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[Alpha Centauri]

LOL! Serena tested positive for prednisone?? I take that, too.

I can assure that it is not performance enhancing, lol (even though it's a steroid)

She didn't "test positive". She requested a medical exemption and was granted one.

I know you didn't mean anything negative, but the phrase lends itself towards guilt. She wasn't popped, she was given permission.

----

To those that can't see the difference with these athletes vs. what Russia and other dopers have done...

It's like an Open-book Test vs. Hiding your book under your desk during a test. I can't make it any simpler.

 

[ratcliffja]

I perform much worse at my job when I'm not on Dexedrine, which I take for my ADD. If these were substances that were found before the athletes admitted to taking them then it would be one thing, but these are legitimate drugs for which the athletes requested exemptions ahead of time. It's a total nonissue.

 

[fizzwizz]

welp what? They didn't cheat.

You understand the difference between gaining proper permission and Russia just doping up just about everyone and trying to hide it right?

Funny how so many top athletes seem to be struck down with afflictions that justify them taking substances that are banned for everyone else.

 

[MIMIC]

Alpha Centauri: Yeah, I was a little too quick typing that out.

MrToughPants: Eh, maybe I misspoke there, too. You're right in the fact that it's banned for a reason. But anecdotally, I play tennis 3-4 days a week, but nowhere on the level of Serena. But I definitely didn't notice any change with my endurance.

I even joked with my friends that I was "taking steroids" now.

 

[Starfish Hero]

Funny how so many top athletes seem to be struck down with afflictions that justify them taking substances that are banned for everyone else.

Funny how so many people in general have illnesses and conditions like bruh this isn't a conspiracy

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

Don't dope ya dope.

 

[fizzwizz]

Funny how so many people in general have illnesses and conditions like bruh this isn't a conspiracy

All those poor MMA athletes born with dangerously low testosterone levels

 

[Alpha Centauri]

People need to put down the comic books and realize that Athletes have illnesses, diseases, irregularities etc. as well.

Here are some athletes that have DIED while in top shape.

Here are a few...

Gaines Adams 26 DE Chicago Bears Cardiac arrest due to Cardiomyopathy 2010
Leon Bender 22 DT Oakland Raiders Seizure 1998
Thomas Herrion 23 G San Francisco 49ers Ischaemic heart disease 2005

Steve Bechler 23 Pitcher Baltimore Orioles complications from use of ephedra 2003
Evan Chambers 24 Center Field Pittsburgh Pirates cardiac arrhythmia 2013

The list is long. And the list of athletes with health issues is even longer.

Do people really think that if you are an athlete it means you can't have health problems?

 

[MIMIC]

And I forgot that Venus is battling an autoimmune disease. She's probably on all kinds of stuff. Her receiving an exemption is a no-brainer.

 

[TSM]

There's so much money involved, and such a history of abuses that's it's extraordinarily naive to think that anyone in the top 1% of athletes aren't gaming the system. If anyone hasn't seen it they should watch the ESPN 20 for 20 9.79*. It's an eye opener.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

And I forgot that Venus is battling an autoimmune disease. She's probably on all kinds of stuff. Her receiving an exemption is a no-brainer.

right? Serena almost died and Venus' disease is well documented. They mention it like every time she competes.

 

[SecretDan]

This thread is an absolute dumpster fire fueled by failed reading comprehension tests.

And lots of people saying salt and Ls because reasons.

 

[Starfish Hero]

All those poor MMA athletes born with dangerously low testosterone levels

People like you get hung up on the "banned substances" term and think the rule exists to remove all drugs from sports. It doesn't. The rule exists to prevent the abuse of drugs to gain a competitive edge. The exemption exists because people, shockingly, have actual reasons to take drugs. It isn't to give top athletes an out.

I hope that's straight-forward enough for you to recognize the difference between abusing steroids and getting approval to take ADHD medication as perscribed.

 

[Vol5]

I'd like to know how the anti-doping commission manages exceptions and what is the range of drugs they can allow for certain individuals. If Athlete's have sympathetic doctors and medical staff and produce documents in favour of exemption then does the commission investigate that individuals background? How exactly does that person qualify? Presumably they only have the doctors word to go on....

 

[Joyful]

why leak what we already know
lotta wasted effort here

 

[Starfish Hero]

I'd like to know how the anti-doping commission manages exceptions and what is the range of drugs they can allow for certain individuals. If Athlete's have sympathetic doctors and medical staff and produce documents in favour of exemption then does the commission investigate that individuals background? How exactly does that person qualify? Presumably they only have the doctors word to go on....

This isn't high school gym class, getting an exemption is a little more involved than getting a doctor's note.

 

[Euphor!a]

This isn't high school gym class, getting an exemption is a little more involved than getting a doctor's note.

What does it involve?

 

[TheChewyWaffles]

Huh

well this gon be interesting

.

 

[Starfish Hero]

What does it involve?

It varies on the sport, but you could see things such as interviews with the player, interviews with the doctor, and relatively extensive proof of medical history.

Look skeptics, I'm not saying the system is perfect and I'm sure people use the exemption to cheat. But it's ridiculous to suggest that simply because someone is using the exemption they're cheating. Running fast and hitting a ball hard doesn't make you immune to illness.

 

[Toxi]

What does it involve?

https://wada-main-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/resources/files/wada-2016-istue-final-en_0.pdf

 

[Toxi]

.

It's not really interesting when medical exemptions for banned substances were already known.

The only thing this does is reveal individuals' medical histories, which correspond entirely to the set standards and are kept private information for a reason.

 

[lightskintwin]

What does it involve?

http://www.usada.org/substances/tue/tue-faqs/#grantTUE

How do I get a Therapeutic Use Exemption?

To obtain a TUE, you should visit the Apply for a TUE page on the USADA Website. There you will find two documents to download: 1) an application form and 2) medical information required to justify the use of the prohibited substance. Read both documents so that you understand the requirements, and bring them with you to your doctor’s appointment. Your doctor should review the medical requirements for the TUE so that he or she can supply all of the relevant information. After completing the application, submit it to USADA by fax, mail, or email according to the instructions on the application form. We will notify you when we receive your application. If you don’t hear from us within three days, let us know – we may not have received your application.

What can I do to increase my chances of a Therapeutic Use Exemption?

The most important aspect of a TUE application is the medical file. The Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUEC) will need to review any and all relevant medical details related to the application, including patient history, test results, how the disease/disorder/injury has been managed over time, and any and all attempts to use non-prohibited medications and methods. WADA has the right to review any TUE application at any time. It is in your best interest to make sure your TUE file is as complete as possible.

What is a Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUEC)?

The TUEC is the group of doctors and medical experts that review your TUE application and recommend whether the TUE should be approved or denied based on the criteria in the WADA International Standard of TUEs. Each anti-doping agency and International Federation has its own TUEC. Your identity is never revealed to the TUEC.

 

[Matt]

Which makes the whole thing not better.

ADHD meds do help you to get more focused, that's why a lot of students use them as well. In a sports like gymnastics this is a very grey area and of course it will have a sour taste.

It does have a positive effect in that field, reduces stress and makes you less nervous, so of course a lot of people will not like this.

People with ADHD use medication to get to the level of someone without the condition.

ADHD meds effect those without the condition vs those with the condition very differently.

 

[Andodalf]

Isn't Prednisone wasting? I never feel great when I have to take it, which is when my allergies/ asthma flare up.

 

[Skellig Gra]

They were granted medical exemptions proactively so I fail to see anything noteworthy here at all.

 

[DrFunk]

D'awwwww poor Russians

 

[jblank83]

All this because of prednisone?

GTFO

Isn't Prednisone wasting? I never feel great when I have to take it, which is when my allergies/ asthma flare up.

Yes, it will keep you from building muscle. There aren't any body builders bulking up with prednisone.

 

[EatinOlives]

It feels like Russia is waging an unofficial new cold war with the constant hacking. I don't know if the better course of action for the US would be to engage or ignore.

 

[WedgeX]

Rarely have leaks been so transparent.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

thanks for letting us know Serena and Venus are doing things by the book Russia.

 

[AlphaDump]

It feels like Russia is waging an unofficial new cold war with the constant hacking. I don't know if the better course of action for the US would be to engage or ignore.

oh it goes pretty deep, and there are current examples right in front of you.


the article mentions 'Fancy Bears, which is also known as Tsar Team (APT28)'. APT28 has many aliases but they are definition out for intention of stoking geopolitical chaos.

It is all very coordinated, from media/social media to forums like neogaf. They literally have troll armies.

You are seeing the birth of a whole new kind of warfare that runs on the concept of having "infinite lives" because online you can just keep coming back.

 

[Dubbedinenglish]

It feels like Russia is waging an unofficial new cold war with the constant hacking. I don't know if the better course of action for the US would be to engage or ignore.

The better question is what constitutes retaliation. Is it something like Stuxnet, or like shutting down the Internet for N.Korea? Does it spill over to the real world and risk conflict over hacks?

 

[fizzwizz]

Do people really think that if you are an athlete it means you can't have health problems?

Do people really think that athletes aren't gaming the exemption system?

 

[Toxi]

Do people really think that athletes aren't gaming the exemption system?

Unless you want to ban medical exemptions, that's always a risk. There are measures put into place to minimize that risk like Lightskintwin posted, and there is absolutely no reason to believe any of the athletes whose health profiles were leaked are gaming the system.

 

[GoutPatrol]

Not really

Athletes that spent every waking moment for a majority of their lives trying to be the best at their sport

vs

a few guys that show up on a saturday once in a while to goof around

It's just a bad anecdote in general

So you think that spend every waking moment of their lives trying to be the best would not try and skirt the legality of the system? That they wouldn't find ways to get medication that would help them athletically? Every sport is filled with their Dr. Feelgoods.

 

[harriet the spy]

Au contraire

Eh. It also melts your muscles if taken regularly, and is completely standard treatment for autoimmune disorder - whatever she has.

 

[BobLoblaw]

Can we please ban Russia from every Olympics for the next 20 years?

 

[The Last Wizard]

Hmmmm strange why these 2 was targeted..I wonder what they have in common

That they're both dominant athletes in there respective sports? Don't make everything about rac....I tried to get that out with a straight face lol

We know why.

 

[ColdLasagna]

Serena is a gift to this world, the power, skill and undeniable beauty is something this world has never seen.

I love you Serena.

Piss off Russia.

 

[Bubba T]

No it doesn't, they just salty cause 2 black women are styling on fools

.

 

[Toxi]

So you think that spend every waking moment of their lives trying to be the best would not try and skirt the legality of the system? That they wouldn't find ways to get medication that would help them athletically? Every sport is filled with their Dr. Feelgoods.

Okay, so where is the evidence these particular athletes skirted the legality of the system?

 

[p2535748]

Nobody bought Sharapova's excuse either, for good reason because it's a farce. But I find it strange that we afford Serena the benefit of the doubt without knowing exactly what the condition is.

I mean USADA is the bastion of integrity and all that.

We have no right to know what the condition is.

Nobody bought Sharapova's excuse because it was a terrible excuse. Saying "I forgot to read the rules" doesn't work as an excuse when you're an adult.

Serena's excuse is "I need this drug to be healthy." Now we can debate all day whether or not that's true, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a vastly different, and vastly more compelling, explanation.

Every athlete had the opportunity to go through the exemption process. Of course it can be gamed, but unless you're willing to just tell every athlete with an easily treatable medical condition "too bad", there's not really a better system.

 

[Bubba T]

ITT: People are reaching for the stars

 

[Slayven]

So you think that spend every waking moment of their lives trying to be the best would not try and skirt the legality of the system? That they wouldn't find ways to get medication that would help them athletically? Every sport is filled with their Dr. Feelgoods.

“In each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication,” said Travis T. Tygart, president of the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

What are you talking about?

 

[Chumly]

We have no right to know what the condition is.

Nobody bought Sharapova's excuse because it was a terrible excuse. Saying "I forgot to read the rules" doesn't work as an excuse when you're an adult.

Serena's excuse is "I need this drug to be healthy." Now we can debate all day whether or not that's true, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a vastly different, and vastly more compelling, explanation.

Every athlete had the opportunity to go through the exemption process. Of course it can be gamed, but unless you're willing to just tell every athlete with an easily treatable medical condition "too bad", there's not really a better system.

Just to add on to this. Serena specifically applied and provided medical records for an exemption. Sharapova took the drug for enhancement and then "forgot" to stop taking it with no medical excuse.

 

[derExperte]

That they're both dominant athletes in there respective sports? Don't make everything about rac....I tried to get that out with a straight face lol

We know why.

http://www.n24.de/n24/Sport/mehr-sport/d/9141696/wada-hack-trifft-jetzt-auch-deutsche-sportler.html

http://fancybear.net/page-2.html

A bunch of new data including German athletes who are as white as you can be.

 

[Greddleok]

Au contraire

It entirely depends on the dosage and use, not to mention tennis isn't an endurance sport...

If I wanted to take a performance enhancing drug, I wouldn't touch a glucocorticoid.

 

[Turin Turambar]

It entirely depends on the dosage and use, not to mention tennis isn't an endurance sport...

Lol?

 

[Mental Atrophy]

This is the best Russia could do? Better luck in 2020.

 

[KingSnake]

TUE system can be abused by athletes - Dr Richard McLaren

The system of therapeutic use exemptions for athletes is open to abuse, says the man who led the probe into Russia's state-sponsored doping.

Asked if the files raised concerns, Dr Richard McLaren said: "Probably, yes. It would depend which sport."

Canadian law professor and sports lawyer McLaren told BBC World Service: "One would have to conduct investigations on specific sports as to whether or not too many TUEs are being used with respect to particular substances.

"One of the common TUEs is for ADHD medication - there may be abuse there.

"That's one area that probably needs to be looked at - how frequently are [certain medicines] being used in particular sports?

Methylphenidate, for example, is a stimulant that helps improve brain function in people with ADHD, but it could also help improve an athlete's performance and is only allowed to be used by elite performers with medical approval.