Author: Michael Cummings
Date: 06:33:15 12/31/99
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On December 31, 1999 at 06:57:55, David Blackman wrote: >On December 31, 1999 at 02:46:56, Michael Cummings wrote: > >>We need to get a standard of drug list as to what is performance enhancing and >>what is not. > >The whole drugs in sport thing is just getting too silly. The pharmaceutical >companies are making huge profits selling the stuff to athletes, then more huge >profits selling testing equipment and supplies to sporting organisations. I >wouldn't be surprised if it's pharmaceutical companies' lobbying that is driving >the whole controversy. > >The latest silliness is that FIDE is recommending that all national chess bodies >start drug testing. The Australian Chess Federation is currently trying to find >out what drugs are supposed to be banned for chess. Probably they will start >testing as soon as they find out. > >What this means for me as a 1500 rated occasional tournament player is that my >membership fees would go up to pay for the testing, and i could get a knock on >the door any time for out of competition drug testing, search of my flat for >suspicious substances etc. > >What's worse is that i've taken quite a few of the drugs that are banned for >other sports, and will probably be banned for chess. And depending on future >health problems, i might have to take them again in future. Banned drugs for >other sports include pseudo-ephedrine (the active ingredient in many cough >medicines), just about any asthma treatment (i have asthma), alcohol (so why not >just a total ban on Australians?), and a huge list of stuff i've never heard of >that could easily be in my doctor's prescriptions, or even food, for all i know. > >So if they start drug testing for chess, i'll stop competing. At least they're >not drug testing computer programs yet, so i can keep working on my program. One thing, most testing equipment is not made by pharmaceutical companies, but that matters little. Now as for drugs for asthma, most sports will make acceptions to these rules. As long as they do not increase levels to a point where it enhances performance, then you should be allright. As for people knocking and searching your place, askking for you to be tested, there is no way in legal hell thewy can do that. Thay can do it, if you are training or playing at a registered club or tournament, but this will be very hard to police. The only severe action was in the tour de france, when they raided peoples hotels. But you will find this was more a police action, rather than the sport body doing this. There is some drug made in india which is sold that is suppose to enhance your brain. So for chess this would be performance enhancing. So that means Anand is a cheat if that is on the list, cause I know for a fact he uses it. Alot of the drugs listed that comes in food you buy, will not increase levels to the danger level. And if so you usually get let off. It depends on the actual drug. None of the big boys in drugs are found in bought foods. And the ones that are are usually the drugs that mask illegal drugs. So what did they do, but make masking agents illegal too> But penalties are alot less for these things. Finally, when the hell has FIDE had any power in chess to make any decisions. No one pays attention to them anymore, They are broke as well I think. Plus it would not be the club that incures this cost, but the actual sporting body. Since Australia as far a I know has no chess body, then I would expect there to be little agreement as for who pays. If FIDE wanted to test, they would have to flip the bill. Like the IOC does for its events. So what would happen, is that testing would take place at major events, with the fee paid for by FIDE, and that would be it.
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