illegal substances for tournies

[frenzl]

does "maryjane" count as one of the illegal supplements or whatever for tournaments. i was just curious so don't lable me as the pot head fencer.

[40Saberthieves]

Considering its illegal, then yes, it is not allowed at tournaments.

[AndrewH]

Well in that way, yes it is illegal, you can't go lighting up between pools and DE's. But would you want to? THC slows your reflexes down and makes you lethergic, not to mention hungry. Save it for when you're at home lying on the couch, and have money to order a pizza.

And the official answer is yes, even though it is not a performance-enhancing substance, tetrahydrocannibanol aka THC aka "Mary Jane" is a banned substance. If you test positive they can take your medal away.

[Sabresque]

I'm curious. How wide spread is doping among the top fencing community? I know Flessel-Colvic tested positive, but I was just curious, since we've been studying a lot of that lately in some sports classes I've been taking.

[nahouw]

Originally posted by frenzl
does "maryjane" count as one of the illegal supplements or whatever for tournaments. i was just curious so don't lable me as the pot head fencer.

Yes; Steve Geberman lost a Gold Medal at a Junior World Cup for testing positive.

[AndrewH]

Marijuana's banning is just another of the government's weapons in the "war on drugs".

Marijuana is certainly not a performance enhancing substance. Neither is any opiate (i.e. heroin). Yet they're banned. It doesn't seem logical for athletic honors to be withdrawn because of use of such substances when their use had no positive effect on the athlete's performance. I know they're illegal. But it's like taking away a medal because the night before, the athlete was given a speeding ticket. It's illegal to speed yet it has no bearing on their performance. Same with cannibinoids/opiates.

The argument that "it's illegal, so it should be banned" doesn't hold up here, because LSD is not banned, and it's an illegal substance.

If the government wants to throw people in jail because they use illegal drugs, that's their business, but you should have every right to take your medal to jail with you provided the drugs you took didn't give you any sort of unfair advantage.

On a side note, about testing positive for THC at competitions, THC stays in the bloodstream for an average of 25 days. Even if marijuana was a performance enhancing substance, its effects would be long gone by 25 days, and yet your medal can still be withdrawn if you test positive 25 days later.

[veeco]

There are 2 types of testing: testing done at tournaments, and random testing done at any time. If you are highly placed on the points list, you need to notify the USFA your whereabouts so that if you are chosen for testing they can find you.

In the first case, testing for THC does happen, as well as other illegal drugs (don't know about LSD).

In the 2nd case, testing is done only for "performance enhancing" drugs, like steroids, etc.

So if you are a drug user, you need to be aware of the fact that you cannot use drugs when tournaments are coming close, as you may get tested.

At least it tries and promote a healthier lifestyle for athletes who may try and find some comfort in those recreational drugs to cope with the stress of training and competitions.

Bottom line is: if you are going to compete seriously, then don't do this. It's not going to help, and it may put an end to your career or put you in trouble.

[andrewmcleod]

For the same reason that advertising for tobacco products is banned in fencing - it is against the sporting ethic.

[Phoenix]

I think it should stay banned because your hurting yourself. And it does effect your performance because you are better off without drugs that with. It destroys your brain. I've seen pictures. This guy smokes Marijuana and they took a picture of his brain and it had so many dead spots in it looked like someone blew it away with a shot gun. It's not cool.

[whtouche]

Does anyone know the link to a list of banned substances? I've recently been taking singulair for allergies and it just occured to me that perhaps I should check the list and find out if I could be in trouble.

[EricS]

Additionally, a THC user can test positive even if he lays off for a month! (or so I've heard--no personal experience here!)

Somewhere else I heard that if you eat foods containing poppy seeds (bagels, muffins, etc), you can test positive for opium and its derivatives.

[kalivor]

Originally Posted by AndrewH

It doesn't seem logical for athletic honors to be withdrawn because of use of such substances when their use had no positive effect on the athlete's performance. I know they're illegal. But it's like taking away a medal because the night before, the athlete was given a speeding ticket. It's illegal to speed yet it has no bearing on their performance. Same with cannibinoids/opiates.

The argument that "it's illegal, so it should be banned" doesn't hold up here, because LSD is not banned, and it's an illegal substance.

Not to mention that marijuana isn't illegal everywhere. It's perfectly possible for a law abiding fencer from Holland who is not taking any performance enhancing drugs to test positive ... it seems pretty rediculous to me.

Creating a level playing field is one thing. Enforcing your moral views on others (particularly if they choose to live in a country that has differing laws on such issues) is another.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

i think a quote from a british transvestite is in order....

Originally Posted by Eddie Izzard

“Two languages in one head? No one can live at that speed! Good Lord, man! You’re asking the impossible!”

“But the Dutch speak four languages and smoke marijuana…”

“Yes, but they’re cheating! Everyone knows marijuana is a drug enhancement that can help you on track and field to come last in a team of 8 million other runners… who are all dead.”

oh, and ben?
http://www.usantidoping.org/

i'm 98% sure that the usfa just borrows their policy.

[dunastor]

Or look at the site of the world anti-doping agency

http://www.wada-ama.org/en/t1.asp

[vegan]

Hi all,
Us-ADA (anti-doping) is in fact in charge of enforcing the policies in the usa; at any events (they did so in the recent world cup in NYC, and in the tour of Georgia bike race) they feel is needed. It would seem the THC is only on the list in the usa, not internationally (at least, not anymore); however scince using THC is not legal in the US, they test for it.
Cheers,
B.
Ps. someplace I have the USADA book around here . . . It anyone has further questions that may be in this, I'll look for it.

[DHCJr]

Vegan you might check the web site that dunastor posted for WADA, which is international rules, not US. This is from the 2004 Prohibited List International

Section S-3 Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids (e.g. hashish, marijuana) are prohibited.

[Louweasel]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

i think a quote from a british transvestite is in order....
.

Don't even get me started... We could be talking all day about evil giraffes and God not having yet created the best part of the morning...

Stop luring me off tpoic, vile temptress!

[Cyranox11]

I use:
www.drugfreesport.co.za
it is overseen by Dr G van Dugteren: President of the South African Amateur Fencing Association, memeber of the FIE medical committee and a big wig in the WADA etc etc etc.
As Dr van Dugteren is an ex-fencer and involved in the FIE as well as the WADA I trust this site implicitly.

[Prometheus]

[quote=Louweasel]Don't even get me started... [quote]


Um, Ill have the cake please.

[JAySE SUiCiDE]

haha, eddie izzard..good stuff.

I'm curious. How wide spread is doping among the top fencing community? I know Flessel-Colvic tested positive, but I was just curious, since we've been studying a lot of that lately in some sports classes I've been taking.

i know that i for one have to stop taking one of my medications before any national tourney, because of the anti-doping..

wanna talk about unfair anti-doping? I take adderall for ADD. I have to stop taking it every time a nat. rolls around. I'm at an unfair advantage to everyone else because I can't concentrate aswell. Some of the rules seem so idiotic...

(ps yes i've tried other meds, they all make me not hungry..)

just my rant of the day..

~Jes