Good interview with former head of ATP doping

[corners]

http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Featur...hard-Ings.aspx

[Vrad]

Great article. Some points of note:
1) Testing is unlikely to catch any dopers.
2) Silent bans exist (he calls it an unannounced provisional suspensions, ie silent ban)
3) The sports themselves are not gonna catch dopers. Government and law enforcement agencies need to be involved.

[NadalDramaQueen]

Interesting interview.

I wonder if this thread will get as many replies as some of the others.

[mariecon]

Originally Posted by Vrad

Great article. Some points of note:
1) Testing is unlikely to catch any dopers.
2) Silent bans exist (he calls it an unannounced provisional suspensions, ie silent ban)
3) The sports themselves are not gonna catch dopers. Government and law enforcement agencies need to be involved.

Yes well we all know some governments protect their athletes, even if they're doping.

[90's Clay]

Originally Posted by Vrad

Great article. Some points of note:
1) Testing is unlikely to catch any dopers.
2) Silent bans exist (he calls it an unannounced provisional suspensions, ie silent ban)
3) The sports themselves are not gonna catch dopers. Government and law enforcement agencies need to be involved.

Pretty much common sense. Pro sport organization don't police themselves and they aren't going to expose their top money makers as dopers especially

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by Vrad

Great article. Some points of note:
1) Testing is unlikely to catch any dopers.
2) Silent bans exist (he calls it an unannounced provisional suspensions, ie silent ban)
3) The sports themselves are not gonna catch dopers. Government and law enforcement agencies need to be involved.

Unannounced provisional suspensions have always been a part of the WADA and ITF codes but the ITF is supposed to announce a player's failed drug test and subsequent banning if that player is not exonerated by an independent tribunal. The question then becomes does the ITF allow unannounced provisional suspensions to be prolonged after an independent tribunal fails to clear a player. It certainly seems logical that the ITF would make exceptions to protect their star players and the player would simply disappear from the tour for a period of time citing injury.

[mariecon]

Originally Posted by cc0509

Unannounced provisional suspensions have always been a part of the WADA and ITF codes but the ITF is supposed to announce a player's failed drug test and subsequent banning if that player is not exonerated by an independent tribunal. The question then becomes does the ITF allow unannounced provisional suspensions to be prolonged after an independent tribunal fails to clear a player. It certainly seems logical that the ITF would make exceptions to protect their star players and the player would simply disappear from the tour for a period of time citing injury.

They need more transparency. How come we all knew about Gasquet's suspension before he was able to clear himself? Are some players more equal than others?

[cc0509]

Originally Posted by mariecon

They need more transparency. How come we all knew about Gasquet's suspension before he was able to clear himself? Are some players more equal than others?

First of all Gasquet is expendable, who really cares about him? Secondly, Gasquet was not accused of using a PED, but a recreational drug.

[mariecon]

Originally Posted by cc0509

First of all Gasquet is expendable, who really cares about him? Secondly, Gasquet was not accused of using a PED, but a recreational drug.

I understand why it is the way it is. The top players are definitely not expendable. The problem is the ATP doesn't want to catch anyone (obviously) so it's a conflict of interests. There should be an independent body in charge of testing. Every so often they'll throw some poor journeyman under the bus while the big fish swim away.

[Bartelby]

The ITF and not not the ATP is in charge of doping controls, as the article points out.

The article also points out that testing is next to useless in finding drug cheats.

So given that there are no ongoing investigations the idea that anyone has an unannounced suspension is improbable.

[Murrayfan31]

So basically he is saying Nadal is guilty. Glad he admit it.

[mariecon]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

The ITF and not not the ATP is in charge of doping controls, as the article points out.

The article also points out that testing is next to useless in finding drug cheats.

So given that there are no ongoing investigations the idea that anyone has an unannounced suspension is improbable.

Ings was the head of the ATP anti-doping program so obviously the ATP was in charge of something. The ITF must be in charge of testing in the majors while the ATP has control over the rest of the tournaments. But I thought WADA actually carries out the testing. Either way, there's a conflict of interests if the ITF or ATP are responsible for testing.

[Vrad]

Originally Posted by mariecon

Ings was the head of the ATP anti-doping program so obviously the ATP was in charge of something. The ITF must be in charge of testing in the majors while the ATP has control over the rest of the tournaments. But I thought WADA actually carries out the testing. Either way, there's a conflict of interests if the ITF or ATP are responsible for testing.

WADA doesn't do any testing. They have a code with certain rules and regulations you need to follow. They also provide some oversight

[Bartelby]

An atp program doesn't mean they do testing so I think it is the itf that is responsible for this,

But the real fact is that apart from a blood passport there's not much that can be done as the new drugs will not be detected as they pass too quickly through the system.

[adil1972]

what will happen if both the finalists or all 4 semifinalists fail doping test

[Relinquis]

the more i read of this, the more i feel that doping is a big problem in pro tennis... they're cheating us.

[insert diss-approved/sad face]

[vernonbc]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

So given that there are no ongoing investigations the idea that anyone has an unannounced suspension is improbable.

Plus he says "There are checks and balances, and it is impossible for a positive test to be swept under the carpet. The ITF, the player’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADO), WADA, and the lab are all aware of the positive test at the same time."

Originally Posted by NadalDramaQueen

I wonder if this thread will get as many replies as some of the others.

Not likely, since Federer's name was also mentioned for having missed a drug test.

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by vernonbc

Plus he says "There are checks and balances, and it is impossible for a positive test to be swept under the carpet. The ITF, the player’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADO), WADA, and the lab are all aware of the positive test at the same time."

Yet, we could have been sitting here with happy faces, unaware of Contador's wrongdoings, shouldn't it have been for a leak from a certain german lab.

Originally Posted by vernonbc

Not likely, since Federer's name was also mentioned for having missed a drug test.

Federer is suspect as much as anyone else.

It is just a matter of collecting enough circumstantial evidence, to become a major suspect (like other players are).

[TennisLovaLova]

"
The current ITF Anti-Doping program has a budget of around $1.6 million. Do you think tennis needs to dedicate more funds in hopes of creating an effective program? If so, why don’t you think they have done so?

RI: I can't really say. But I do know that tennis is probably in the top 10 International Federations in terms of spending on anti-doping - maybe even in the top five. Given the sophistication of doping today, detecting serious dopers is best handled by government agencies like USADA. More money is not always a smart way to fight doping. Look at cycling."

Everything is said in those 2 sentences.
ITF has no cash to invistigate doping cases.
And national federations (through gvt agencies) are covering their athletes.
+ they test the players but not at the right moment and not for the adequate drugs

[jwbarrientos]

With no money, there is no way for a sophisticated follow up.

I agree with silent ban, especially for recreational (I love this name) drugs ... lets kiss the blonde.