Right on Dara Torres (Page 2)

I think the fact that she's storing blood samples for future testing says a lot.

Here's the thing: there's no way she can escape the spectre of cheating, so she's doing everything in her power to mitigate it. What more can you ask of her? Her alternative is to either not attempt a comeback, or just to suck. She chose the alternate path of getting back into the game and excelling.  And for that, and only that, people are skeptical.

It's unfortunate, but understandable I guess.

The problem is it seems like the testing is currently carried out by labs which border on incompetent, under the guidance of cycling's governing bodies who do not seem to really have the best interest of the athletes as a priority.  I trust the labs and governing body of the sport as much as I trust the athletes...maybe less.

The linked articles speaks quite a bit to what Torres has done/is doing to be where she is...to most people who are just reading/hearing about her, yes, it's very easy to presume she's doping.  To anybody who's been following her "comeback" since the birth of her child, being there sans doping makes a bit more sense... 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080102538.html

The real tragedy of doping is that those who are truly guilty cast a shadow of suspicion on everyone else, especially someone like Torres who is able to perform at a very high standard at an (relatively) older age.

I think it's sad that she has to go to such extremes to try to demonstrate that she's clean.  She's now dropped out of the 100M to focus on the 50M, a concession to longer recovery times at her age.  If she was doping why would she have to do that?

I also can't figure how doping would have much of a benefit for an event that lasts for less than 30 seconds.  As others have mentioned, her technique is near perfection - I would put that up as the primary reason for her success. 

Those who are accusing Torres remind me of all those who accused LA of doping, even though he never failed a drug test either.  Could it be that some individuals just got a lucky draw from the gene pool, plus worked hard to take advantage of their talent?

There's lot of other professional sports where exceptional athletes have been able to perform well into their 40's and even 50's and 60's.  Did anyone accuse Jack Nicklaus of doping when he won the Masters at age 46?  What about Jimmy Connors when he made it to the US Open semi's at 39?   

When I was still bodybuilding, I did my PR in the bench press at 45, even though I had been lifting since I was 18.  The only doping I did was on beer and red wine. 

I'd much rather celebrate Torres' success, than criticize her character unjustly.

Mark  

To be fair, steroids and HGH clearly help power sports/events. Just ask Marion Jones and every 100m sprinter who's ever been caught.

I'd argue that swimming is still more of a technique sport that depends primarily on core strength.   I sure don't see the bulky shoulders and back on Torres that you used to see on the former eastern block women swimmers that doped.

Mark

Yep, golf.  There have been increasing rumors floating around the PGA tour about 'roid use, particularly since Tiger Woods has been so successful with his strength training regimen.  The obvious exception being John Daley who seems to train primarily on beer and Hooter's wings.    

Mark

That's obviously my problem - my low-tech TYR jammers are definitely slowing me down in the pool.   Not sure they make those new suits in my size though...

Mark

Now that's just crazy talk!  ;-p