Are footballers doping?

jpboard1 · 23-09-2015 01:36PM #1

For years we have heard about the widespread doping in cycling and athletics. There have been many scandals in this time. Figures such as Ben Johnson & Lance Armstrong are now names we associate with cheating, shame & maybe even ridicule.

In all this time, football seems to have avoided the limelight in this area. There is now another report after coming out which casts shadows on the sport in the area on drug taking.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-uefa-commissioned-doping-study-reveals-many-conspicuous-223419871--sector.html

Of course, UEFA are playing down the significance of this report. That is to be expected. What governing body of any sport would voluntarily admit to problems with drug taking. Look how long it took cycling to admit the issues they had.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9998667/uefa-say-that-doping-in-football-is-extremely-rare

A recent interview I read about the crossfit, a very new sport with only very meagre funding & prize money, discussed suspicions that doping may be starting to rear its head in that sport. The point was made that once money becomes involved there is always a temptation to dope. Now considering the tiny rewards in crossfit compared to football, why would there not be even more temptation in the sport that now sees billions of dollars associated with it.
There have been suspicions raised previously that would normally result in major investigations. The likes of the 'Marseille question' and the Feuntes association. Also, looking at the increased performance levels of players in a few short years, it must beg the question:

Are footballers doping?

Lovely Bloke · 23-09-2015 01:37PM

Yes, some of them are.

GLaDOS · 23-09-2015 01:47PM

It's a question of how widespread it is rather than does it happen tbh.

jpboard1 · 23-09-2015 01:55PM

ScienceNerd wrote: »

It's a question of how widespread it is rather than does it happen tbh.

It could be. I would assume that the responsibility of the OP lies in asking the question as opposed to making a judgement. Especially from a legal point of view in relation to the site.

If there is an assumption out there that there is doping going on, it begs other questions. Such as the one you have posed, how prevalent is it? But also, why does noone seem to care?

LuckyLloyd · 23-09-2015 01:55PM

Yep - the extent of it is the question.

GLaDOS · 23-09-2015 02:01PM

jpboard1 wrote: »

But also, why does noone seem to care?

FIFA, UEFA and individual FAs don't want to know because if they uncover a shítload of doping going on, it's their brand that's going to be damaged. Drug testing isn't nearly as rigorous as it could be so there's never any high profile 'busts' to make a story out of. If it isn't in the media, people aren't going to care.

Pudsy33 · 23-09-2015 02:04PM

Almost certainly, many high profile clubs and players have been linked to doctors known to suplly atheltes.

jpboard1 · 23-09-2015 02:07PM

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Almost certainly, many high profile clubs and players have been linked to doctors known to suplly atheltes.

http://www.dw.com/en/the-fuentes-doping-scandal/a-16550737

23-09-2015 02:19PM

Almost certainly widespread. Some will say there's not as close a link as in other sports due to more variables unlike baseball or cycling where it's a single action. At the same time football at the top levels is often decided by fractions of distance and time. A clearer head because of less fatigue, being able to start a run and get ball-side of a defender, little things that at the very top decide games.

Turtwig · 23-09-2015 02:26PM

Doping happens in everything competitive from video games to acting. It's naive to believe that one of the world's biggest industries doesn't have it. What's most pertinent though is what the footballers themselves regard as being "clean". Most will say they are clean. Few will explain what exactly that means.

bucketybuck · 23-09-2015 02:32PM

Anybody who looks at the released details of the Fuentes case and still doesn't think the big Spanish clubs were systematically doping is being very very naive.

Mr_A · 23-09-2015 02:44PM

The bigger question is whether the authorities have any will to tackle it. So far I have seen no evidence of such a will- after all catching people would damage the sports image, and UEFA/FIFA Fas in general have a vested interest in not doing so.

Winston Payne · 23-09-2015 03:02PM

Joke testing regimen, huge physical demands and financial incentive to juice. It's pretty much beyond question.

brevity · 23-09-2015 03:04PM

I'd say there is a "don't ask, don't tell" attitude to what goes on in the treatment centers.

It's not unreasonable to think that it goes on and when it all eventually comes out, it will take the shine off a number of clubs and players achievements.

paulbok · 23-09-2015 03:30PM

Avg senior squad size is 25 players x 92 clubs in Englands top 4 divisions.
Thats a minimum of 2,300 players just in England so if there aren't 10-20+ (and I'm being extremely generous with my low assumptions) players at it it's a miracle.
Then take account of the players in leagues with alledged doping and borderline treatments, it's only a matter of time before stories come out.

23-09-2015 03:38PM

People will dope and cheat at amateur levels (recent case in Ireland in cycling, not even top class) let alone in the pros.

death1234567 · 23-09-2015 03:40PM

jpboard1 wrote: »

Are footballers doping?

Yes. It's not just footballers though, it's every sport. Dealing with the issue is bad for business though so don't expect anything to happen.

Maximus Alexander · 23-09-2015 03:40PM

Of course it's happening, and there doesn't appear to be a will to expose it or do anything about it and, to be honest, I'm okay with that.

The_Kew_Tour · 23-09-2015 03:44PM

Yes of course there is doping.

Few players and clubs are obvious. Few won't be.

It's in all leagues etc.

Strumms · 23-09-2015 03:45PM

it would be naïve to expect it wouldn't be. In any scenario where mega amounts of money, ego, competitiveness meet at the crossroads you will also find meeting there also will be people who will go to any length to succeed and people who are willing to make that happen for them at a price but by any means necessary.

jpboard1 · 23-09-2015 05:01PM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Of course it's happening, and there doesn't appear to be a will to expose it or do anything about it and, to be honest, I'm okay with that.

Why?

shamrock55 · 23-09-2015 05:07PM

Not the liverpool players obviously

bur · 23-09-2015 05:21PM

It's all starting to trickle out.
But no one is accountable to anybody and the doping agencies are in on the scam themselves.
It would take something like the FBI getting involved?

I honestly haven't heard a good reason why they don't just regulate PEDs, what is so inherently awful about them?

shamrock55 · 23-09-2015 05:43PM

bur wrote: »

It's all starting to trickle out.
But no one is accountable to anybody and the doping agencies are in on the scam themselves.
It would take something like the FBI getting involved?

I honestly haven't heard a good reason why they don't just regulate PEDs, what is so inherently awful about them?

Because sport is all about putting the human body to the test and getting the best out of yourself not about putting god nows what and god knows how much **** into your body to falsely show what you as a person is capable of

Strumms · 23-09-2015 05:48PM

bur wrote: »

I honestly haven't heard a good reason why they don't just regulate PEDs, what is so inherently awful about them?

Because.. It's fundamentally at odds with the very definition and ideals of sport and fairness. If we had a situation as you suggest it would be all down to who could afford the best doctor(s) and the best drugs. From amateur up to professional. It would make a mockery of sport and fairness. It's already too much about $£ as it is....

Maximus Alexander · 23-09-2015 05:49PM

jpboard1 wrote: »

Why?

Why to which part?

jpboard1 · 23-09-2015 06:04PM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Why to which part?

Why are you okay with it?

Also, curious as to know would you have a similar view in relation to cycling and athletics?

Paully D · 23-09-2015 07:25PM

If Sunderland would like to start it, any day now would be very much appreciated.

jpboard1 · 23-09-2015 07:29PM

Paully D wrote: »

If Sunderland would like to start it, any day now would be very much appreciated.

Sunderland always seem to turn things around at the strangest times...

GLaDOS · 23-09-2015 07:31PM

Paully D wrote: »

If Sunderland would like to start it, any day now would be very much appreciated.

Knowing Sunderland's luck they'll be the ones to get caught and get fúcked out of the league or something :pac:

jpboard1 · 23-09-2015 07:31PM

Listening to Off the Ball the other night they had a French journalist(his name escapes me) on who was discussing the topic of this thread. He suggested that the screening of players may be slightly better in England than in it is Europe. If this is true, would it explain the poor performance of English in Europe in the last few years?

Are footballers doping?

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