Mountain Biking - DH champ tests positive for THC

Chris Del Bosco loses title, second place finisher Duncan Riffle named US national champion. I think it is wrong to ban this substance.

well its illegal and the rules were posted well before this race season, so its his own stupid fault for getting caught. whether he agrees with the rule or not, he's a professional rider who gets paid and has now let his company down. Stupid.

THC is in weed. Weed is illegal. How can he argue that he should be allowed to smoke weed?

well its illegal and the rules were posted well before this race season, so its his own stupid fault for getting caught. whether he agrees with the rule or not, he's a professional rider who gets paid and has now let his company down. Stupid.


Couldn't agree more!

I wouldn't be surprised if his sponsor's drop him.

reality=choices with consequences ;)

Any of you guys got the munchies all of the sudden..? or is it just me

I understand the weed is illegal and all but I just have to ask- How performance enhancing is weed? I sure don't see any increases in my performance. ;)

You guys all know how much they test for THC in XC races right?......he should switch to racing XC, then he can smoke all the reefer he wants.

hey what happens if he has a perscription for it. i mean in oregon and california,washinton ,nevada,texas,new york,new ham,washinton d.c. and about 25 or so more states, all have Medicinal MJ related laws. so what if???

all i'm possing is a legal point of view..

But

its still Illegal so. its bad..
not performance enhancing at all

like those shakes most racers drink, not like those pills most people take

i think its lame

my opinion though

AN6's .02

In the olympics, even in that case, it is illegal. Heck there have been athletes that have had the medals removed because they took allergy pills with ephedrine in them.

Also,isn't the medicinal allowance pretty small, you have to be severly suffering from something dibilitating and have tried EVERYTHING else. Not really a case of a world class athlete.

I think some banning of drugs is as much in the interest of how a sport looks as performance. POtheads don't make an easy sell :)

thats reall true!! totally agreed


AN6

I think some banning of drugs is as much in the interest of how a sport looks as performance. POtheads don't make an easy sell :)

Maybe not to sponsors, but look how much cooler it made snowboarding...

Ahhh e-sarc :)...

The snowboarder was allowed to keep his olympic gold medal on appeal. In my initial post I said I though THC shouldn't be banned. After I posted that, I realized I meant to say that it should be banned but the ban should not be enforced, they shouldn't waste their resources chasing recreational drug user especially when the drug is not performance enhancing and the drug stays in your body long after you use it. These guys can't go out and drink alcohol because that will mess up their bodies. So these guys should be monks, can't get a little buzz to relax or have a little fun? WADA has bigger problems they need to focus on. Yes it is illegal, but prohibition made a lot more sense than the laws against marajuana in my opinion.

dinstee you're right its not performance enhancing, if anything it does the opposite, all the more reason why you shouldn't have the substance in your bloodstream whilst tearing down the mountain at high speeds?

Ross Rebagliati is the name of the boarder, nice guy actually met him a few times around town.

As for legality vs sports vs morals vs anything. Imo, as far as sports are concerned. It is not performance enchancing. It is not the sports job to push law. Fine, it is illegal, the governing body should have a cluase to pass the information along to appropriate legal bodies, I still don't think it is the responsibility of the governing body as, living here, your laws don't apply to me when I am here (thank god). That way the local law applies and not someone elses system. Thats just my opinion since...95% of the people I know pro or not pro smoke, but I also live in a place where is not entirely illegal. And it definately doesn't HELP their athletic ability.

Thats my 2cents.

It must be the conservative <expletive>s who are in control of the sports and wish to impose their views onto the participants. That's all I can figure.

no mael and others. I wasn't dissing the snowboarder guy, I was being serious. It endeared an olympic sport to more of the type of audience that is similar to them in demographic. Young'uns.

I totally agree with GMSDC, they dont need to waste their time eliminating the people from competition that partake in such activities, because they may find out they are hurting their field of competition more then they anticipated. IMO, it shoudn't be used as just a "back up" excuse in case they want to remove someone specific for one reason or another.

And Mael, if W didn't just win I would have asked to come stay with you for a while...

BC rocks...

You guys are missing the point. In NO OTHER PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS are you allowed to smoke. Why should sports be any different? They are doing a job, and whether you agree with the rules or not, they need to be followed. Else, why have any rules at all? Im glad this guy got busted too, as kids look to these riders as role models, and hopefully will learn better not to **** up in the same ways.

You guys are missing the point. In NO OTHER PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS are you allowed to smoke. Why should sports be any different? They are doing a job, and whether you agree with the rules or not, they need to be followed. Else, why have any rules at all? Im glad this guy got busted too, as kids look to these riders as role models, and hopefully will learn better not to **** up in the same ways.


1. (In NO OTHER PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS) This can be disregarded since it's just not true.


2. you're right. many people look to professional athletes and famous people for moral guidance. :rolleyes: Ben Affleck is my Northern Star

Well of couse XC racers ALWAYS get screened for THC.....COUGH COUGH COUGH!

You guys are missing the point. In NO OTHER PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS are you allowed to smoke. Why should sports be any different? They are doing a job, and whether you agree with the rules or not, they need to be followed. Else, why have any rules at all? Im glad this guy got busted too, as kids look to these riders as role models, and hopefully will learn better not to **** up in the same ways.
I agree with this dude

You guys are missing the point. In NO OTHER PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS are you allowed to smoke. Why should sports be any different? They are doing a job, and whether you agree with the rules or not, they need to be followed. Else, why have any rules at all? Im glad this guy got busted too, as kids look to these riders as role models, and hopefully will learn better not to **** up in the same ways.

This isn't true and falls under my idea of location illegality. It just isn't illegal here. SOME companies do it but in canada specifically (I realize this was the states) you can't be fired for smoking weed.



kids look to these riders as role models


Thats probably the only point I can agree with. I wouldn't want any child of mine looking up to a pothead let alone an alcoholic or anyone addicted to pain killers. THAT is the only point that holds much water with me.

And Mael, if W didn't just win I would have asked to come stay with you for a while...

BC rocks...

Don't have to tell me that :D...best province in canada by far, especially as far asriding is concerned :)

I wonder if he just "ate some poppy seeds" on a sandwitch.

;)

1. (In NO OTHER PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS) This can be disregarded since it's just not true.


2. you're right. many people look to professional athletes and famous people for moral guidance. :rolleyes: Ben Affleck is my Northern Star
So, tell me. In the US what other business can you recreationally smoke marijuana and not be fired? He was the "US" champion after all.

well lets take a poll... anybody here smoke, and still have a job, and live in the US? raise your hands?!

I KNOW you're not telling me that everyone in america that smokes pot is unemployed...

There are more businesses in the US that DO NOT scrren for marijuana than those who do screen.
Many companies feel that if whatever your do in your time is just peachy if it isn't effecting your performance on-job.

The role model argument is a bit flawed. I speak as a parent here.... It is my responsibility to ensure that the characters my daughter chooses as role models are worthy. If they aren't I explain why I believe they aren't and let my daughter decide whether she wants to look to that person as a role model or not. I feel that if I arm her with the truth-then she can extract the qualities from that role model she wants and disregard the behaviour that I don't approve of. In other words, she understands that certain behaviours (the negative) of these role models are not approved while the positive behaviours are approved.

So, tell me. In the US what other business can you recreationally smoke marijuana and not be fired? He was the "US" champion after all.

US Champion...pot is illegal, he should loose his title. Same with houseman for the grouse (which he did)...

US Champion...pot is illegal, he should loose his title. Same with houseman for the grouse (which he did)...

Interesting point. However, where to you draw the illegal line? For example, speeding is illegal. Should all olympic champions who speed have their medals stripped? What is your criteria for which illegal acts should deny olympic medals?

Is speeding listed in the governing bodies list of illegal things?

Nobody has really understood my point. '

Why would they screen for THC in DH, but not in XC.....bit off balance.

biased...how many xc's smoke period. Different level of aerobic fitness. Social perception. Lots of reasons I am sure.

Is speeding listed in the governing bodies list of illegal things?

Your entire post was this verbatim:


US Champion...pot is illegal, he should loose his title. Same with houseman for the grouse (which he did)...

Are you changing your argument now? Obviously, if it's against the rules (certain performance enhancing, and non-performance enhancing drugs are), then he should be disqualified. There is no argument from me on that issue. However, that is in no way what you state.

I'll ask again. Where do you draw the line when it comes to illegal activities, and olympic medals?

If your going to screen for THC in one kind of biking, may as well do it in all.

There's only 1 reason I can see why screening for it in Dh

Risk factor

There are more businesses in the US that DO NOT scrren for marijuana than those who do screen.
Many companies feel that if whatever your do in your time is just peachy if it isn't effecting your performance on-job.

The role model argument is a bit flawed. I speak as a parent here.... It is my responsibility to ensure that the characters my daughter chooses as role models are worthy. If they aren't I explain why I believe they aren't and let my daughter decide whether she wants to look to that person as a role model or not. I feel that if I arm her with the truth-then she can extract the qualities from that role model she wants and disregard the behaviour that I don't approve of. In other words, she understands that certain behaviours (the negative) of these role models are not approved while the positive behaviours are approved.


I agree with you wholeheartedly Din... On all points. Illegal or not, in most cases company policy and the written law are independent of each other. And just because something is illegal doesn't CREATE company policy thats not there.

Also, like Din said I think if you teach your kids right, they choose the right role models.

And furthermore, if you teach them really right, they know the right thing to do, and they don't base their decisions on some "role model" from hollywood, pro sports or otherwise.

So, tell me. In the US what other business can you recreationally smoke marijuana and not be fired? He was the "US" champion after all.

I believe the NBA player's association has an agreement with NBA that they won't be tested for weed.

DjRider, what is the one reason? It does make you stupid, so that could enhance ones ability to ride down mountain at speed. I've seen a Norba national DH course and it wasn't the kind place that a very smart person would attempt to ride a bicycle. Marla Streb has a BS degree, but she used to beat her head against a tree to get herself mentally prepared to race.

haha mael in ragard to your olympic comment, ross rebliati got his gold medal back when he tested positve for thc in nagano, they took his medal away for that, he was in dh slalom snowboarding......who cares if he smoked a joint like a max of 2 whole months b4 the comp.....cause thc stays in your system for a long time, min 1 month max 2...

i not a big fan of them taking medals for stupid ****....like maybe they should start breathilizing people after races to see if theyve been drinking caues to me its one and the same...weed decreases your performance, not enhances it...and if hes good enouf to win a gold while high, the other guys gotta feel stupid...

[edit] for the record, i like clancys point of view...and one more thing, for a job if you have a union, union law supercedes common law relating to work ethics and ****...(within reason) so if your union or employer has in written contract you can hit the piepe and work, more power to ya...and if you owned your own buisness, who gonna fire you for smokin pot? hahahahahaa those mtb shop owners probably smoke madd chronic

.....It only makes you stupid if youre high at the time. You can have THC in your blood, and be totally aware, and not stoned. The reason that was up there was the risk factor. Thats what I dont get......."OMGZ! Lyke he smok'd da chEEba b4 da race yo" "yew shur he aint highhhhh" "yeh, hes not highhhhh" .......they ban him because of something he did on his free time, and wasnt high during the race. THC can stay in your blood 90days I believe...

Your entire post was this verbatim:



Are you changing your argument now? Obviously, if it's against the rules (certain performance enhancing, and non-performance enhancing drugs are), then he should be disqualified. There is no argument from me on that issue. However, that is in no way what you state.

I'll ask again. Where do you draw the line when it comes to illegal activities, and olympic medals?

I personally draw the line at what matters to the sport. Thats decided by the governing body. However they have no right, imo, to push a law on someone who legally doesn't have to follow that law. Therefore, the speeding point is irrelevent as it doesn't matter in racing if you speed, however smoking pot is considered illegal by the governing body of that sport, however (again) they shouldn't be able to hold say, Ross, to that standard as it is completely legal for him to walk up the street with me and light a joint. Understand how I draw the line now?

.....It only makes you stupid if youre high at the time. You can have THC in your blood, and be totally aware, and not stoned. The reason that was up there was the risk factor. Thats what I dont get......."OMGZ! Lyke he smok'd da chEEba b4 da race yo" "yew shur he aint highhhhh" "yeh, hes not highhhhh" .......they ban him because of something he did on his free time, and wasnt high during the race. THC can stay in your blood 90days I believe...

Something like that. But by using hair folicles they can tell how long ago and the density of the smoking (how much). They are able to tell if you smoked or got second hand smoke. Its hard to get away with, thc is pretty easy to test for. If they are doing a blood test, its much easier to trick and cleanse the system, but hair doesn't lie (shave ;))

haha mael in ragard to your olympic comment, ross rebliati got his gold medal back when he tested positve for thc in nagano, they took his medal away for that, he was in dh slalom snowboarding......who cares if he smoked a joint like a max of 2 whole months b4 the comp.....cause thc stays in your system for a long time, min 1 month max 2...

i not a big fan of them taking medals for stupid ****....like maybe they should start breathilizing people after races to see if theyve been drinking caues to me its one and the same...weed decreases your performance, not enhances it...and if hes good enouf to win a gold while high, the other guys gotta feel stupid...

I believe it was given back, the density I believe ended up being tested and they found they could not prove he smoked, could only prove he was around it. And in this town (where he lived and still lives) there is no place you can go without weed being in the presence of. Even if you don't smoke, you WILL have thc's in your system.

The competition was to find out who was the best downhiller who entered the event. Im not saying he schould smoke weed but that has to be dealt with in other places. He won the event he schould have his medal. As weve established THC is not performance enhancing so it schouldnt matter if he smoked a month before the event or a day before the event. He won without cheating anyone out of their chance to win. He gets the medal. Thats what I think at least. Why is pot even illegal? I know its sounds niaeve (not sure about spelling sorry) but there are many other things out there that are just as dangerous that are not illegal. Such as ownership of small automatic weapons (I think there called oozies or something) that are perfect for killing a lot of people in a short amount of time while keeping your mobility. Why is something illegal that makes you loopy for a while, when at the same time with a gun permit and such you can buy a fully automatic weapon. I mean, who needs to fire off enough rounds in a minute to wipe out an entire school who isnt doing something illegal? Other than our law enforcment of course because they need all the firepower the can get to make there jobs more interesting. They wont misuse it of course. :p

usually 60 days, but ya exactly what nepa said, and mael rebliati got his medal back that was my point....he probably smoked a whole bunch of weed, he lives in bc...

my favourite justification for weed ever was on cops once, this rasta guys said "no one made weed in a lab, it grows in the earth, why cant we smoke it if its natural, people smoke tobacco and its grows, im just smokin what god gave us"

i tend to agree with my rasta friend, and as i like that gun rant you haad nepa, very true, something really ****ed up with society a couple miles south....maybe ill buy an ak-47 instead of smoking a joint next time im in the states, its more legal...

maybe ill buy an ak-47 instead of smoking a joint next time im in the states, its more legal...


haha that was great

Actually...ross didn't...

and actually, its not legal to own a machine gun in the US...

Unless you are a licensed class 3 firearms dealer. Has NOTHING to do with "just going out and getting a gun license."

Now you are probably talking about *assault weapons*, which also has NOTHING to do with machine guns, but if you do some research you could find that pretty easily.

but, I agree he DID win his medal and he should get to keep it.

umm, the snowbaorder in question got his medal back due to the "small traces of thc" in his blood...

but ya, they shouldnt take medals for that crap...anways, i think its gay to ban that anyways, it doesnt do that much to you, just makes things really funny, and you get really hungry

Don't have to tell me that :D...best province in canada by far, especially as far asriding is concerned :)

Asriding? you mainlanders are way kinky.

Hahaha...it must be the lack of fresh sea air :)