Mo Farah question

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123530902#Comment_123530902

I read her book a good few years ago and seems to remember she was coming back from injury, but I may well be misremembering. Apologies if so. I think she had switched coach around that time as well.

While consistent injury will certainly halt progress, consistent training will improve it, so I don't necessarily agree with your point. If she had 2 years of consistent training then of course it's possible.

Look to be fair none of us can with any certainty say that ANY of athletes around that time were clean, (or any time) and if we agree to that, then we have to include everyone in that, including our own. We know for sure that at least 3 of own Irish athletes have been busted since the early 2000's. This doesn't mean that anyone else doped.

Was there many people who suspected Mutola was a drug cheat, or any talk of her coach with links to doping. If there was I don't remember it. Maybe you can shed more light on it.

Musicrules

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123531121#Comment_123531121

Oh yeah, none of us know for sure. I certainly would suspect some of our own if they had question marks over coaching environment or sudden increases in performance etc. No one suspected her coach at all, Mutola this is but drug accusations followed her from the start of her career. Nothing to substantiate these claims though, I think as pointed out she may have been more in the Semenya field but we just don't know 100% on any of this.

Strazdas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123530902#Comment_123530902

One other question mark I have with her Olympic success is that she won both the 800m and 1500m gold. That's a lot of races in one week for a 34 year old athlete, incredibly punishing on the body and against the best athletes in the world.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123530630#Comment_123530630

blitzed who? You’re making out she ran WRs in Athens and destroyed the field. She ran decent times winning gold. That’s about it. Nothing crazy for a 34 year old world class athlete

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123531698#Comment_123531698

Yeah I guess - still not that unusual. Look at Sifan Hassan last year. Or in 2004, El Gerrouj and Bekele would both have medalled in 1500/5000. Or indeed John Treacy running in the 10,000m heats and final (coming 9th) before medalling in the marathon.

TBH - people here will believe what they want to believe. With almost every athlete there will be aspects that 'hint' at potential doping, a sudden increase in times or whatever. But that can also be consistent with an injury free run, a change in coaching or whatever.

And then also, that we are judging her on the basis of Olympic performance - which in itself is not necessarily an indicator of consistent excellence. Its an event that comes along once every four years, it can go spectacularly wrong for great athletes, or it can go spectacularly right for good-to-great athletes.

And then some athletes maybe are just really good championship performers, they are good (or lucky) in peaking at the right time.

Hashtaglavista

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123533379#Comment_123533379

I disagree with you on this, there's just some athletes who you know straight off have potential or deserve it and are not surprised when it happens.

Jo Pavey winning Gold in the European Championships at 40 is a perfect example of a clean athlete getting what she deserved for all her hard work.

Hassan is peaking at the right time for the marathon at her age.

Lagat is another athlete nobody is surprised about.

Holmes had a dodgy edge with Mutola and their relationship and it has a legitimate question mark over it as far as I'm concerned. I wrote yesterday how Multola allowed Holmes to win silver as well.

There was something tricky there.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123533909#Comment_123533909

The point I was making regarding Hassan was that she could compete in 1500m, 10000m and Marathon in the same olympics. I.e. - I dont personally think that competing and succeeding in two events is a red flag per se.

I dont know enough about Mutola to recognise if that connection is dubious, but will take your word for it.

Anyway, the initial discussion was on Mo Salah, who would have much more immediate question marks (I would think).

On a side note - good to chat about this with people who know athletics.

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123537712#Comment_123537712

Anyway, the initial discussion was on Mo Salah, who would have much more immediate question marks (I would think).

Mo Salah has question marks around doping, no sure not a footballer 🤣🤣.

Ps, I know you mean Farah😉

Hashtaglavista

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123537712#Comment_123537712

Yeah, I copped that you meant about Hassan doing the treble after I wrote that.

She didn't do that great in all the events though but shes super talented.

I absolutely love Hassan and shes a great personality as well but I am dubious about the fact that she was also in the Nike club that time as well.

Agreed totally about Mo as well.

Great to chat with you.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123538266#Comment_123538266

Oh dear…. 😬