JrWC/WADA: US Fencer fails drug test at World Championships

[Mr Epee]

According to my international sports mgmt RSS ticker, there's a breaking story in Jordan with regards to a member of the US Fencing team being caught in a doping scandal. I couldn't find anything on either the US Fencing site, or on the FIE site. Of course, neither is particularly known for 'breaking news' stories.

Sounds grim.

Anyone with more information?

[jjefferies]

According to my international sports mgmt RSS ticker, there's a breaking story in Jordan with regards to a member of the US Fencing team being caught in a doping scandal. I couldn't find anything on either the US Fencing site, or on the FIE site. Of course, neither is particularly known for 'breaking news' stories.
Sounds grim.
Anyone with more information?

Any hint as to whether it was performance enhancing or recreational?

[Mr Epee]

Any hint as to whether it was performance enhancing or recreational?

It's unclear. Given the age, performance enhancing seems unlikely, but who knows these days. When you've got athletes ready to give up their US Passport (with all its rights and privileges) because of the intense competitiveness for US squad selection, then all bets are off as to what people will do in order to get ahead.

I've been swapping text messages with a Hungarian friend of mine who is on site. He confirmed that something is going on, but things are very sketchy. Nothing travels faster than bad news at a fencing competition.

Of course there are always 'B' samples and that whole rodeo.

Google Translate served up this gem of a French headline on the subject:

US Fencing drug scandal: Appalled public relations interlocutor laments forestalled outing of likely suspects.

Gee, thanks.

Might just want to get the facts straight before running to the digital press.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

There's nothing on any Euro site that I can find.
Given the timing - it'd have to be Cadets - let's hope it's just a false alarm.

[bigdawg2121]

Here's hoping for a false alarm...although really it wouldn't be a first. If one didn't know better one might think American fencers had a tendency to live in Netherlands

[Montoya]

Link to the original?

Is testing done before or after competition?

[KD5MDK]

In the US events I've seen testing done at, it's done immediately after the final bout on the 1st, 2nd and one of the 3rd place finishers. Obviously a WChamps might be more thorough or random.

[Timacheff]

This is clearly an April Fool's joke.

[pillow]

According to my international sports mgmt RSS ticker, there's a breaking story in Jordan with regards to a member of the US Fencing team being caught in a doping scandal. I couldn't find anything on either the US Fencing site, or on the FIE site. Of course, neither is particularly known for 'breaking news' stories.

Sounds grim.

Anyone with more information?

I realize that posters here are not held to the journalistic standards of the New York Times. However, don't you think you should have some real facts before making such a statement?

We all know who the top USA finishers were in the completed Cadet events, so we know who is likely to have been tested. We don't know who was tested randomly, regardless of final placement. Nevertheless, you have now started a guessing game as to which possible US Cadet medalist/fencer MAY have failed a drug test. Why don't you do some real research and email our team leaders in Jordan--you know who they are--before posting rumors. See if you get confirmation of what you have heard.

[Montoya]

This is clearly an April Fool's joke.

This makes more sense..

[pillow]

This is clearly an April Fool's joke.

Traditionally, April Fool's jokes tend to be funny, at least in retrospect. Perhaps the OP would like to make one about some Japanese fencers failing a radiation test at the Worlds, or getting cancer. Since I assume Serge is on-sight, I appreciate him setting the record straight.

[PretAllez]

"Traditionally, most people take themselves less seriously on 1 April" P. Davril

[wakeup]

Traditionally, April Fool's jokes tend to be funny, at least in retrospect. Perhaps the OP would like to make one about some Japanese fencers failing a radiation test at the Worlds, or getting cancer. Since I assume Serge is on-sight, I appreciate him setting the record straight.

Sometimes what's funny about them is the reactions they provoke...

[pillow]

"Traditionally, most people take themselves less seriously on 1 April" P. Davril

So that means if I posted that Islamic terrorists blew up the venue, and the US and Canadian delegations were killed, it would be ok with you?

[pillow]

Sometimes what's funny about them is the reactions they provoke...

Agreed.

[Timacheff]

I double-checked with the WADA doctor here, who immediately said it was an April Fool's prank. In any event, there's no way they would have results this quickly whether someone was testing positive or not.

[Mr Epee]

US Fencing drug scandal: Appalled public relations interlocutor laments forestalled outing of likely suspects.

Personally, I thought this was a dead give away.

Have a great day!

[prototoast]

Personally, I thought this was a dead give away.

Have a great day!

Yeah, and 2 weeks from now when it comes out that one of them actually did test positive... then what?

[erooMynohtnA]

Traditionally, April Fool's jokes tend to be funny, at least in retrospect. Perhaps the OP would like to make one about some Japanese fencers failing a radiation test at the Worlds, or getting cancer. Since I assume Serge is on-sight, I appreciate him setting the record straight.

You're right. This is totally inappropriate. He could have irreparably damaged the named fencer's reputation with these false allegations.

In other news, there's nothing wrong with just saying "oh you got me."

[pillow]

You're right. This is totally inappropriate. He could have irreparably damaged the named fencer's reputation with these false allegations.

In other news, there's nothing wrong with just saying "oh you got me."

Agreed again, as in post #15 above. I don't mind being fooled, but on the other hand, not at the expense of our kid fencers.