[Al_U_Card]

Bridge, to paraphrase The Offspring, is the "dopest trip around" so we may be in trouble.....

[Rain]

Do players who play in ladies event have to undergo gender testing?

[mike777]

keylime, on Jun 22 2006, 11:53 AM, said:

There's been strong rumors if memory serves, about Ritalin use in adult for improved concentration and memory for mindsports.

Yes, that is my point, if we think it may enhance our performance we will take it. In fact we are taking "it"

Never mind if it really does enhance performance or if it has side effects such as death.

The cat is out of the bag and is not going back in. In fact I bet my generation soon starts yelling for faster drug development not less.
Aids
Spinal Injuries
Memory
Heart and Stroke medicine
Cancer
etc
etc

Heck even take antibalding or antiwrinkle stuff, is there a market for that stuff?
People will give their kids more chemicals not less in the future,,,that is the role model. In fact we already give our kids more chemicals than 100 or 50 years ago, case closed.

[mike777]

Note how cellphones, pagers etc were banned at the WBF.

The next step will be banning computers worn in our clothing. Can implants in our bodies be far behind, No. We already have computer implants for the deaf to hear.
Do you really think we will have fewer chip implants in our bodies in the next 40 years?

With chip implants to locate lost dogs and cars, will chip implants to locate lost children be that far behind? Will surgery to remove the implants be a booming business?

[Al_U_Card]

Rain, on Jun 22 2006, 12:31 PM, said:

Do players who play in ladies event have to undergo gender testing?

No but how about "tender jesting"?

[jillybean]

tented snigger

[sceptic]

If I took Viagra before a tournament would they ban me or give me a stiff talking to?

[the saint]

Boom, Boom!! Thanks Wayne!!

Seriously though, I have heard rumours of top players taking substances to improve their concentration/steady their nerves. Maybe the IOC doping list doesn't precisely cover the needs of the WBF - if not, make one that does.

If a player has to take something to steady himself so that he doesn't lose the plot in the Final of the World championship, isn't that cheating? I think so. Drug testing please.

If a player is unfit and lacks stamina but takes stimulants to improve his concentration, isn't that cheating? I think so. Drug testing please.

Getting fit to play and psychologically preparing yourself to deal with situations that may arise is called training. Drugs and other substances are called cheating.

One harsh fact is that a lot of top bridge players are physical wrecks. I wonder what percentage performance improvement they would get by sorting themselves out by going down the gym and cutting out the booze, fags and pork pies. IF Bridge ever wanted to call itself a sport and claim a place at the top table in the Olympics, I would like to see athletes worth the description. Drugs are always a short cut to improved performance.

[helene_t]

Rain, on Jun 22 2006, 07:31 PM, said:

Do players who play in ladies event have to undergo gender testing?

Could be. Sex tests have been used in other sports, maybe because some testosteron-doped female athletes appeared suspiciously masculine. Not sure what such a test constitues, though. In countries with a French legal code, I suppose the criteria is that a person is registered as female, which would leave a clinical test obsolete. In countries with a Britisch legal code, it is less obvious (there are some intersexuals and transsexuals in the UK that have one sex in their birth certificate and another in their passport because different authorities use different criteria). Does IOC have its own sex definition or does it respect the choices made by member organizations? Is WBF in line with IOC in this respect?

[Deanrover]

I believe they gender test every 'female' olympic athlete. Princess Anne was an exception.

[pbleighton]

"If I took Viagra before a tournament would they ban me or give me a stiff talking to?"

You would only be banned from the pole vault.

Peter

[sceptic]

Quote

You would only be banned from the pole vault.

I would not be playing polevault or bridge, I think my game would be Brag

[barmar]

helene_t, on Jun 22 2006, 12:45 PM, said:

barmar, on Jun 22 2006, 05:37 PM, said:

As for why the IOC and ISF have rules against recreational pharmaceuticals, I think it's pretty obvious.  Sports stars, and Olympic athletes in particular, are expected to be role models.  Not just within their athletic domain, but more generally.

I disagree. It's not the job of IOC to say what makes a good role model. Different cultures have different norms and IOC is an international organization.

I addressed that in my comment that they presumably use a concensus decision rather than least common denominator. The members of the IOC include representatives from these different cultures.