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[massivekettle]

Another one bites the dust... Tag Heuer is out. Actually... make it two. Porsche is out as well.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/08/nike-and-tag-heuer-cut-ties-with-maria-sharapova

 

[tim.mbp]

Maybe she can get sponsored by magnesium.

 

[Joni]

Yep. That's it. Whether she knew or was made aware of it, nobody knows, but that hasn't stopped people from wanting her banned for life or even stripped of all her titles.

===

Something interesting I remembered from the Bigger, Stronger, Faster* documentary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUYok77mMCk

Using the chamber has the same effect on your body as injecting EPO, but the injection is illegal whereas the chamber method is not. How is one allowed and the other isn't, when they both do the same thing?

I wonder if the drug Sharapova was taking has a legal method, something similar to the chamber?

It has the same effect, but it is more limited, it is body-produced and it has a negative performance impact depending on when you use it. It is not like EPO where you can just inject it and get the benefits. It is more like travelling to a high mountain and spending the night there, which other cyclists do. The chamber just mimics that effect at home. It is also important to note injections of any kind are illegal within cycling.

 

[Bay Maximus]

Y'all trip me out. BU- BU- BU- PANIC ROOM! Let's face it, Sharapova cheated and still got her butt handed to her by Serena without fail. I understand why she did it though. There was a lot of pressure on her to beat Serena. Serena is tested just like everyone else for the exact same substances. She's just the best.

 

[sunshine and gasoline]

Nike has suspended contract

@CNBCnow: BREAKING: Nike suspends relationship with Maria Sharapova after the tennis star said she failed a drug test. http://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/707036532146900992/photo/1

Nike distancing themselves from her to avoid any fallout? Perfectly reasonable.

 

[oti]

Y'all trip me out. BU- BU- BU- PANIC ROOM! Let's face it, Sharapova cheated and still got her butt handed to her by Serena without fail. I understand why she did it though. There was a lot of pressure on her to beat Serena. Serena is tested just like everyone else for the exact same substances. She's just the best.

I'm here for the tennis. Posts like this make it seem like Serena-Sharapova is some young adult TV show with a huge fandom on Tumblr or something stupid like that. This is sports. They are athletes. You can have a favourite but in the end their performance will determine who's better. And Serena is just better. That's it. Look at Davenport-Mauresmo, Davenport was just better. You're just as bad as Sharapova "stans".

And of course Nike should distance themselves. She doped. No matter the circumstances. She`ll be fine.

 

[Mechanized]

I'm here for the tennis. Posts like this make it seem like Serena-Sharapova is some young adult TV show with a huge fandom on Tumblr or something stupid like that. This is sports. They are athletes. You can have a favourite but in the end their performance will determine who's better. And Serena is just better. That's it. Look at Davenport-Mauresmo, Davenport was just better. You're just as bad as Sharapova "stans".

And of course Nike should distance themselves. She doped. No matter the circumstances. She`ll be fine.

Treating rivalries in sports as personal vendetta is like sports 101. It has been that way since the beginning. Don't act like it's odd.

 

[oti]

Treating rivalries in sports as personal vendetta is like sports 101. It has been that way since the beginning. Don't act like it's odd.

It's dumb.

 

[Tenebrous]

Treating rivalries in sports as personal vendetta is like sports 101. It has been that way since the beginning. Don't act like it's odd.

When it comes to teams, I really get it... But individuals? I've never been behind an individual sports person the way I'm behind Liverpool or the English cricket team.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

Treating rivalries in sports as personal vendetta is like sports 101. It has been that way since the beginning. Don't act like it's odd.

It's been that way since the beginning but it's still dumb.

 

[bud23]

Nike has suspended contract

@CNBCnow: BREAKING: Nike suspends relationship with Maria Sharapova after the tennis star said she failed a drug test. http://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/707036532146900992/photo/1

I´ve never liked Sharapova, but the backlash against her feels pretty ridiculous and excessive. Apparently, in the age of the internet, context doesn´t matter anymore

Free marketing is free marketing

 

[KingSnake]

I´ve never liked Sharapova, but the backlash against her feels pretty ridiculous and excessive. Apparently, in the age of the internet, context doesn´t matter anymore

Free marketing is free marketing

The context is that she got caught doped and thus broke the contract she signed.

 

[nillah]

Years ago I saw a report how many if not most cyclists take asthma medicine legally, which is also performance enhancing. So many sickly young men and women in the pro sports world.

A lot of hard workers 2...

 

[SeanR1221]

Years ago I saw a report how many if not most cyclists take asthma medicine legally, which is also performance enhancing. So many sickly young men and women in the pro sports world.

Using gear is more widespread than most people realize. From guys in the army, to athletes, YouTube personalities, celebrities and your average gym bro.

I think the problem is people have a misconception of what someone will look like when they're using PEDs. You don't just hulk up.

 

[bud23]

The context is that she got caught doped and thus broke the contract she signed.

The context is that she has been taking the drug for 10 years, and it was banned only this year. But yeah, whatever

 

[massivekettle]

I´ve never liked Sharapova, but the backlash against her feels pretty ridiculous and excessive. Apparently, in the age of the internet, context doesn´t matter anymore

Free marketing is free marketing

What backlash? Only people laying it in ITT are Serena fans. Seems like the backlash is very minimal considering how high profile she is.

Sponsors dropping her was expected regardless.

The context is that she has been taking the drug for 10 years, and it was banned only this year. But yeah, whatever

I think most people (including myself) are giving her the benefit of the doubt. Don't think she had the intent to use the substance as a PED, but rather for health reasons. Also, it's a bit unfortunate that her team didn't bother reading the notice properly and on a timely manner.

 

[TheSecondSpitter]

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Serena is the eternal undisputed queen.

Serena is the Queen of Drug Cheats.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/serena-williams-flees-to-panic-room_n_1073005.html

Funny thing is, Lance Armstrong pulled the same shit in France when locked himself in the toilet of his hotel room while his team manager "verified" the credentials of a random drug tester.

 

[theignoramus]

I´ve never liked Sharapova, but the backlash against her feels pretty ridiculous and excessive. Apparently, in the age of the internet, context doesn´t matter anymore

Free marketing is free marketing

Umm backlash is mixed so far. Plenty giving her benefit of the doubt and congratulating her for her "transparency".

 

[leng jai]

As usual the maturity level from the usual suspects is at minus infinite billion.

 

[Ushojax]

I´ve never liked Sharapova, but the backlash against her feels pretty ridiculous and excessive. Apparently, in the age of the internet, context doesn´t matter anymore

Free marketing is free marketing

Sponsors have nothing to gain from maintaining contracts with athletes who have failed drugs tests. It looks much better for their brand if they drop them. Obviously nobody at Nike actually believes in clean sport at the elite level, it's all about PR. Athletes can get away with an insane level of evading, cheating and lying regarding PEDs but once you actually fail a test that's it, you will be dropped immediately.

 

[Ikuu]

I think most people (including myself) are giving her the benefit of the doubt. Don't think she had the intent to use the substance as a PED, but rather for health reasons. Also, it's a bit unfortunate that her team didn't bother reading the notice properly and on a timely manner.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/08/meldonium-maria-sharapova-failed-drugs-test

Pretty clear she wasn't using this for health issues and instead for increased performance.

 

[massivekettle]

The context is that she has been taking the drug for 10 years, and it was banned only this year. But yeah, whatever

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/08/meldonium-maria-sharapova-failed-drugs-test

Pretty clear she wasn't using this for health issues and instead for increased performance.

How is that pretty clear? The substance has clear health benefits.

 

[Ushojax]

How is that pretty clear? The substance has clear health benefits.

Do you not find it odd that so many elite level athletes, especially those from Russia, are using these substances for medical reasons?

• It is manufactured in Latvia and only distributed in Baltic countries and Russia. It is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States and is not authorised in the rest of Europe.

It's amazing that her team were dumb enough not to check the banned substances list considering how obviously dodgy this drug is.

 

[massivekettle]

Do you not find it odd that so many elite level athletes, especially those from Russia, are using these substances for medical reasons?


It's amazing that her team were dumb enough not to check the banned substances list considering how obviously dodgy this drug is.

I think we have firmly established how corrupt the FDA is. FDA is not a moral compass in the world of drugs.

Maybe the FDA has its reasons to ban the drug, but clearly Eastern European countries see health benefits in using this particular drug.

 

[kottila]

Two new russian caught for the same substance today, the speed skaters Pavel Kulizjnikov and Semen Yelistratov.

 

[theignoramus]

Do you not find it odd that so many elite level athletes, especially those from Russia, are using these substances for medical reasons?


It's amazing that her team were dumb enough not to check the banned substances list considering how obviously dodgy this drug is.

Russia sent out warnings to its athletes last year to stop taking the drug. "I didn't click the link" doesnt explain why whomever Sharapova had importing the drug from Russia didn't issue her team forewarning.

 

[entremet]

Using gear is more widespread than most people realize. From guys in the army, to athletes, YouTube personalities, celebrities and your average gym bro.

I think the problem is people have a misconception of what someone will look like when they're using PEDs. You don't just hulk up.

Yep. Example number 1--Lance Armstrong.

Also many PEDs just improve recovery, which is a huge advantage, but not a bigger, faster, stronger type of thing.

 

[oti]

When it comes to teams, I really get it... But individuals? I've never been behind an individual sports person the way I'm behind Liverpool or the English cricket team.

It's like Justin Bieber vs. One Direction fans or something. Just go away or grow up.

 

[kottila]

I think we have firmly established how corrupt the FDA is. FDA is not a moral compass in the world of drugs.

Maybe the FDA has its reasons to ban the drug, but clearly Eastern European countries see health benefits in using this particular drug.

It has nothing to do with health issues. Almost 20% of Russian athletes were not taking a ischemia/heart failure drug out of medical necessities. There is a huge amount of possibly performing enhancing drugs being created all the time and a dedicated medical team can easily stay one step ahead of a slow moving and underfunded WADA. The Russians have a widespread state-supported doping problem

 

[KingSnake]

The context is that she has been taking the drug for 10 years, and it was banned only this year. But yeah, whatever

Why was she taking the drug in the past 10 years?

 

[BossDarkseid]

Why was she taking the drug in the past 10 years?

She says health reasons for poor blood flow...which is actually not that uncommon. Iirc it makes people tire relatively easily and that sort of thing. I could be getting it mixed up with anaemia.

 

[Gorthaur]

Y'all trip me out. BU- BU- BU- PANIC ROOM! Let's face it, Sharapova cheated and still got her butt handed to her by Serena without fail. I understand why she did it though. There was a lot of pressure on her to beat Serena. Serena is tested just like everyone else for the exact same substances. She's just the best.

...the best at hiding what she uses. Like every other professional sports figure.

 

[theignoramus]

Why was she taking the drug in the past 10 years?

If she can prove she was taking it for the medical reasons she states I'd expect a lenient ban.
I find it difficult to believe the drug was purely taken for medical reasons,since it it can't even legally be sold in America or the EU.

 

[Wafflecakes]

The context is that she has been taking the drug for 10 years, and it was banned only this year. But yeah, whatever

Manufacturer says that the normal treatment of the drug lasts 4-6 weeks.

 

[yuraya]

That ugly carpet quote from her was incredible. I laughed pretty hard

Spoken like a true stuck up diva.

 

[soundahfekz]

Serena is the Queen of Drug Cheats.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/serena-williams-flees-to-panic-room_n_1073005.html

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[Angelus Errare]

When it comes to teams, I really get it... But individuals? I've never been behind an individual sports person the way I'm behind Liverpool or the English cricket team.

Well the other aspect (which I'm sure everyone will try to downplay) is racial in regards to Serena vs Sharapova.

 

[Cipherr]

I´ve never liked Sharapova, but the backlash against her feels pretty ridiculous and excessive. Apparently, in the age of the internet, context doesn´t matter anymore

Free marketing is free marketing

I dont understand you all trying to act like this is some harsh out of nowhere completely unexpected thing that people are DOING TO HER.

She got caught doping. Period. banned substance use is against a shitload of your endorsement contracts more than likely, and sponsors start walking sideways away from you when and if you are caught using banned substances.

This is 100% normal.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

Y'all trip me out. BU- BU- BU- PANIC ROOM! Let's face it, Sharapova cheated and still got her butt handed to her by Serena without fail. I understand why she did it though. There was a lot of pressure on her to beat Serena. Serena is tested just like everyone else for the exact same substances. She's just the best.

This doesn't have anything to do with Serena. She's the best, has been the best, and will be the best. Even if Serena ever gets busted, that doesn't change the fact she's the best. Just like how Barry Bonds is the greatest baseball player in the last 40 years, Balco or no.

So this idea that somehow Maria should be more embarrassed because she's been doping this whole time is entirely idiotic to me, because the alternative is that she'd been getting destroyed by Serena all this time and was like, "no no no, I'd rather embarrass myself time and again than get some PEDs to help me beat her."

What competitor is going to take the second option?

We don't hate Lance because he cheated, we hate him because he's a hypocrite.

 

[theignoramus]

Well the other aspect (which I'm sure everyone will try to downplay) is racial in regards to Serena vs Sharapova.

When Russians ask why so many Americans root for Sharapova over Serena in their head to head matches, you know something is in the air and it aint nothin pretty.

 

[Good Job Bob]

Serena Williams Is Poised to Become the World's Highest-Paid Female Athlete

 

[witchedwiz]

I don't get the surprise..
I'd be more interested to have ever access to the name of athletes that placed first (or own the competition for their individual sport ) without ever, EVER using any sort of drug...
That would be much more interesting to get some context..
Alas this would be always impossible as they might not catch someone doped for 10 years and the. Catch him on the 11th and we cannot rule out that he was using them before but managed not to get detected...

 

[Malleymal]

Damn people are acting like she killed someone. they weren't exactly sponsoring her for all of her current athletic achievements... Lets be honest here. She was great years ago. This is just their opportunity to jump off with some reasoning.

Sucks for her.

 

[Gorthaur]

When Russians ask why so many Americans root for Sharapova over Serena in their head to head matches, you know something is in the air and it aint nothin pretty.

Sure, it's always the race card.

It can't be the fact that Serena looks like a man on steroids and Sharapova is really beautiful and feminine, no, that's inconceivable.

 

[soundahfekz]

Well the other aspect (which I'm sure everyone will try to downplay) is racial in regards to Serena vs Sharapova.

There's always the racial aspect. Just like we never seen a thread when Johnny Football beat the shit out of his GF

Edit:

Sure, it's always the race card.

It can't be the fact that Serena looks like a man on steroids and Sharapova is really beautiful and feminine, no, that's inconceivable.

Oh wow the classic "black woman looks like a man" stereotype. Welp, you had a good run

 

[theignoramus]

Sure, it's always the race card.

It can't be the fact that Serena looks like a man on steroids and Sharapova is really beautiful and feminine, no, that's inconceivable.

Thanks for making my case for me, lmao.

 

[massivekettle]

When Russians ask why so many Americans root for Sharapova over Serena in their head to head matches, you know something is in the air and it aint nothin pretty.

.

 

[Dr.Guru of Peru]

I think you are the one being loose with facts...



Re: Nike, my bet is that she will start her own brand with Adidas not too long from now. She's the women's tennis' most valuable player (marketing-wise) and arguably top 5 in the world (including men).

Highly unlikely that Sharapvoa had any medical condition that required the use of this drug. She is a prime athlete in the peak of her career. These drugs are used in elderly people who have years of atherosclerosis build up in their blood vessels. She was doping.

 

[theignoramus]

.

I mean, theres an example of what Im talking about literally a few posts above.

 

[DontBeThatGuy]

Yeah, I'm sure the overt racism and contempt she overtly experienced in Indian Wells in 2001 has just magically disappeared altogether. It can't possibly still play a part in how she's received. That's just inconceivable because racism is dead.