Doping Controls Are Lax...In Tennis

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the Operacion Puerto scandal or anyone who heard about the heroism of certain tennis players after taking cortisone shots. Still, somehow the subject doesn't come up much when cycling or baseball is the dirty sport.

Slate's feature on doping in tennis entitled, "Steroids Anyone," doesn't have any bombshells because there has been so little testing. They do cite Jim Courier, who, in 1999 thought EPO was a problem at the top level.

Here's the final paragraph, "Why does tennis remain so lax when it comes to drug testing? Perhaps it's taking a lesson from the other major sporting event taking place this weekend: the Tour de France. Cycling, baseball, and track and field are the sports that have been the most stained by drug cheats. They're also the sports that have the most-rigorous testing programs. Based on recent evidence, it's not realistic to expect top-flight athletes to be clean. It is possible, though, to simply sweep the syringes under the rug—or better yet, not look for them in the first place."

Free CTS Tour de France Newsletter

While Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) is a corporate entity, while Chris Carmichael seems like more of a celebrity chef than coach, and it's really hard to believe that the advice spouted by Carmichael or his ghost writer is actually imparted to their start client/partner, occasionally they do have something interesting to share. A recipe, a trademarked training routine, a photo, a podcast you can download and use to lead you through a workout. If nothing else, it can help you live a Lance-centric world. Hagiography as training advice is a different sort of wisdom.

sign up here