the EPO test at the Olympics (2000 to 2006) was done on a pair of urine and blood samples collected from the athlete at the same time. The urine test identifies the prohibited substance, therefore it is called a direct test. In contrast, the blood test is called an indirect test because it does not show the presence of recombinant EPO. Instead, it shows the “footprints” of drug use, in other words its impact on multiple lab readings on the blood. The readings are used to calculate a score which indicates whether the person is on a prohibited blood booster (“on score”) or recently stopped taking it (“off score”). Since 2002, EPO tests done by U.S. sports authorities have consisted of only the urine test.

dna_leri

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I wonder if they get tested during their bans? Wouldn't it be a great opportunity to dope up and get a year of uninterrupted training under the belt?

Athletes remain on the National Registered Testing Pool unless they officially retire. If they change their mind and want to return to competition then they must give 12 months notice and make themselves available for testing.

Correction it is 6 months in Ireland - see
http://hp.athleticsireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90&Itemid=178

BTW - interesting that the page above has 2 links to purchasing viagra

Murph_D

Clearlier wrote: »

<Snip>I don't know who has released the information in this case.....

Sounds like he released it himself?

"I'm coming forward with this finding because I have nothing to hide and I'm happy to have complete transparency into the whole ordeal," he added.

drquirky

At least some good has come from all of this I managed to get myself rebuked but the one and only "Brezzie" on twitter over this for a "condescending tweet" :D:D:D:D

Krusty_Clown

dna_leri wrote:

BTW - interesting that the page above has 2 links to purchasing viagra

I think that may be based on your browser search history. Doesn't show in my browser.
You should probably run some anti-spyware/advert tools.

ecoli

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I think that may be based on your browser search history. Doesn't show in my browser.
You should probably run some anti-spyware/advert tools.

Was thinking the same myself,this is based around your browser history and cookies from IIRC

tomdempsey200

Clearlier wrote: »

I completely agree. It certainly used to be the case that the testing authorities would only make an announcement after either of the 2 conditions you mention were met. I don't know who has released the information in this case. In the past some dopers have used the gap between A and B tests to launch a PR offensive so perhaps policy has changed about releasing the results of an A test although it would seem unfair. I can only recall one public case of an A sample being positive and a B being negative although that was some time ago and I can't remember who the athlete was. IIRC testing protocols were subsequently amended because of that case.

Marion Jones and Bernard lagat

Clum

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I wonder if they get tested during their bans? Wouldn't it be a great opportunity to dope up and get a year of uninterrupted training under the belt?

This was a hot topic last autumn in the group I did long runs with as we all knew somebody coming to the end of a 2 year ban. It was confirmed on one run, as DNA Leri has already mentioned, that retesting was requested 6 months before the ban was over.

Liamo51

I have been following this thread since yesterday. Will those posters who use terms like drug cheat etc. apologise when he is proved innocent. He states that he took iron, which is allowed - he took it as he was run down from doing exams and training 5 hours per day. He also took vitamins which were bought over the counter to revive him, as you do and he has the receipts to prove it.

It seems to be a case of "guilty until proven innocent" - which is dreadful. Who'd be an athlete? Comparing him to Chambers etc. is also dreadful. He's a young man with a great talent and would have nothing to gain by takinG EPO.

I reckon there has been some error which is not of his making and he is an innocent victim. The sad thing is that he is in all the newspapers etc. and people are very quick to judge and form an opinion.

Time will tell - he needs support during this terrible time for him and his family.

Oops69

drquirky wrote: »

At least some good has come from all of this I managed to get myself rebuked but the one and only "Brezzie" on twitter over this for a "condescending tweet" :D:D:D:D

You sure he didn't mean "condescending twit"

Clum

Liamo51 wrote: »

I have been following this thread since yesterday. Will those posters who use terms like drug cheat etc. apologise when he is proved innocent. He states that he took iron, which is allowed - he took it as he was run down from doing exams and training 5 hours per day. He also took vitamins which were bought over the counter to revive him, as you do and he has the receipts to prove it.

It seems to be a case of "guilty until proven innocent" - which is dreadful. Who'd be an athlete? Comparing him to Chambers etc. is also dreadful. He's a young man with a great talent and would have nothing to gain by takinG EPO.

I reckon there has been some error which is not of his making and he is an innocent victim. The sad thing is that he is in all the newspapers etc. and people are very quick to judge and form an opinion.

Time will tell - he needs support during this terrible time for him and his family.

I just reread the whole thread and nobody has called Colvert a cheat.

Nobody compared him to Chambers either. Chambers was mentioned as an example of sprinters using EPO.

Hard Worker

Liamo51 wrote: »

I have been following this thread since yesterday. Will those posters who use terms like drug cheat etc. apologise when he is proved innocent. He states that he took iron, which is allowed - he took it as he was run down from doing exams and training 5 hours per day. He also took vitamins which were bought over the counter to revive him, as you do and he has the receipts to prove it.

It seems to be a case of "guilty until proven innocent" - which is dreadful. Who'd be an athlete? Comparing him to Chambers etc. is also dreadful. He's a young man with a great talent and would have nothing to gain by takinG EPO.

I reckon there has been some error which is not of his making and he is an innocent victim. The sad thing is that he is in all the newspapers etc. and people are very quick to judge and form an opinion.

Time will tell - he needs support during this terrible time for him and his family.

The reason it's in all the newspapers is because he himself released a press statement.
At the moment, people have two pieces of evidence in front of them. One is the result of the testing of the A sample. The other is his press statement. Obviously, people will draw conclusions. If the B sample shows a similar result, people will be free to call him a cheat.

drquirky

Liamo51 wrote: »

I have been following this thread since yesterday. Will those posters who use terms like drug cheat etc. apologise when he is proved innocent. He states that he took iron, which is allowed - he took it as he was run down from doing exams and training 5 hours per day. He also took vitamins which were bought over the counter to revive him, as you do and he has the receipts to prove it.

It seems to be a case of "guilty until proven innocent" - which is dreadful. Who'd be an athlete? Comparing him to Chambers etc. is also dreadful. He's a young man with a great talent and would have nothing to gain by takinG EPO.

I reckon there has been some error which is not of his making and he is an innocent victim. The sad thing is that he is in all the newspapers etc. and people are very quick to judge and form an opinion.

Time will tell - he needs support during this terrible time for him and his family.

Yeah. Agree don't think name calling etc helps anything. All we know is his A sample has tested positive for EPO. I'd also dispute that a sprinter would have "nothing to gain from taking EPO" but thats for another thread I suppose.

Liamo51

Fair point - it was not used literally, but the comparison with Chambers was unecessary and would imply to anyone reading this thread that Colverts prediciment is the same, which it is not.

I find that athletes are a very gratious body of people, having witnessed their behaviour at track events and also, by reading threads, such as this one. It must come about through the fact that they train very hard and that there are more downs than ups and little or no monitory reward. I find their attitude very admirable - by the way, I'm not an athlete.

I expect that the same level of gratiousness would be extended to a great talent who finds himself in a nightmare situation.

drquirky

Liamo51 wrote: »

Fair point - it was not used literally, but the comparison with Chambers was unecessary and would imply to anyone reading this thread that Colverts prediciment is the same, which it is not.

I find that athletes are a very gratious body of people, having witnessed their behaviour at track events and also, by reading threads, such as this one. It must come about through the fact that they train very hard and that there are more downs than ups and little or no monitory reward. I find their attitude very admirable - by the way, I'm not an athlete.

I expect that the same level of gratiousness would be extended to a great talent who finds himself in a nightmare situation.

For sure. Completely agree w/ pretty much all of that. I just hope (for his sake) the B sample comes up negative.

gerard_65

Athletics is a joke. 'Take PED's, think up an excuse which makes you seemed the sinned against, take a short ban and your back making money'. I say just let them at it, remove all restrictions on PED's and save loads of tax payers money on testing.
OR
No more fcuking around. Caught and your banned for life. No excuses, no appeals - BOOM your out. And not only competing, but coaching and even been a member of a club.
One or the other. This slapping on the wrist, a few months ban, is b0ll0cks.

Liamo51

take a short ban and your back making money'.

What money? where? what? There's no money in athletics unless you're at the very top.

average_runner

Liam:
In athletics he is guilty, he failed a drugs test, got drop from the Irish team and is up to him to prove his innocence.

If he knew he was at risk of failing a test, due to.something he took he should of notified the relevant people.

There is no link of iron supplements causing an epo failure.

He choose athletics as occupation, not us, no one forced him so drop that argument

gerard_65

Liamo51 wrote: »

take a short ban and your back making money'.

What money? where? what? There's no money in athletics unless you're at the very top.

And most of the cheats are at the top or trying to get to the top.
Of course there's money. You think the Kenyans are running for nothing. So you think everyone competes for a chunk on metal or honor. Cop on.

ecoli

average_runner wrote: »

Liam:
In athletics he is guilty, he failed a drugs test, got drop from the Irish team and is up to him to prove his innocence.

If he knew he was at risk of failing a test, due to.something he took he should of notified the relevant people.

There is no link of iron supplements causing an epo failure.

He choose athletics as occupation, not us, no one forced him so drop that argument

They found an anomaly in his A test. Till the B sample comes back he has not officially failed to the best of my knowledge which is why they usually wait until the results are conclusive (aka the results are back on the to make the announcement however the athlete came out publicly because he feels it's helps with transparency.

There is no mention of him blaming the iron supplement this part of the article was simply a reference to the only sort of supplements he has taken, obviously he is not sure what caused the anomaly so did not know he was at risk of failing. His thought patterns are retroactively trying to work back.

The article will be scrutinized by people on the back of the test but the fact is this is a young athlete who came out publicly immediately after he found out so some of the quotes may have been off the cuff and not fully thought through at the time of giving the interview.

Also athletics is not his occupation, he is a full time student.


not defending just saying wait until his B sample comes back before nailing him to the cross

ecoli

gerard_65 wrote: »

And most of the cheats are at the top or trying to get to the top.
Of course there's money. You think the Kenyans are running for nothing. So you think everyone competes for a chunk on metal or honor. Cop on.

To give a bit of balance:

http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/10/news/economy/olympic-athletes-financial/

No every athlete is competing on the roads winning marathons

gerard_65

ecoli wrote: »

To give a bit of balance:

http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/10/news/economy/olympic-athletes-financial/

No every athlete is competing on the roads winning marathons

Its true that American athletes are caught between a rock and a hard place. Most money is on the European circuit, however that means living away from home for a lot of the year, difficult for those with families. Also Americans don't really care what happens outside their own country, Micheal Johnson has spoken about this.
However just look at Mo Farah, his money grabbing is so blatant. Add in a whole bunch of Africans. If the sport was amateur would the Kenyans be so enthusiastic, fcuk they would. And it would be a hell of a lot cleaner.
PED's were first used to try prove a political system's superiority , now its money.

Liamo51

Very Harsh - if the B test is negative, will you be as quick to put your hands up and say sorry for being judge and jury?

How would he know he was at risk of failing a drugs test when he did nothing wrong, according to himself?

No-one said there is a link between the two.

I hope you have a perfect life, maybe you have - he choose athletics, as I choose football, because I was good at it - or so I thought - don't be so harsh and judgemental as you don't know all of the facts. I'm sure he is going through a very tough time presently, he's young - give him a break.

gerard_65

Liamo51 wrote: »

Very Harsh - if the B test is negative, will you be as quick to put your hands up and say sorry for being judge and jury?

How would he know he was at risk of failing a drugs test when he did nothing wrong, according to himself?

No-one said there is a link between the two.

I hope you have a perfect life, maybe you have - he choose athletics, as I choose football, because I was good at it - or so I thought - don't be so harsh and judgemental as you don't know all of the facts. I'm sure he is going through a very tough time presently, he's young - give him a break.

who's this aimed at, me?. I wasn't referring to Colvert. I was not judging him. I was generalising about athletics as I see it.