Okay so the Lance Armstrong story is not exactly rugby but there is one or two connections to be made. Former Tour de France cycling hero Armstrong has seen his world come crashing down around him. The fallen hero was stripped of his seven TDF titles soon after it was brought to light via testimony evidence collected that he had used banned performance enhancers and illegal techniques during the period covering those seven races. Initially in response Armstrong went about his business as usual, denying that he had ever done anything wrong , a lie he had gotten used to telling over the years. He eventually folded and millions around the world got to watch his recent confession to cycling wrongdoings on a massive scale during an interview with Oprah. Now he may end up having to repay millions of dollars in bonuses to his one-time sponsors. He was also forced to surrender his fight cancer charity organization Livestrong. It’s a classic case of cheaters never prosper. From all the bad, something good has actually come about and it might be even better if others learn a life lesson from this news headline story.
Back to the connection to schoolboy rugby. From time to time stories about drugs in school rugby have made headlines and caught the public’s attention. Even though there has never been a proper investigation to determine the extent to which banned substances are being used in schools, some are convinced that the rate is alarmingly higher than many suspect. Just like in the case of professional cycling, it is very costly to perform a large scale clean-up operation, not to mention the potential embarrassment it could cause to schools if they are found to have a high percentage of positive testers. Who knows, for these reasons, perhaps the serious issue does not get given the attention it might well deserve. The cycling ruling body’s philosophy is what helped buy Armstrong time and allowed him to claim TDF title after title during his career. The school rugby system may be doing the same thing.
In the book “the Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France…”, Armstrong’s former teammate Tyler Hamilton describes the reasons for their team starting to use EPO and other drugs in the first place. It basically came down to it being the only way they felt they could compete on an equal footing with the unbelievably fast European cycling teams at the time. So essentially they started drugging because they believed everyone else was doing it and without using these substances, they would never be able to level the playing fields. A scary thought if this same mentality is being applied in our school rugby. Boys taking substances just to ensure they remained competitive. In the case of Armstrong and his Postal cycling team, it lead to their cheating spiraling way out of control.
@meadows: Ye everybody never seems to know there was a problem
@Gungets Tuft: I’d love to but i’d probably be sued ;-) I don’t think that it takes a great deal of imagination though. What worries me is that I cannot believe that Sarfu are unaware – a bit like the cycling bodies – makes you start to wonder about incidents like the “tainted supplements” a few years ago on the EOYT and players getting lenient treatment for taking the wrong “cough” or “flu” meds.
What a shocker a big disgrace to sport as a whole
@meadows: At least tell us the province …
I read Tyler Hamilton’s book recently and what struck me, aside from the scale of the doping, was the refernce to sportsman across all sports being “treated” by these drug docters. I think that it is an open secret that drug use is both sophisticated and widespread in the NFL in the US for eg.
I was chatting about these revelations with a couple of young pro rugby players on the weekend and was shocked to hear their take on how widespread abuse is in schools and in the young pro ranks.
They were in total agreement on certain schools. One province in particular was singled out as actively encouraging the kind of rapid bulking up that you only get from steriod use. In particular names were mentioned of specific players who have just come into the pro ranks and of whom a lot is expected who are known by their peers to be on “juice” but who have been led to believe that they are untouchable.
Thanks Westers. I agree with your previous point about gettign a few high level guys in too – and creating a culture of honour for all too.
@GreenBlooded, Don’t think they will need testing. Just going to get Lance in to give the boys an honest pep (dope) talk.
@Westers: Good article. Is Westville going the “in-house testing” route on this one?
Just kidding………….
@Bog. See attached article in same vain on News24 a short while ago.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Doping-pupils-could-face-expulsion-20130121
One Sunday newspaper reported yesterday that doping tests, beginning with the so-called sports schools, will be intensified this year, involving whole teams. I just hope that it is not confined to first teams,because I sense that illegal use may even be more rife among the “lower” teams, where they are aspiring to improve. Schools like GCB, PRG, Boishaai, Affies, according to the report, have offered their full co-operation
It is a pity that schools associated with the players found guilty will also take the brunt of the blame and a lot of finger wagging will go on. I believe that using and abusing is a personal choice and that no decent school coach of any school will knowingly promote the use of banned substances. No school or coach can control what a SBR player is doing on his own time and although they might suspect something, they have no grounds to act upon it by having the boy tested. I also believe that most of these abuses are probably to be found in the players that is on the fringes of teams…they need that extra bit to ensure a 1st team spot!
I think this is a lot biggger problem than people think.
@GreenBlooded: i agree
Would also be interested to know if this is a suspected issue in other nations too at schools level (NZ, Aus, Eng, France etc.) or are we as a nation putting the expectations on these boys?
Beet – well written. This is certainly a very relevant topic – and an elephant in the room that everyone is skirting and afraid to speak of. With rugby going to the Olympics – and I trust their anti-dope tests is genuine and will not also be exposed as a farce in the future – then rugby better get their act together.
People just seems too apathetic or unwilling to test or admit the possibility of wide-spread doping (and not just the serious stuff – but substances that no self respecting teen-ager should be exposing their bodies to … no matter if it is “legal” or not).
From personal experience, my son went to a few representative tournaments last year at U13 level – and even after having to sign indemnity forms and permissions slips agreeing to have the price of any and all dope tests for personal account in the case of a positive test. The tournaments came and went with not a urine sample even close to any of the players. In one tournament, KZN went all the way to the final, and were accused by many parents of being too big for their age group and hinted at substance use. But even then – not a single KZN player was approached by any official for a sample – and no officials were even present (as far as I could tell) that were checking this.
Times need to change……
Any idea what the cost of a dope-test is? As noted by Armstrong, it was not sufficient to test at the race – they were wise to that and made sure they were clean for the test. These tests need to be done at random times during the season (and probably most importantly pre-season – although this will be logistically difficult) to catch the bad guys. As Grasshopper says – I also believe this to be rife and out of control. I AR’ed a game last year where I accompanied the ref to speak to the 2 front rows. The one kid was so big and muscle bound – he towered over me (an I am by no means a small guy) and when he shook my hand he nearly broke it. It was totally abnormal. His 2 front row team-mates were not much different.
If the over-age scandal belongs to 2012 – then the scandal for 2013 or 2014 is going to be doping.
Baby on my lap whilst typing, Bot = bit and no = know….doh! :-)
@Beet, it’s unfortunately rife at schools. I’m in the gym often, post christmas of course to try and lose that jelly belly and see school kids pushing weights we never would have been able too. Forget improved nutrition, it’s something more than that. I used to be a gym instructor in my study years and bodybuilded a bot, so no relative strengths and what is possible. There is no way a 17 year old kid can bench press 130kg plus. The kids in the gym are doing this….along with almost 200kg squats, 100kg clean and jerks, 60kg barbel curls…….all plates on pec decs, lat pull downs etc. I know they are at school because they arrive in their uniforms. Sad but true, no wonder the SA schools side of 2012 was bigger than the Boks of the 90’s. These kids have no idea what they are in for…….serious injury and social problems eg temper, moodiness……