Lets begin by saying Sakho is innocent until proven guilty. We will very likely have to wait to see what comes back from his Test B sample. But it is a serious point. If a player gets caught for doping in one game that doesnt mean he cheated in one game, it just happens to be the one he got caught in. Assuming he's tested positive for taking banned performance related substances, surely every game he has played is now suspect. Secondly, and equally importantly, banning him alone doesn't undo the damage. It's a team sport and his team has had an unfair advantage. Nothing will be done ofcourse but it is unfair on every club he's played against. I think every fan of every club should be rightly fcked off by this.
What can be done? Do you relegate every team with a player that fails a drug test? A season ban is adequate IMO. Bring in more regular testing.
As you say, there's nothing you can do apart from more rigorous testing. You can be sure that others ate doing it. 2 year bans I say.
In a sport like Football , doping is a super unfair advantage due to the effort needed to play the entire game with energy . Like cycling , doping can make a huge difference in energy used . If it can be proved a club played any part or had knowledge of the doping , huge fine and points deducted . If a player is the only one involved , a massive banning from the game ,...........2nd time , gone for good IMO .
Do you think that's fair to the team and the other members of that team if they knew nothing about the infraction ? A bit harsh in my book .
I'm not sure you'd be backing something so arbitrary and unfair on innocent fans and players were it an Arsenal player.
It depends what it is, AV have gone totally overboard with Agbonlahor, and a life ban for the 'performance enhancing' effects of weed would be a joke. What about the performance enhancing effects of cortizone? "you're injured? don't worry, jack yourself up with this"
It isnt unfair imo. It's perfectly fair. You're not taking away anything the team or the fans deserved to have. What you're doing is redressing an unfair advantage. Do we have any qualms when they dock points for teams going into administration. It's just accepted now.
Well spotted. we played a team in CL who had a player who failed a drugs test yet no action is taken to punish the team that he played for, which isn't right. if clubs were held responsible then they might take doping seriously! Wasn't it Rio that failed to turn up to 3 drugs tests ! If United were liable to lose points they would have got him to the tests
Agree.. I'm guessing you've started the petition for United to hand back the following trophies after United gained an unfair advantage from Ferdinand? 6 Premiership titles 3 League Cups 6 Charity Shields 1 Champ League
You can never be assured of anything a player decides to do , unless you can prove the club played any part in the doping , only a dope would punish the team .
Has it been mentioned what the possible drug is? I haven't heard anything. If we're talking about bans, then I think we need to distinguish between performance enhancing drugs, and some twat like Agbonlahor smoking whatever he's smoking. One is a deliberate attempt to gain a competitive advantage. The other is just a an idiot smoking dope.
Clubs could test them daily if they wanted. With the suggested 20pts deducted (never going to happen btw), they would be checking much more regularly.
If a club was to be punished for one of their players failing a test then clubs would be making sure their players don't fail. (I was merely responding to a comment. No way clubs will be punished for one players actions)
