The hottest Athletics Substack posts right now

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Spanish Tennis' Long Doping History

Honest Sport • 39 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Doping Tennis Athletics Competitions Health
  1. Spanish tennis has a long history of doping, starting from as early as 1959 when players used testosterone injections. This trend has continued with multiple doping cases over the years.
  2. Since 1996, there have been twelve doping cases involving Spanish players, with some achieving rankings in the top 100. This raises concerns about fairness in competition.
  3. The lack of transparency from tennis authorities regarding doping cases can hurt the reputation of clean athletes in Spain. Many believe that serious issues in the sport need more open discussion and accountability.

Sir Mo Farah's running partner filmed buying EPO in Kenya

Honest Sport • 39 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Doping Training Performance Investigation
  1. Sir Mo Farah trained with a pacemaker who was later caught buying EPO, a performance-enhancing drug, in Kenya. This raises questions about his training environment.
  2. Farah has been linked to controversial figures in athletics, including a coach under investigation for doping violations. This could negatively impact his reputation in the sport.
  3. While Farah has never failed a drug test, the associations with doping-related individuals and suspicious activity concerning blood tests create a cloud of doubt around his career.

Injury-free or it doesn’t count

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Fitness Athletics Injury prevention Mental health Performance
  1. Injuries can be serious for athletes, and pushing through pain isn't always the best choice. It's important to listen to your body and take time to recover.
  2. The culture of 'no pain, no gain' can affect how we think about training and progress. Sometimes, we need to rethink our goals and focus on doing what's safe for our bodies.
  3. Minimizing running miles and accepting help when offered can be a smart way to stay healthy. It's okay to change your approach to fitness to prevent injuries.

The past steroid allegations against McLaughlin, Felix, Mu's coach

Honest Sport • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Doping Coaching Olympics Controversy
  1. Coach Bob Kersee faced steroid allegations in the late 1980s, when an athlete claimed Kersee provided him with banned substances. Even though he denied these claims, they have lingered in discussions about his coaching.
  2. Despite his controversial past, Kersee has trained successful athletes like Sydney McLaughlin and Allyson Felix without significant doping scandals in their careers. His later coaching has been marked by clean performances.
  3. In recent discussions, other coaches have come under scrutiny for doping allegations, suggesting that anti-doping authorities may need to focus on them rather than Kersee, whose athletes have largely passed doping tests.

Up to 103 tennis players failed doping tests and escaped bans

Honest Sport • 19 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🎾 Sports Doping Athletics Regulations Testing
  1. Many tennis players have failed drug tests but faced no penalties. Out of 156 players who tested positive from 2013 to 2019, around 103 didn’t receive any sanctions.
  2. The International Tennis Federation has reduced the testing for blood doping significantly since 2018. This might have allowed players to avoid detection during important tournaments.
  3. The rules around doping cases can be confusing, as some players can continue playing even after testing positive for certain drugs, leading to a lack of transparency about who is really being punished.
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The Timeline: Team Sky and British Cycling – when success surpassed ethics

Honest Sport • 19 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🎾 Sports Athletics Cycling Doping Ethics Olympics
  1. Team Sky started as a clean cycling team, but they faced many challenges and made questionable choices on their way to winning major events like the Tour de France.
  2. They experienced controversies related to doping, including secret drug tests and hiring doctors with questionable backgrounds which raised ethical concerns.
  3. Despite achieving significant success at competitions, the team's actions led to scandals that complicated their reputation and the integrity of their victories.

Athletes Play Coordination Games – Coordination Part III

Living Fossils • 6 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Games Rules
  1. Sports are a way for humans to measure and compare abilities, leading to the motivation to compete and demonstrate skills.
  2. Different sports have different rules to solve coordination problems - the rules must be agreed upon to accurately measure abilities.
  3. Penalties and fouls in sports serve two main purposes: maintaining the integrity of the game as a measurement tool and deterring harmful actions.

Italy’s Clostebol doping crisis across tennis, football and the Olympics

Honest Sport • 1 HN point • 22 May 24
🎾 Sports Doping Athletics Football Tennis Olympics
  1. Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, is being found in many Italian athletes across sports like tennis and football. This has raised concerns about doping practices in the country.
  2. Many athletes claim they accidentally ingested clostebol through creams or sprays, but warnings about its presence are clearly labeled on the products. This makes some people question the legitimacy of these claims.
  3. Doping doctors may be involved in promoting the use of clostebol as a way to avoid detection, similar to how testosterone is used. This raises suspicions about the ongoing doping culture in Italian sports.

File under awesome

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 10 Jun 11
🎾 Sports Athletics Teams Players Events Culture
  1. Seeing someone wear a #37 Strasburg jersey is a cool sight. It reminds us of baseball's history, especially the Expos.
  2. Jerseys can spark memories and conversations about teams and players. It's fun to share those moments with others.
  3. Fashion can connect us to sports and their past, showing pride in our favorite teams.

Sundry baseball thoughts

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Sep 11
🎾 Sports Baseball Athletics Sports culture
  1. There's concern that Stephen Strasburg may not meet the high expectations set for him, and it's possible that his best performances are behind him.
  2. Safeco Field, while modern and full of amenities, lacks the traditional feel of a baseball game, making it less enjoyable for some fans.
  3. Little League pitch count rules change how teams strategize during games, which might affect both player development and the overall fun of the game.

#19 - Olympic Medalist Marcus Daniell discusses Competitive Mindset in Tennis

Win-Win • 0 implied HN points • 04 May 24
🎙 Podcasts Interviews Athletics Mindset Philanthropy Competition
  1. Being a pro tennis player requires a lot of sacrifices. It's important to balance your passion with your mental health.
  2. As players get older, their approach to competition changes. They learn new strategies and adjust their mindset as they gain experience.
  3. Marcus Daniell highlights the need for athletes to give back. Through his organization, he encourages them to support effective charities.

🐿️ Racewalking - The IPT Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🎾 Sports Athletics Olympics Training Leadership Coaching
  1. Racewalking is a competitive sport with strict rules, requiring athletes to keep one foot on the ground and their legs straight. This makes the sport challenging yet fascinating to watch.
  2. Just like racewalkers practice their skills for years, leaders should also work on their conversation techniques to build better relationships and trust in their teams.
  3. Improving communication takes effort and practice, much like training for a race. Small changes in how you talk can lead to big improvements in team culture and effectiveness.