he's not been banned for performance enhancing drugs - so the inference there is a ban for a recreational drug. cocaine is the usual culprit here and afaik, all major sports have bans for use of these under the "bringing the sport into disrepute" banner.
recreational drugs can also stem hunger pangs so it's also a way of keeping weight off which is very important for jockeys.
and he's previously been cautioned for possession of cocaine, back in 1993
I thought they'd said it was a diuretic - must have dreamt it or read someone speculating - apparently he's admitted taking them before they were banned - not surprising as I'm sure most jockeys did. I've never understood why athletes should be sanctioned for drugs that are purely recreational except by the police and courts so if it was cocaine I've got sympathy for him.
pops - diuretics come under the PEDs banner as they assist weight loss which in a jockey is definitely performance enhancing; or aid excretion of other banned drugs. his lawyer has said the drug was not a PED - hence inference of recreational.
Yes I wondered if perhaps his lawyer was being a bit disingenuous with his definition of a ped - but I guess that would then be inviting further criticism when it came out if it was a diuretic.
As well as being very strong and fit, most jockeys also have to maintain an artificially low body weight which means loads of self-denial. Sometimes they stray, either to let off steam or make the weight. Despite being very fit, many smoke as it's another appetite supressant. Apparently Piggot used to have a kitchen cupboard stuffed full of choclate which he would sometimes just stare at to test his will power. Maybe the racing authorities should also look at raising minimum weight limits a bit, at least for flat jockeys?
Apparently Piggot used to have a kitchen cupboard stuffed full of choclate which he would sometimes just stare at to test his will power.
Pmsl! I think I might try that!
On the subject of horse riding as a sport it still aggravates me that that it's an Olympic sport and the riders get medals where as the poor horse doing 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the work (I mean really, how "strong" and fit does a 7 stone midget have to be to ride a horse? Obviously this is regarding horse racing as most of the show jumpers are fat) get some sugar lumps.
I think the point is that the horses couldn't do what they do without a skilled rider on their backs. Have you ever seen a horse jump a fence voluntarily, let alone several fences, taking twists and turns between each one, or start dancing as they do in dressage?
The horse is part of the rider's equipment as much as a bike or a javelin, it just happens to be a living, breathing thing with its own temperament. You have to know how to handle the horse in order to get the best out of it. You could, therefore, argue that the equestrian events actually require a greater degree of skill.
Incidentally, winning horses at the Olympics get given a rosette - you could hardly give them a medal after all
Excuse the spelling error above. Should have said "physiques like flyweight boxers", which incidentally some of them were. Been a few instances of jockeys being useful boxers.
Comments
That's what I thought as well! Was it recreational or performance enhancing drugs?
I can imagine that any sport where the participants have to make a weight limit will have some dodgyness going on in terms of diruetics etc.
Maybe just to steer it in the right direction?
he's not been banned for performance enhancing drugs - so the inference there is a ban for a recreational drug. cocaine is the usual culprit here and afaik, all major sports have bans for use of these under the "bringing the sport into disrepute" banner.
recreational drugs can also stem hunger pangs so it's also a way of keeping weight off which is very important for jockeys.
and he's previously been cautioned for possession of cocaine, back in 1993
Jockeys have to be very strong and fit to stay on the horse and guide it, especially over jumps.
Drugs like amphetamines would assist with keeping weight off, as cocaine probably would too.
He's a cheat. Ban him for life.
whip him ?
Why bother with human jockeys anyway? I say we follow the example of the camel racers in the Gulf and use robots instead:
I thought they'd said it was a diuretic - must have dreamt it or read someone speculating - apparently he's admitted taking them before they were banned - not surprising as I'm sure most jockeys did. I've never understood why athletes should be sanctioned for drugs that are purely recreational except by the police and courts so if it was cocaine I've got sympathy for him.
pops - diuretics come under the PEDs banner as they assist weight loss which in a jockey is definitely performance enhancing; or aid excretion of other banned drugs. his lawyer has said the drug was not a PED - hence inference of recreational.
no doubt the actual truth will come out soon
Pointless if he's using a horse to get around,
Yes I wondered if perhaps his lawyer was being a bit disingenuous with his definition of a ped - but I guess that would then be inviting further criticism when it came out if it was a diuretic.
what about a donkey getting a cuddy back on a marine?
Thanks for that Dude! You have made my day, what a great picture Hmmm you don't think he was going to barbecue it?
Great pic Dude!
Cuddy back? I've always known that as a piggy back.
As well as being very strong and fit, most jockeys also have to maintain an artificially low body weight which means loads of self-denial. Sometimes they stray, either to let off steam or make the weight. Despite being very fit, many smoke as it's another appetite supressant. Apparently Piggot used to have a kitchen cupboard stuffed full of choclate which he would sometimes just stare at to test his will power. Maybe the racing authorities should also look at raising minimum weight limits a bit, at least for flat jockeys?
You're obviously doing different ones to the ones I used to!
Pmsl! I think I might try that!
On the subject of horse riding as a sport it still aggravates me that that it's an Olympic sport and the riders get medals where as the poor horse doing 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the work (I mean really, how "strong" and fit does a 7 stone midget have to be to ride a horse? Obviously this is regarding horse racing as most of the show jumpers are fat) get some sugar lumps.
I think the point is that the horses couldn't do what they do without a skilled rider on their backs. Have you ever seen a horse jump a fence voluntarily, let alone several fences, taking twists and turns between each one, or start dancing as they do in dressage?
The horse is part of the rider's equipment as much as a bike or a javelin, it just happens to be a living, breathing thing with its own temperament. You have to know how to handle the horse in order to get the best out of it. You could, therefore, argue that the equestrian events actually require a greater degree of skill.
Incidentally, winning horses at the Olympics get given a rosette - you could hardly give them a medal after all