Will the rules about Marijuana and Sports ever be figured out??

keets · July 2, 2021 2:44PM

I read yesterday about U.S. Olympic sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson being ruled ineligible for the Olympic 100 meter event because she tested positive for THC, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in Marijuana. In part the report read:
"It's not a steroid. It's not a growth hormone. It's nothing to make you run faster, jump faster, throw faster — furthest thing from that," said Joseph M. Hanna, a Buffalo, New York, attorney who is not working with Richardson but has represented major sports league franchises and professional athletes. "It has more of an opportunity to slow you down than to speed you up."

It seems like eventually the governing bodies in athletics will come to some resolution on this, especially with the way individual States are legalizing use while National/International/Professional Sports still deems it illegal. In the case of Richardson, the drug was consumed legally in Oregon, though she no doubt must have known it would be found in her post race drug testing. Shame on her, but shame on the rest of the World, also.

It's interesting that athletes can legally consume substances(caffeine, for example) which are known to enhance performance. I assume that eventually changes will be made, a sprinter like Richardson and a Football player like Josh Gordon won't be banned for Marijuana use. When Gordon played with the Cleveland Browns he had one season where his yards/game average was almost 120 yards, I think he had three consecutive games with 200+ yards. It was disappointing to lose him because he liked to smoke dope.

Social Progress is slow.

Al H.

doubledragon · July 2, 2021 3:09PM

I don't agree with her being ineligible from the Olympic 100 meter for this, I think she should still be eligible. I could understand if it was a performance enhancing drug in her system, but Marijuana, come on. That's just my opinion. Carry on.

Justacommeman · July 2, 2021 3:57PM

Snoop and I agree

m

Brick · July 2, 2021 4:45PM

Absolute nonsense.

stevek · July 2, 2021 4:55PM

Pasted:

Q: If marijuana isn't thought to enhance performance, then why is it still banned?

A: According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), "for something to be added to the ... prohibited list, it must meet two of the three inclusion criteria:

It poses a health risk to athletes.
It has the potential to enhance performance.
It violates the spirit of sport.

Though The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has increased the threshold for a positive test, it has not taken marijuana off the list because it still asserts that the drug meets at least two of the above criteria. Also according to USADA: The 2021 World Anti-Doping Code newly classifies THC as a "Substance of Abuse" because it is frequently used in society outside the context of sport.

doubledragon · July 2, 2021 4:56PM

Here you go @keets, a song for you to bump when you fire up that blunt later!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_CL6n0FJZpk&list=RD_CL6n0FJZpk&start_radio=1

stevek · July 2, 2021 5:07PM

@stevek said:
Pasted:

Q: If marijuana isn't thought to enhance performance, then why is it still banned?

A: According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), "for something to be added to the ... prohibited list, it must meet two of the three inclusion criteria:

It poses a health risk to athletes.

It has the potential to enhance performance.

It violates the spirit of sport.

Though The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has increased the threshold for a positive test, it has not taken marijuana off the list because it still asserts that the drug meets at least two of the above criteria. Also according to USADA: The 2021 World Anti-Doping Code newly classifies THC as a "Substance of Abuse" because it is frequently used in society outside the context of sport.

My response to the criteria:

Marijuana is a health risk to everyone - that is a fact. Including non-users because of traffic accidents based on drivers operating a motor vehicle when stoned.
Isn't marijuana supposed to be a pain killer? If say a runner had a slightly sprained foot, wouldn't lessening the pain so they can't feel it, be considered performance enhancing?
I agree that as long as marijuana remains illegal in many states and illegal in many countries, it does violate the spirit of sport in the regard of illegality.

Sorry to sound harsh, but likely if not definitely Richardson knew the rules, and she violated the rules. She received punishment for violating the rules. That's the way the real world works.

Tabe · July 2, 2021 6:01PM

She knew the rule and knew she was violating the rule. She fully admits it.

Steven59 · July 2, 2021 6:07PM

So don't smoke weed but go ahead and pump your male body full of female estrogen so a dude can compete in the women's weightlifting competition - makes perfect sense - Right?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57549653

Well when "SHE" says "Wash the dishes" I'm a gonna be washing them dishes.......

stevek · July 2, 2021 6:27PM

@Steven59 said:
So don't smoke weed but go ahead and pump your male body full of female estrogen so a dude can compete in the women's weightlifting competition - makes perfect sense - Right?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57549653

Well when "SHE" says "Wash the dishes" I'm a gonna be washing them dishes.......

I would agree that males competing as females in sports, is overall worse for sports than marijuana use.

It is a travesty to women's sports, particularly on the high school and college level.

Steven59 · July 2, 2021 6:40PM

@stevek said:
I would agree that males competing as females in sports, is overall worse for sports than marijuana use.

It is a travesty to women's sports, particularly on the high school and college level.

A travesty YES! What happens to the "Real" female NCAA athletic scholarships?

blurryface · July 2, 2021 7:02PM

@stevek said:

@stevek said:
Pasted:

Q: If marijuana isn't thought to enhance performance, then why is it still banned?

A: According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), "for something to be added to the ... prohibited list, it must meet two of the three inclusion criteria:

It poses a health risk to athletes.

It has the potential to enhance performance.

It violates the spirit of sport.

Though The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has increased the threshold for a positive test, it has not taken marijuana off the list because it still asserts that the drug meets at least two of the above criteria. Also according to USADA: The 2021 World Anti-Doping Code newly classifies THC as a "Substance of Abuse" because it is frequently used in society outside the context of sport.

My response to the criteria:

Marijuana is a health risk to everyone - that is a fact. Including non-users because of traffic accidents based on drivers operating a motor vehicle when stoned.

Isn't marijuana supposed to be a pain killer? If say a runner had a slightly sprained foot, wouldn't lessening the pain so they can't feel it, be considered performance enhancing?

I agree that as long as marijuana remains illegal in many states and illegal in many countries, it does violate the spirit of sport in the regard of illegality.

Sorry to sound harsh, but likely if not definitely Richardson knew the rules, and she violated the rules. She received punishment for violating the rules. That's the way the real world works.

my response to your response:

not a fact. traffic accidents can not be construed as a health risk to everyone. no more than failure to recall faulty brakes or shark attacks can be defined as a health risk to everyone. they are accidents, not health risks. i would much rather replace all of the drivers under the influence of alcohol with the stickiest of the icky any day of the week. in fact id rather folks be stoned and driving vs texting, eating, applying makeup or any of the numerous distractions that are statistically proven to diminish ones driving abilities.
pain killer? no. help with the pain? yes. of course so does aspirin, icy hot, soaking in a tub or a cortisone shot. its pretty clear this wasnt an instance of pot for pain purposes here.
alcohol is illegal in many of countries. women showing leg or simply driving is illegal in many countries. heck fellation is still illegal in 17 states of own country. it certainly can relieve some stress & take your mind off the pain. surely you cant be against that, right? even though its technically illegal. 😉

sorry to be harsh on your harshes but we are talking weed here. as stated somewhere up above, if anything it would slow you down and reduce your lungs capacity for air, not make you faster. and yes, it enhances many things. sports performance or running faster is not on that list. unless theres a slurpee & bag of funyuns at the finish line.

Mickey71 · July 2, 2021 8:39PM

Military can't use it. People in driving positions can't use it. I hope surgeons are not using it. I hope my day care workers are not using it on the job. Police aren't using it. It absolutely is bad for your health in almost every case. Causes many motor vehicle accidents.....etc. In regard to the athlete- she knew the rules. Rules are rules. Obviously smoking or whatever way she does it was simply more important than representing her country at the Olympics. I guess I'm very slow with Social Progress. I do agree that in certain situations for pain with cancer or other illness is okay if prescribed.

blurryface · July 2, 2021 8:59PM

@Mickey71 said:
Military can't use it. People in driving positions can't use it. I hope surgeons are not using it. I hope my day care workers are not using it on the job. Police aren't using it. It absolutely is bad for your health in almost every case. Causes many motor vehicle accidents.....etc. In regard to the athlete- she knew the rules. Rules are rules. Obviously smoking or whatever way she does it was simply more important than representing her country at the Olympics. I guess I'm very slow with Social Progress. I do agree that in certain situations for pain with cancer or other illness is okay if prescribed.

i would agree being slow with social progress. thats not a bad thing though. i do agree with you wholeheartedly about our military, pilots, police personnel not smoking.

as far as health risks though, have you seen the list of “conditions” medical doctors who are licensed by state boards are able to prescribe medical marijuana? its pretty funny. but bad for your health? ehhhhh, sure. if pregnant or not fully developed into adulthood. one could counter that everything out there is bad for your health. too much orange juice is bad for you. doctors arent prescribing huffing glue or eating lead paint and people get hooked and/or od everyday on prescription pills. smoking aunt mary or edibles? never. do a lil research on traffic fatalities. weed is at the bottom of the list that i stated above. well behind texting, drinking, consuming food and so forth. heck, back in the day flipping thru my case logic looking for my chronic cd nearly was nearly the cause of more accidents than when i was actually hitting the chronic.

finally, listen to the last half of any pharmaceutical commercial. its nothing but adverse effects and associated health risks that are far worse than the condition its supposedly prescribed to help with. im actually in the pharmaceutical business. i deal with vaccines, ivig products but some of the things that go on in the prescription drug world is absolutely deplorable. patients “health” took a back seat many moons ago.

Justacommeman · July 2, 2021 10:36PM

@Mickey71 said:
Military can't use it. People in driving positions can't use it. I hope surgeons are not using it. I hope my day care workers are not using it on the job. Police aren't using it. It absolutely is bad for your health in almost every case. Causes many motor vehicle accidents.....etc. In regard to the athlete- she knew the rules. Rules are rules. Obviously smoking or whatever way she does it was simply more important than representing her country at the Olympics. I guess I'm very slow with Social Progress. I do agree that in certain situations for pain with cancer or other illness is okay if prescribed.

We are finding out day after day that rules don't matter all that much anymore. They should but they don't. People pick and choose which ones they want to follow and close their eyes to the ones that don't.

Drinking and texting while driving cause may more accidents then weed. Both are stupid but neither gets you thrown out of the Olympics. She owned up to her mistake and said she made a bad decision while mourning the death of her birth mother. It has nothing to do with it being more important then representing her country. Some people just make mistakes. Some people "crack" when grieving or dealing with a personal crisis. She's been squeaky clean all her life as an athlete. She has represented her county with honor in the past. She has been tested hundreds of times with no issue.

The irony is that while the 30 day penalty prohibits her from her main event she may be eligible to participate in the Olympics in the relays as they as on July 27 as the penalty expires. Seems pretty silly.

Drinking is way more dangerous then weed from my personal experiences in my circle of family and friends. So much more damage. For some strange reason drinking has less of a stigma then pot especially amongst older folks. A hit of a joint can get you banned from an athletic competition but consuming a bottle of Jack won't get you a second glance. Weird.

With all this being said she accepted the 30 day penalty. She took responsibility .So I guess if she is good with it we all should be as well. It's a shame regardless

m

coolstanley · July 2, 2021 11:22PM

I'm against all drugs, so I agree with the ban.

Mickey71 · July 3, 2021 1:13AM

@Justacommeman said:

@Mickey71 said:
Military can't use it. People in driving positions can't use it. I hope surgeons are not using it. I hope my day care workers are not using it on the job. Police aren't using it. It absolutely is bad for your health in almost every case. Causes many motor vehicle accidents.....etc. In regard to the athlete- she knew the rules. Rules are rules. Obviously smoking or whatever way she does it was simply more important than representing her country at the Olympics. I guess I'm very slow with Social Progress. I do agree that in certain situations for pain with cancer or other illness is okay if prescribed.

We are finding out day after day that rules don't matter all that much anymore. They should but they don't. People pick and choose which ones they want to follow and close their eyes to the ones that don't.

Drinking and texting while driving cause may more accidents then weed. Both are stupid but neither gets you thrown out of the Olympics. She owned up to her mistake and said she made a bad decision while mourning the death of her birth mother. It has nothing to do with it being more important then representing her country. Some people just make mistakes. Some people "crack" when grieving or dealing with a personal crisis. She's been squeaky clean all her life as an athlete. She has represented her county with honor in the past. She has been tested hundreds of times with no issue.

The irony is that while the 30 day penalty prohibits her from her main event she may be eligible to participate in the Olympics in the relays as they as on July 27 as the penalty expires. Seems pretty silly.

Drinking is way more dangerous then weed from my personal experiences in my circle of family and friends. So much more damage. For some strange reason drinking has less of a stigma then pot especially amongst older folks. A hit of a joint can get you banned from an athletic competition but consuming a bottle of Jack won't get you a second glance. Weird.

With all this being said she accepted the 30 day penalty. She took responsibility .So I guess if she is good with it we all should be as well. It's a shame regardless

m

Didn't know the reason she used. A death in the family is obviously very stressful; but I still believe rules are rules. And certainly alcoholism is simply tragic. From what I have witnessed 1st hand is that an alcoholics main goal without knowing is to ruin everyone around them first and then ultimately ruin themselves in the end. It is up to the family and supporters who turn unfortunately into enablers to get out and have the alcoholic fend for themselves. Especially if the relationship is abusive. Just my opinion; but it is what my eyes saw.

perkdog · July 3, 2021 1:29AM

Marijuana is NOT a performance enhancing drug, if an adult wants to smoke it I would generally be 100% ok with it. Regarding athletes that are getting paid big money for a team sport I can understand the owners not wanting a guy to smoke or do any drugs especially since he is paying them big money to be the best that they can be on the field. Nobody is going to tell me it doesn’t have any negative side effects. If you signed a guy for a 100 million plus contract do you want him smoking joint after joint? I don’t.

doubledragon · July 3, 2021 2:41AM

As far as I'm concerned, this whole situation ain't nuthin but a G thang.

coolstanley · July 3, 2021 3:03AM

Most people who drink are just social drinkers. A couple beers a day or a couple glasses of wine has health benefits. Most people who smoke pot do it everyday, or almost everyday. And thats very unhealthy according to scientific studies.

Justacommeman · July 3, 2021 7:07AM

A couple of glasses of booze or wine a day will likely get you a big belly over time. I'm pretty sure it's not cleansing your liver either. I doubt anyone considers two drinks a day part of a healthy lifestyle. Combine two drinks with a poor diet and lack of exercise and you get a whole other set of issues. FYI I'm sure two joints a day isn't great for you either

Drinking too much alcohol can have long and short-term health consequences including high blood pressure, stroke, violence, suicide and cancer in some people. For older guys anything over 1 drink a day is considered too much according to scientific studies. Problem is if you are used to drinking more all your life you will have a hard time cutting back to one and most can't.

I'm under the opinion that drinking or smoking weed in moderation (not everyday) is not going to harm you. Abusing either will.

m

coolstanley · July 3, 2021 8:55PM

@Justacommeman said:
A couple of glasses of booze or wine a day will likely get you a big belly over time. I'm pretty sure it's not cleansing your liver either. I doubt anyone considers two drinks a day part of a healthy lifestyle. Combine two drinks with a poor diet and lack of exercise and you get a whole other set of issues. FYI I'm sure two joints a day isn't great for you either

Drinking too much alcohol can have long and short-term health consequences including high blood pressure, stroke, violence, suicide and cancer in some people. For older guys anything over 1 drink a day is considered too much according to scientific studies. Problem is if you are used to drinking more all your life you will have a hard time cutting back to one and most can't.

I'm under the opinion that drinking or smoking weed in moderation (not everyday) is not going to harm you. Abusing either will.

m

Most studies I have read say One drink per day for women. Two drinks per day average for men.

Historicalwood71 · July 4, 2021 12:38AM

Mary Jane is not a performance enhancing drug. But it will enhance stupidity along with a trip to the grocery store. Ever been Soo hungry.... You came out the store with 2 bags of food just for you? I'm glad those days are over. Lost too many friends from addiction. You always look for something stronger in addiction. Mary Jane is just the beginning.

Historicalwood71 · July 4, 2021 12:48AM

Being totally brutal here.... If this is the case.... We might as well ban over smoking, drinking beer, alcohol, over the counter drugs. All of these are " Drugs" I've studied this . I was sent off as a teenager in rehab in late 80s. Learned a value lesson that probably has kept me alive today. R. I. P. my addicted brothers and sisters.... Never will forget you! It was like a warzone of people overdosing in those days. And I ask myself why I'm still alive?
She shouldn't be suspended, but we need to suspend the people that don't have a clear-cut meaning to the word " Drugs"
And I'd like to add, these were well to do people. Smart, intelligent individuals, beautiful people!
I don't know.... Just suspend the finger nails lol.... Gunna hurt someone with those.

thisistheshow · July 4, 2021 7:39AM

Based on my personal observations, two of the facts being discussed here are simultaneously true. Marijuana is both safer than alcohol and can be very destructive. Anecdotal stories regarding the destruction caused by alcohol and marijuana exist in abundance. As do the stories of responsible use of both.

Regarding the issue discussed in the OP, about the athlete being punished for testing positive, the argument that marijuana is legal in many places and /or should be legalized is not, in my opinion, the main issue. She knew it was banned, chose to use it, and has admitted it was a mistake. All of us, for all of our lives, are forced to either follow the rules, find ways around them, or fight to change them, etc. But we don't necessarily see the same public outcry and outrage in other scenarios. Are we angered when someone is forced to choose between smoking weed and getting a job that drug tests? Maybe. Maybe not. Whether or not you believe in legalization, how does that equate to following rules put in place? To having the willpower to follow rules, even ridiculous ones, to ensure that your dreams are fulfilled?

I am not advocating for or against, just providing food for thought.

keets · July 4, 2021 8:06AM

the main adverse effects of Marijuana stem from the age of the user and the method of ingestion. let's face it, inhaling 450+ degree anything isn't good for anyone, especially young, physically/mentally developing youths(yutes). past that, there are a number of benificial components to Marijuana, primarily CBD and THC.

also, it is quite misleading to make statements that using Marijuana will lead to "harder" drugs. similarly, everyone who drinks alcohol doesn't become an alcoholic.

Historicalwood71 · July 4, 2021 8:10AM

@thisistheshow said:
Based on my personal observations, two of the facts being discussed here are simultaneously true. Marijuana is both safer than alcohol and can be very destructive. Anecdotal stories regarding the destruction caused by alcohol and marijuana exist in abundance. As do the stories of responsible use of both.

Regarding the issue discussed in the OP, about the athlete being punished for testing positive, the argument that marijuana is legal in many places and /or should be legalized is not, in my opinion, the main issue. She knew it was banned, chose to use it, and has admitted it was a mistake. All of us, for all of our lives, are forced to either follow the rules, find ways around them, or fight to change them, etc. But we don't necessarily see the same public outcry and outrage in other scenarios. Are we angered when someone is forced to choose between smoking weed and getting a job that drug tests? Maybe. Maybe not. Whether or not you believe in legalization, how does that equate to following rules put in place? To having the willpower to follow rules, even ridiculous ones, to ensure that your dreams are fulfilled?

I am not advocating for or against, just providing food for thought.

Awesome talking points my good man! It's got to be rules in life, sports and lol sometimes politics!

electrode · July 17, 2021 9:35AM

Changing the topic a little in 1998 Canadian Ross Rebagliatti won the gold medal for snowboarding at the Olympics but the medal was stripped from him for a positive test of marijuana, the chief medical officer of Canada Dick Pound for the IOC said "marijuana was not a banned substance " so his medal was returned to him this story made good news and Jay Leno had Ross on the Tonight Show and Leno quipped that "Ross has the gold"

perkdog · July 17, 2021 11:32AM

If I’m paying out millions of dollars for a player then said player can not smoke during the season, if he can’t handle the “Stress” of the game then quit, simple as that. I spent 20 years banging around in one of the most brutal environments you can be in, a State Prison. We could not smoke weed to help with our “Stress” so I don’t want to hear about a pro player needing it.

Will the rules about Marijuana and Sports ever be figured out??

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