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Swim Suit "Doping"...
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| KurtinSC |
Posted on 11-04-2008 20:57
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The coach of the Italian Olympic Swim team is complaining because of the new Speedo swim suit.
The suit was introduced in February... and since then something like 18 world records have been broken by those competing in the new suit. The Italians are upset because they are sponsored by another company (Arena I think) and they aren't allowed to wear the Speedo suit. Speedo claims the suit results in a 2% speed increase (which is HUGE).
So... the question is... can you call it "doping" when the unfair advantage is gained from equipment? It's not like the other atheletes can't get the Speedo suit... it's just their sponsors don't want them to.
The suits have been deemed legal... is it sour grapes or does Itally have a point? |
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| matt493 |
Posted on 11-04-2008 21:00
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You can't make everyone else equal. Next they will say that they all have to weigh the same and be the same height.
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 11-04-2008 21:13
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Italy have a point. Remember when UCI banned that special position on that wacky bike that broke the hour record back in the 90's? That was an unfair advantage gained from equipment (although UCI said they banned it for safety reasons). The same should apply here, only i cant see what rule the swimsuit would be breaking, only that its a huge advantage.
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 11-04-2008 21:29
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If Obree's bike and positions (plural) got disqualified then so should the suit.
YORKSHIRE BORN, YORKSHIRE BRED... |
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| Macquet |
Posted on 11-04-2008 21:37
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[sarcasm]I suppose they are going to have everyone swim naked so its fair[/sarcasm] |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 11-04-2008 21:53
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Has anyone got a link as to why it is so good?
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| diouf |
Posted on 11-04-2008 21:53
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Macquet wrote:
[sarcasm]I suppose they are going to have everyone swim naked so its fair[/sarcasm]
And then they will deal with the falling of spectators too |
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 12-04-2008 10:54
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The Danish national team has the same problem as the Italian - same sponsor (Arena) too.
Personally, I don't think there's any reason to ban it. To me, this is the same as developing new and better race bikes. Let's say Cervelo made a new and better bike. Some teams wouldn't be able to use them, because they are being sponsored by another manufactor (spelling) - too bad for them.
Or else, this is just a conspiracy. They are all saying it's because of the new suit, but in reality, they've all decided to start doing some new drugs  |
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| KurtinSC |
Posted on 14-04-2008 16:21
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Crommy wrote:
Has anyone got a link as to why it is so good?
https://machinist....eedo_suit/
The hilights:
-"Speedo says the suit reduces the water's drag against swimmers by up to 10 percent, and increases "oxygen efficiency" by 5 percent (compared to previous suits). "
-"The secret, according to swimmers, is in the groin and abdomen. The LZR is built, there, with an inflexible girdle-like structure meant to hold a swimmer's body in the best position as he or she moves through the water."
-"Another benefit is seamlessness: The whole suit is "ultrasonically welded" together, a technique that bonds plastic using sound waves. This reduces any lines that may cause drag. "
My personal opinion is that while expensive (500 bucks a pop and you only get 10 swims out of each suit) it's not like it isn't available to everyone.
Banning the suit seems like catering to sponsors... which is not what amateur sports is supposed to be about. There's also no health issue (like chemical doping) or safety issue (like the claims about the odd bike position).
I swam for years (not at an national or olympic level, but at the regional level the next step down). I shelled out money for drag resistant goggles, "paper" suits to reduce drag, drag resistant caps and I even shaved body hair to gain precious hundreths of a second. Nobody outlawed any of that, even though there was significant expense.
Seems to me if other countries have problems, they either need to get on their sponsors to make a comparable product or ask speedo to sponsor them. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 00:16
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| KurtinSC |
Posted on 14-04-2008 16:23
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Macquet wrote:
[sarcasm]I suppose they are going to have everyone swim naked so its fair[/sarcasm]
Well, then the less well endowed would get an advantage. In the long run it would bring on competitive castration. I don't think anyone wants that. |
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 14-04-2008 16:25
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By the way, a Danish swimmer has now publically said that he won't wear the Arena suit even though it's Arena who delivers the national team's suits. This will result in him getting a 1000 € fine, but as he said: "An Olympic medal is worth more than 1000 €" |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 14-04-2008 16:31
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There is no reason to ban it. It helps performance yes, but doesn't harm the athlete, is available to everyone, and doesn't make someone go into [img]super-human[/img] capabilities
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| KurtinSC |
Posted on 14-04-2008 16:39
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CrueTrue wrote:
By the way, a Danish swimmer has now publically said that he won't wear the Arena suit even though it's Arena who delivers the national team's suits. This will result in him getting a 1000 € fine, but as he said: "An Olympic medal is worth more than 1000 €"
It will be interesting to see what some US swimmers do. Several of the top US swimmers are individually sponsored by Nike... but in most races if the top guy loses 1% of their performance (as is suggested by the speedo suit) you can easily go from a gold medal and world record to finishing 4th. In most cases a 1% speed increase would have caused the bronze medal winner to finish ahead of the gold medal winner in the last olympics.. and in EVERY case the silver medal winner would have won with a 1% increase in speed. |
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