So long, athletics...

[Scherf]

... it seems we hardly knew ye:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/athletics/34758980

Bribery, money-laundering, extortion, quite apart from the doping.

*sigh*

Worse even than FIFA, so goes the whisper.

*sigh*

[bozon]

Exactly the reason why there should not be professional athletes. I lost all interest in non-game sports a long time ago. It was much more interesting when we were wondering how far can a man push himself, than how far can drugs push him, or how hard can he push drugs and not get caught.

[Greebo]

Athletics...may the best chemist win.

[NatCigg]

In america it starts at a younger and younger age. Be fit active and strong.  Good nutrition is important.  Carbs are fuel, protein builds muscle, stack workout programs with protein over doses, nutrition stores feed legal body builders.  In the end high school sports are the first professional sport well now its probably middle school.  Kids aspire to be paid athletes before the reality of a fail math class can really set in. Oh and where is this human growth hormone? I want some! 

[fudgums]

Blame the parents, not the kids.

[Ripsnort]

Regarding high school and college, HGH an other muscle enhancements are a relatively small market. Yes, it starts with parenting, especially how these short term gains can have significant long term health effects. Both my kids have been rehearsed on it.

It's not nearly as bad today as it was 10-20 years ago.

The drugs that are running rampant in high school are Adderall "The smart pill" and those of the codeine-based variety.

In college, many students turn to Xanax and booze. They simply go to their physician and tell them they're under a lot of stress and the docs are prescribing Xanax like it's candy. Obviously you know the issues when you mix Xanax with booze. My boss almost lost her son to the mixture when he aspirated on his own vomit and was hospitalized in abated in the ICU for 10 days. He's now in rehab. Fortunately he's already graduated but the Xanax and booze didn't stop after college.

Recreational use[edit]

See also: Benzodiazepine misuse

There is a risk of misuse and dependence in both patients and non-medical users of alprazolam; the pharmacological properties of alprazolam such as high affinity binding, high potency, being short-acting and having a rapid onset of action increase the abuse potential of alprazolam. The physical dependence and withdrawal syndrome of alprazolam also adds to the addictive nature of alprazolam. In the small subgroup of individuals who escalate their doses there is usually a history of alcohol or other substance use disorders.[11] Despite this, most prescribed alprazolam users do not use their medication recreationally, and the long-term use of benzodiazepines does not generally correlate with the need for dose escalation.[95] However, based on US findings from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), an annual compilation of patient characteristics in substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States, admissions due to "primary tranquilizer" (including, but not limited to, benzodiazepine-type) drug use increased 79% from 1992 to 2002, suggesting that misuse of benzodiazepines may be on the rise.[96] The New York Times also reported in 2011 that "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year reported an 89 percent increase in emergency room visits nationwide related to nonmedical benzodiazepine use between 2004 and 2008."[97]

Alprazolam is one of the most commonly prescribed and misused benzodiazepines in the United States.[13][16] A large-scale nationwide U.S. government study conducted by SAMHSA found that, in the U.S., benzodiazepines are recreationally the most frequently used pharmaceuticals due to their widespread availability, accounting for 35% of all drug-related visits to hospital emergency and urgent care facilities. Men and women are equally likely to use benzodiazepines recreationally. The report found that alprazolam is the most common benzodiazepine for recreational use followed by clonazepam, lorazepam, and diazepam. The number of emergency room visits due to benzodiazepines increased by 36% between 2004 and 2006.[16]

[PJ_Godzilla]

How about an "evvah thang goes" level of pro sports? You could have that - roid rages, meth league, on-filed numbing, unlimited blood doping, all-out crazefests -  and the "substance free" version. Let's say, for example, that was done in the NFL.

Then you could compare both the on-field and off-field results. All participation would be voluntary.

Undoubtedly, some clown in the drug-free version would decide that he could probably get an edge if he just broke that one little rule...

In any case, I have little sympathy... so long as the spectacle is good. I also am glad they're now able, legally to pay NCAA-ers. Everybody BUT the players has been raping that one for decades now.

[puller]

How about an "evvah thang goes" level of pro sports? You could have that - roid rages, meth league, on-filed numbing, unlimited blood doping, all-out crazefests -  and the "substance free" version. Let's say, for example, that was done in the NFL.

Then you could compare both the on-field and off-field results. All participation would be voluntary.

I want to see this...Ive been saying for years to have a "doping league" in football or baseball...hell why not a "doping league" for MMA 

Its all about making money anyway....gladiators of the 21st century 

[NatCigg]

Regarding high school and college, HGH an other muscle enhancements are a relatively small market. Yes, it starts with parenting, especially how these short term gains can have significant long term health effects. Both my kids have been rehearsed on it.

It's not nearly as bad today as it was 10-20 years ago.

The drugs that are running rampant in high school are Adderall "The smart pill" and those of the codeine-based variety.

In college, many students turn to Xanax and booze. They simply go to their physician and tell them they're under a lot of stress and the docs are prescribing Xanax like it's candy. Obviously you know the issues when you mix Xanax with booze. My boss almost lost her son to the mixture when he aspirated on his own vomit and was hospitalized in abated in the ICU for 10 days. He's now in rehab. Fortunately he's already graduated but the Xanax and booze didn't stop after college.

Recreational use[edit]

See also: Benzodiazepine misuse

There is a risk of misuse and dependence in both patients and non-medical users of alprazolam; the pharmacological properties of alprazolam such as high affinity binding, high potency, being short-acting and having a rapid onset of action increase the abuse potential of alprazolam. The physical dependence and withdrawal syndrome of alprazolam also adds to the addictive nature of alprazolam. In the small subgroup of individuals who escalate their doses there is usually a history of alcohol or other substance use disorders.[11] Despite this, most prescribed alprazolam users do not use their medication recreationally, and the long-term use of benzodiazepines does not generally correlate with the need for dose escalation.[95] However, based on US findings from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), an annual compilation of patient characteristics in substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States, admissions due to "primary tranquilizer" (including, but not limited to, benzodiazepine-type) drug use increased 79% from 1992 to 2002, suggesting that misuse of benzodiazepines may be on the rise.[96] The New York Times also reported in 2011 that "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year reported an 89 percent increase in emergency room visits nationwide related to nonmedical benzodiazepine use between 2004 and 2008."[97]

Alprazolam is one of the most commonly prescribed and misused benzodiazepines in the United States.[13][16] A large-scale nationwide U.S. government study conducted by SAMHSA found that, in the U.S., benzodiazepines are recreationally the most frequently used pharmaceuticals due to their widespread availability, accounting for 35% of all drug-related visits to hospital emergency and urgent care facilities. Men and women are equally likely to use benzodiazepines recreationally. The report found that alprazolam is the most common benzodiazepine for recreational use followed by clonazepam, lorazepam, and diazepam. The number of emergency room visits due to benzodiazepines increased by 36% between 2004 and 2006.[16]

I have a friend that rationalizes his "addy" use.  He insists he has problems.  The problem I is he is a drug addict and uses them as  a tool to get through life.  Addys are a amphetamine, a company's form of meth.  Billions of dollars spent and weed will still land you in prison.  Feed up america , belief is a powerful thing. 

[zack1234]

People running round like greyhounds?

International Athletics is and always has been corrupt

Its not a sport they get paid for it

Fat greedy men in charge of a big money making scam

The horror!

Its North Koreas fault or Iran