...

Appleton and a few other pool players are or used to be sponsored by cheqio, which probably didn't have any banned substances (because they're chock full of stuff that doesn't do anything), but advertise as pills and drinks that reduce fatigue and increase focus.

Cheqio actually works especially the focus part but the problem at least for me was that after about 6 months of using it i started to have headaches so i stopped using it..
 
he's a young guy and a professional athlete: show me his commitment to managing the condition through diet and exercise and i'll start feeling sorry for him.
 
oh wow... so sad about Mario, I like him a lot.. It's kinda unfortunate, if what he says is true...

on the other hand tho...

OMG, KAZABOOBOO IN THE MOSCONI CUP!!!!
One of the nicest persons I've met in a pool hall. I legitimately haven't seen him once without him smiling and not in the mood to say a few things and have fun.
 
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Athletes now have to watch what drugs they take. If the only drug that will work for a particular condition is on the banned list, then the athlete has to seek an exemption.

As for no US players being tested, I believe any WPA-sanctioned event is subject to WADA testing.

In the old days at Cochran's in SF, players used to call over to the counter for "a glass of beer and a straight-shooting pill", so I've been told. I think that WADA would not approve.

Bennies, Uppers, White Crosses and Black Beauties were some of the different types of Benzedrine and Amphetamines most widely used by pool players back in the day. Black Beauties were the Rolls Royce of the bunch, highly coveted for their long term staying power and super keen awareness they brought to your game. Basically the pockets looked like goal nets and the balls felt like BB's. I saw players not miss a ball for hours high on this stuff.

If there was a body/entity in place to conduct drug tests in this country we all might be in for a shock. No one would be talking about Mario He, that's for sure. :rolleyes:
 
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I watched a show about a year or so ago and any athlete that fails a WADA test has an uphill battle. They test them almost non stop from that point on. Usually they lose all their sponsors. For most it is the end of their career.
 
Bennies, Uppers, White Crosses and Black Beauties were some of the different types of Benzedrine most widely used by pool players back in the day. Black Beauties were the Rolls Royce of the bunch, highly coveted for their long term staying power and super keen awareness they brought to your game. Basically the pockets looked like goal nets and the balls felt like BB's. I saw players not miss a ball for hours high on this stuff.

If there was a body/entity in place to conduct drug tests in this country we all might be in for a shock. No one would be talking about Mario He, that's for sure. :rolleyes:

Back in the 60s and early 70s, MLB players used to eat them like candy. They had bowls of them in the clubhouses. As far as pool went, I remember a certain will-remain-unnamed player from back in the day who we all assumed was chewing gum every time we saw him play. Found out years later it was his tongue and Black Beauties! :eek:
 
I take mine once a day. If I skip a day, I guess I can just die, according to the WADA, if I want to compete professionally.

It's ridiculous.

You can apply for a medical use exemption. What may be necessary for you, may be a performance enhancer for others.

It is common in combat sports. Testosterone replacement started out as a legitimate treatment, then every fighter realized that recovery time and training intensity were maximized while on testosterone.

Many fighters pop for a banned substance just from taking supplements they get from GNC that are tainted with a banned chemical.

It is up to the athlete to know what they are putting in their bodies, and if a substance is on the banned list. There is an appeals process in place if the athlete disagrees with the results.

Overall, wada and usada , are great for sports.
 
I got a little update on Mario, but potentially quite important one. I have just read his status on FB and Mario said that he even asked the doc who prescribed him those meds if they are ok in regards to doping and doc said they were safe to take. Well if thats actually true and that doctor will be willing to testify to that at WADA hearing (harming his reputation in process) then Mario has a very solid chance to get away with a very mild penalty (3-6 months competition ban) or even just a warning. We will see soon probably...
 
I got a little update on Mario, but potentially quite important one. I have just read his status on FB and Mario said that he even asked the doc who prescribed him those meds if they are ok in regards to doping and doc said they were safe to take. Well if thats actually true and that doctor will be willing to testify to that at WADA hearing (harming his reputation in process) then Mario has a very solid chance to get away with a very mild penalty (3-6 months competition ban) or even just a warning. We will see soon probably...
Now it is at least some consolatory news. I hope the doc won't refuse to take his responsibility....Pool scene is definitely more fun with Mario in play.
 
If the money payouts in pool were comparable to other sports, I understand the drug testing. But this is pool we're talking about.

These players, the majority of them, profit less than $15,000 a year after expenses.

I know, I know. Before somebody says nobody asked them to pursue pool for a living, I'm just illustrating how ridiculous is it that the blue-blooded European entities believe this is necessary for a sport/game that pays peanuts.

Those WPA members, et al., make more money than professional pool players. Heck, the referees and tournament directors make more money than professional pool players.

The sport/game is fragmented. Before drug testing players, maybe an effort should be focusing on how to increase the payouts so that not only professional players can earn a decent living, but it just may bring more new blood into the game/sport that we all know and love.

This kid has high blood pressure. I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER believe the was taking this medicine to increase his performance. The Negative Nellies on thie forum will believe it, though.

Mario He deserves no ban whatsoever from that assine European doping agency. None! He should sue them instead for ruining his career.

Everybody I have spoken to says this kid is a fun guy and joyful to be around. He's not a druggie.
 
If there was a body/entity in place to conduct drug tests in this country we all might be in for a shock. No one would be talking about Mario He, that's for sure. :rolleyes:
So the game is rigged, USA players are not regulated the same way as the euro-players are?
I'd almost start using terms like 'outrage' if the euro-team hadn't won the last (how many was it? 6? 7?) Mosconi Cups despite that. :thumbup:

Btw, just some friendly banter there on my side, I'm actually rooting for the USA. At the very least, I want them to make it a very tight battle to the end.
 
If the money payouts in pool were comparable to other sports, I understand the drug testing. But this is pool we're talking about.

These players, the majority of them, profit less than $15,000 a year after expenses.

I know, I know. Before somebody says nobody asked them to pursue pool for a living, I'm just illustrating how ridiculous is it that the blue-blooded European entities believe this is necessary for a sport/game that pays peanuts.

Those WPA members, et al., make more money than professional pool players. Heck, the referees and tournament directors make more money than professional pool players.

The sport/game is fragmented. Before drug testing players, maybe an effort should be focusing on how to increase the payouts so that not only professional players can earn a decent living, but it just may bring more new blood into the game/sport that we all know and love.

This kid has high blood pressure. I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER believe the was taking this medicine to increase his performance. The Negative Nellies on thie forum will believe it, though.

Mario He deserves no ban whatsoever from that assine European doping agency. None! He should sue them instead for ruining his career.

Everybody I have spoken to says this kid is a fun guy and joyful to be around. He's not a druggie.

Just out of curiosity (and with no connection to Mario He whatsoever) - do you think that it is ok if a pool player takes amphetamine/cocaine to enhance his stamina at DCC during 14-16 hours nonstop play or beta-blockers to reduce the stress reaction of his body prior to the finals of US Open where the difference between 1st and 2nd place is 16k?
I just want to know your opinion on this topic as that issue is very real. And if you think that such deeds are NOT ok then what solution would you propose instead of drug testing by WADA?
 
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I love watching Mario shoot. He has a ton of fire power. Kinda reminds me of Jason Shaw. Hopefully he still plays in tournaments that’s streamed and puts this behind him quickly. He definitely is my top 20 player of all time to watch play. Don’t he have a winning record against Shane??
 
This kid has high blood pressure. I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER believe the was taking this medicine to increase his performance. The Negative Nellies on thie forum will believe it, though.

He probably wasn't.

That doesn't mean there aren't chemicals in the drug that can positively affect his performance.

There's a reason that certain drugs are on the banned list, and a reason there is an exemption policy in place (for those that require a drug on the banned list).
 
Am I the only one who thinks he may be lying/leaving out another part to this story? Maybe he did test positive for another drug and isn’t disclosing that? That would explain why he dropped out instead of fighting it. The only statement I have seen about this is from him, none from WADA (which doesn’t mean that they haven’t issued one, just that I haven’t seen one).

Matchroom Sport commented earlier in this thread, if they read this and I’m wrong please confirm for us that his blood pressure medicine is what he tested positive for.
 
There is a documentary on Netflix where the head dr of the Russian Olympic team spilled the beans on how the whole team cheated in 2014 Sochi games, and how he personally was involved. It’s called “Icarus, cheating the Olympics” and it’s on Netflix. There is also an article I think from The NY Times by the same title with the same information if you prefer to read.

If you want to see how widespread doping in sports is check this out.

The teams with the best drugs win, and the teams who can beat the testing best win.

That’s what WADA is trying to combat.

It’s all new to us with respect to pool. But it’s been going on forever in the rest of the sporting world.
 
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