Wada to take novel steps to fight drugs in sports

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The World Anti-Doping Agency, popularly known as Wada, was conceived in 1999 in an attempt to filter out the cheat from the sports arena. 8 years fast forward and the organization has been massively successful in chucking out the frauds from sports. Yet much remains to be accomplished still in this context and that is the precise reason why Wada is taking novel steps. Wada now wants to fight drugs use laboratory testing as well as with police forces constantly patrolling the smuggling of drugs to the sportspersons. What it aims to do is get the required government help to stop the easy access of illegal and banned substances to sports athletes. Taking this step would be immensely useful as it would not only bar the potential cheaters from taking drugs but also help clean sports from the outside. The Third World Conference on Doping in Sports in Madrid that runs from Thursday to Saturday will try and direct the fight against doping to a new level. The entry of police forces into the equation has already cut some ice when Operation Raw Deal was responsible for convicting famous US female athlete Marian Jones as a cheat two months ago. Law enforcement agencies can contribute to the fight against doping in sports by shutting manufacturing units of banned steroids, arresting those responsible for making such drugs and also stop the easy trade of raw materials necessary for illegal drugs manufacturing. Not only that, government initiative in fighting drugs in sports would also make a positive impact on the society as a whole. The Montreal-based World Anti-Doping Agency that is now funded by the International Olympic Committee and governments would also elect a new President during the Madrid conference. The most likely candidate to replace Dick Pound is John Fahey, who is a former Australian finance minister and premier of New South Wales. If indeed, he be elected as the new head of Wada, then the tie between government forces and laboratory drug-testers would be cemented for good. Image Source: Cache

Favorite Sports Song Ringtones: Wild Thing/Baseball songs

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Ringtones add glamour to mobile phones. The sound of a melodious ring tone is always better than that of an annoying pre-installed tune. Ringtones are available easily today. You can have access to your favorite ringtone on the World Wide Web. You can also download Java games and screen savers for your mobile phone from the Internet. However, the craze for ringtones is unmatched. Every minute, millions of cell phone users download ring tones of their favorite songs. Rock, pop, blues, reggae, rap, hip-hop, country, R&B, metal, and Gospel ringtones are freely available these days. There was a time when the concept of ‘free ringtones’ would sound ridiculous, and impossible. Today, however, the situation is little different. A number of websites provide ‘free download’ facility to users. Is there a catch to it? Some websites allow you to download the complete ringtone for free, while others would let you download only a part of the ringtone. Cell phones have become status symbols. Ringtones can help you express your taste and style. Ringtones are not limited to rock or pop music; you have the freedom to download your favorite ‘sports song ringtones’ too. Sports music ringtones can keep the sportsman inside you alive. Here are some of the top sport music ringtones- NFL Total Access, Golf on ESPN Theme Song, Hockey Organ, Talking Baseball 2007, Rest in Peace, New England On 4th Down, and the Lombardi Trophy. These ringtones might be available in various formats viz. monophonic, polyphonic, and true tone. You can search the Internet for free mp3 ringtones of baseball songs too. Cell phones are slowly taking over mp3 players; most phones have a built-in mp3 player. The only problem is that the battery in a mobile phone cannot hold a sufficiently long enough charge. Cutting edge technology allows us to download ringtones whenever we desire.

Ramirez tests positive for illegal substance to simulate testosterone

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Baseball star LA Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games after a drug test showed positive results for a banned performance enhancing drug. Ramirez had earlier tested positive during the spring training and a “B” Sample also tested positive recently. The suspension will cost him $8 million out of his $25 million salary. Ramirez said that he was not sure that he was taking a banned drug and he had been prescribed the drug by a doctor for a personal medical problem. He did not challenge the suspension and said “Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy, that mistake is now my responsibility.” Sources said that the drug was HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin, a drug used by women with fertility problems. The drug increases production of testosterone and is used to treat erectile dysfunction caused by low testosterone levels. Low testosterone levels can be caused by steroid abuse. It should be noted that safe medication like levitra is available to treat erectile dysfunction. Another doctor said that gonadotropin is used to treat testicles that have basically stopped functioning especially in men with a history of steroid use. The drug itself is neither a steroid nor a growth agent. Ramirez is the highest profile casualty of the stricter drug policy that MLB is now enforcing. HCG was added to the banned list by the MLB recently.”It’s not infrequently part of the mix of the poly-drug approach to doping,” said Dr. Gary Wadler, chairman of the banned substances committee for the World Anti-Doping Agency. Another MLB official said that if Ramirez had a genuine need for the drug, he could have applied for a medical exemption but no such application was made.

Spring is Here!

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Ah, Spring time. When the nasty snow finally melts out of the last parking lots, young women’s legs finally escape their cloth prisons, and flowers sit all pretty and sweet smelling on top of picturesque meadows. Or some nonsense like that. What really matters is that it’s baseball season, and what else could possibly be on your mind than watching the boys of Summer take their first few practice swings, and shake the dust off of their hitherto neglected bats and balls (of the baseball variety, of course). And as the temperature gets warmer, the action on the diamond and in the out field is going to get hotter than blazes! And since you just happen to be watching baseball anyway, have you ever considered that it might be even more fun if you were to “make it interesting” by betting on some portion of the game? Sportsbetting is actually a single word, now – and while it is pretty much self explanatory, a lot of people do not realize just how many different component parts of a baseball game you can actually bet on. Of course, everybody knows that you can bet on the final out come of the game (as in, who wins and who loses). But did you know that there are a whole lot of other parts of a baseball game that you can bet on, as well? For instance, you can bet on the final points spread – that means how many points are between the winning and losing team. And you can bet on how many bases are stolen, how many outs there are in a given inning, and how many runs are scored during the game. You can even bet on some downright crazy things, like how long it will take to sing the national anthem before the game starts.

Carl Froch to fight Denis Inkin in WBC title eliminator

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In Carl Froch, Britain have a really huge and promising hope to stamp its authority on the sport of boxing. While football and cricket make up the bulk of the sporting culture in Britain, boxing is often relegated to the sidelines to be practiced by a chosen few. But that could change to a considerable degree should Froch beat Russia’s Denis Inkin and gain the right to battle it out for the prestigious WBC title. Although the fight is yet to be given a date and a venue, the anticipation and hype are already multiplying. Froch is 30 years of age and is unbeaten in 22 fights and the WBC has made the statement that should he beat the 29-year old Inkin, who is himself unbeaten in 31 professional encounters, then the boxer from Notthingham would qualify to fight 35-year old Joe Calzaghe for the WBC title. Froch is certainly the favourite to win the fight against Inkin. The duo confronted each other in an amateur tie in 1999. Although things have much changed in the last 8 or so years, Froch’s recent run of confidence and public support should see him through against Inkin this time around too. Carl Froch says: I’d like to think Joe Calzaghe will be there when I get past Inkin. I want to keep that dream alive. I’m one fight away from the ultimate aim and the biggest prize in boxing, the WBC title. Inkin is a decent fighter who is cool and skilful. I boxed him as an amateur in 1999 when he beat me on points but I put him down in the last round with an uppercut that really hurt him. This will be revenge. Image Source: Monokli

IOC strips Jones off her Olympics laurels

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The unbeatable five Olympic medals of sprinter Marion Jones during the Sydney 2000 Games were snatched from her by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after admitting she was a drug cheat. All her hard work and pains were put to waste after IOC ruled out that she has no right to claim her winnings after being found doping before her game in Sydney Olympics. Prior to the scandal, Jones was considered as a superstar in track and field after receiving three gold and two bronze medals in Australia. It was an achievement that no other female sprinter ever achieved in history. As a consequence of her disgraced drug cheat, IOC president Jacques Rogge banned Jones to be part of the Beijing Olympics and possibly barring her from the succeeding Olympic Games. Simply put, it is the end of her career as an athlete. But this has not yet been made official. Her admission disqualified her from her winnings and the results were scrapped. Even her American team mates were in hot water whether they will be part of the disqualification and the second placer Katerina Thanou be given the gold medal considering she too has allegations of doping. Jones bested gold medals in the track of 100m, 200m and 4x400m relays in Sydney. Her bronze medals came from her long jump competition and 4x100m relay. Aside from snatching her Sydney triumphs, she was also disqualified in 2004 Athens Olympics record finishing fifth in the finals’ long jump competition. Jones already returned her medals to the IOC.

Baseball players using steroids soon to be identified

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Around 50 players or more who are currently playing and those who have retired in the Major League Baseball (MLB) will be part of the list involved in the illegal use of steroids or wonder drugs that boost performance of the players. This was according to the recent report published by the New York Times. The investigation on this issue was led by George Mitchell, who is planning to submit his findings for more than a year to a news conference. Steroids are the so-called enhancing drugs that heighten the adrenalin rush of the players while in play. These are not permitted to be in use since they are unnatural enhancers causing a feeling of highness or euphoria in players. MLB officials met Mitchell in his law firm DLA Piper where the former were given report copies prior to the making of the investigation be public. Based on reports, pieces of evidence gathered by Mtchell were in the form of phone records, checks, and shipment transaction of the prohibited drugs. Mitchell’s report is a crucial finding since there were attempts to deny allegations that baseball players were not using steroids and all other investigations in the past where treated as mere ‘hearsays’ and no basis. Reluctance among players to talk was a big factor to identify the issues’ whereabouts. But Mitchell was able to get accounts of the managers, former players, coaches and attendants about what they know on the issues as evidence of steroid use. There were already names surfacing but their identities and their involvement have yet to be confirmed

2060: The year when no new sports record shall be set

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Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock…..the countdown has begun for 2060 when scientists in France say no more sports record will be created or broken. If experts at France’s biomedical and epidemiological institute of sport, Irmes, are to be believed, then the world would have reach its physiological capacity just over 50 years from now. According to Irmes, athletes have been consistently using their increasingly exploring their capabilities over time. Way back in 1896, when the world’s first modern Olympics were held, athletes were using 75% of their physical capacity but after more than a century, they are employing 99% of it. The researches at Irmes, which has connections with the French sports ministry, say that by 2060 athletes will be using the entire 100% of their physiological capacity and that would imply no more records being set or old records being broken. That will be the end wall for all sporting records. Head of Irmes, Jean-Francois (cedilla) Toussaint, says: It’s the beginning of the end. We are reaching the limit in terms of physiological capacities of the human race. One can observe phases rich in records at the start of the century, and in the 20s and 50s to 60s, and two sluggish periods corresponding to the two World Wars. But since the 1970s, the graphs show an inexorable decline in the number of records beaten. Mr Toussaint further said: It is improbable that a man on two feet will one day run the 100 metres in nine seconds. The world seems to be reaching the climax in one particular aspect. Sport is the biggest turn on in he world and it appears that by 2060 much of the charm of sport will be lost. Image Source: Hone Watson Source: the Telegraph

Manchester United Hammer(ed) late!

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West Ham left it late to inflict a surprising 2-1 defeat on Manchester United. Title holders and league leaders Manchester United headed into Saturday’s fixture at Upton Park full of confidence. They were in for a rude shock as a late charge by the Hammers handed them a defeat. United started brightly enough and the opener was scored by Ronaldo in 14th minute itself. He headed home a Ryan Giggs cross. Thereafter, however, the inform midfielder was guilty of missing a penalty in the 2nd half, after a handball by Jonathon Spector. Curbishly’s men pushed for an equalizer and they came close on 36th minute when Kuszczak denied Nolberto Solano. Carton Cole also came close but his header went just over top of United’s bar. At the troke of halftime, Ronaldo was put through for a wonderful opportunity. He dragged his shot wide to leave score at 1-0 in favor of United. In the second half too it was the home time that made all the moves and they were justly rewarded in the 77th minute. Noble’s corner found Anton Ferdinand in open and he poked his shot into the net. United tried to push for a win and sacrificed Hargreaves for Nani. It was this tactical blunder that perhaps cost them the match. Another Noble set-piece found Matthew Upson who gleefully headed the ball into the back of the goal. With this result West Ham earned their third successive win over the Red Devils. Also, Anton Ferdinand got one over his elder brother and United stalwart Rio. The Londoners have also added a twist to the title race at the very last of 2007. With Arsenal result still awaited, it is not clear who’ll head the table as action moves to a new year. One thing’s for sure though, there might be some surprises before this title is won! Via

Pereira, Nystrand add 2 more swim world records at Arena World Cup

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Arena World Cup in Berlin has become judging ground for world’s top swimmers who are preparing themselves for the Beijing Olympic Games. In the two-day event, Swedish Stefan Nystrand has made two world records. The 26-year-old and a freestyle and breaststroke swimmer, Nystrand has bettered the world record in the men’s 50-meter freestyle by clocking 20.93 seconds, and a day earlier, a world record in the 100-meter freestyle by finishing in 45.83 seconds. He said, It’s my aim to keep on improving, especially with regard to the Olympic Games next year. I would like to capture two gold medals there. Nystrand explained that because loosing few competitions in the past, he drastically changed his lifestyle two years ago, going on a diet and increasing his training programme. In the women’s events, Dutch Marleen Veldhuis set the world record in the women’s 50-meter freestyle by clocking 23.58 seconds, lowering the old record by 0.01 second. South Korean swimmer Park Tae-Hwan does not lag behind from the top swimmers of the world. He also seized two golds over the past two days. The fast swimmer firstly bagged gold medal in in the men’s 1,500-meter freestyle swimming and after five minutes he participate in the men’s 200-meter freestyle and finished with 1:42.22 to seal his second gold medal. Speaking about the success of Park, his coach Seok Ki Park said, It’s no problem for Tae Hwan to compete on such a high level in two successive races. We have not decided yet if Tae Hwan is going to compete in the200m freestyle at the Beijing Olympic Games. Our priority are the 400m and 1500 freestyles