Drugs in Sport
... Look at what has become of the battle against drugs in sport and weep. ... Recreational drugs do not pose a threat in any sport bar surfing. ... There is a presumption that football has a minor problem with social drugs and none at all with the other kind and it needs to be addressed, because with present testing methods there is no way of knowing if those opinions are valid. ... Yes, it is a fact that only one professional has tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance compared with almost 50 for Ecstasy, speed, cocaine, marijuana and heroin since UK Sport’s tests began. ... It doesn’t for the type of drugs that are likely to be in circulation to boost athletic function. ... Which leaves the testers and the rest of us to get our knickers in a twist over what footballers get up to in the privacy of their own nightclubs; the least relevant facet of the drugs debate. ... Not only is it not performance-enhancing, the standard reaction to it is so completely disadvantageous to participating in sport that the sternest punishment for a positive dope test would be to have to spark a fat one up before every game and pass it around the dressing-room. ... ” A footballer on recreational drugs may be hurting his own career and he may be short-changing his club, its fans, the manager and his team-mates by failing to prepare in the best manner.