I had not seen this subject really adressed yet.
Will the IPT be drug testing its Touring Pro Players? I certainly believe they should. You?
Will the IPT be drug testing its Touring Pro Players? I certainly believe they should. You?
Drug Testing?
- Thread starter CrownCityCorey
- Start date
Hey Corey, You must be reading my mind. I was wondering the same thing the other day. I strongly believe that random drug testing for all illegal substances would go a long way to legitimize pool. There are too many hustlers using substances to (as they think) enhance there performance. I see it done on a regular basis by some gamblers I know, they sneak out and are gone for a few minutes and back looking just slightly amped up. Some top players I know refuse to play with these people until they start to clean up there act. The recent thread about one of them goes straight to the serious problems drugs can and do cause for both the users and there unfortunate friends.. The IPT should test!!
Dan
Dan
ccn7 said:
Several years back I submitted to a drug screen for emloyment and it was around $160. That would be $24,000 for the whole tour. Well worth the money in my eyes.
You test all before for the 1st even, all who fail are out. Then have in the player contract that random drug screening is allowed and a failed exam results in immediate suspension. If it is suspected that a player is violating the contract, you give them 30 days to submit a new drug test.
If the game were kept clean, there would be a whole new list of heroes on the tour(s).
I believe that Purdy will be testing all drugs, leading up to IPT.
It is a dilemma- why test?
Do you have evidence that drugs make a person play better?
Why not test- they are illegal and there is a certain level of integrity to uphold.
I got no answer for you. Got any weed?
It is a dilemma- why test?
Do you have evidence that drugs make a person play better?
Why not test- they are illegal and there is a certain level of integrity to uphold.
I got no answer for you. Got any weed?
Fyi-yes
A friend of mine is on the tour next year. He said yes indeed the IPT WILL be testing.
A friend of mine is on the tour next year. He said yes indeed the IPT WILL be testing.
Colin would never pass the MSG screening.CrownCityCorey said:
In the present situation, there's no apparent need or requirement for screening. This contrasts with the WPA which because of its association with the WCBS is required to have an anti-doping policy.
I think if any players do drugs it's for recreational rather than competitive reasons.
I think that if they were to test for illicit drug use, that certain things are going have to be addressed.
I know of several professional pool players that take street forms of drugs, but also others take prescription forms of speed and similar substances.
The problem is that the drugs are prescribed specifically for people who have difficulty with attention and that could be their excuse.
So if it is being used by pros who have a doctor friend prescribing the pills for them, how is a distinction going to be made between the guy who uses the street stuff, and the guy who has the doctors note.
Just because a doctor says that "yes he does have difficulty with attention", does not mean that the person getting the drugs prescribed to him isn't malingering.
Where will the line be drawn? If the guy has a doctors note, does that get him off the hook? (with amphetamines and similar substances)
Cocaine on the other hand has no prescribable form so it could be banned across the board.
I know of several professional pool players that take street forms of drugs, but also others take prescription forms of speed and similar substances.
The problem is that the drugs are prescribed specifically for people who have difficulty with attention and that could be their excuse.
So if it is being used by pros who have a doctor friend prescribing the pills for them, how is a distinction going to be made between the guy who uses the street stuff, and the guy who has the doctors note.
Just because a doctor says that "yes he does have difficulty with attention", does not mean that the person getting the drugs prescribed to him isn't malingering.
Where will the line be drawn? If the guy has a doctors note, does that get him off the hook? (with amphetamines and similar substances)
Cocaine on the other hand has no prescribable form so it could be banned across the board.
CrownCityCorey said:
no,,,why should they.
the only reason i can see is to give the general public the illusion that pool has its foibles like any major sport,,,,ie. make people think pool should be thought of in the same way as other sports. in other words,,,,,,,,a PR gimmick.
Interesting articles re: PGA and Drugs
Though they seem only concerned about steroids, it is an interesting example of the PGA's mindset: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/02/15/sports/s145234S68.DTL
This does not have a date, but is more specific to the types of performance enhancements that would be present in pool: http://www.golftoday.co.uk/news/yeartodate/news00/drugs.html
Though they seem only concerned about steroids, it is an interesting example of the PGA's mindset: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/02/15/sports/s145234S68.DTL
This does not have a date, but is more specific to the types of performance enhancements that would be present in pool: http://www.golftoday.co.uk/news/yeartodate/news00/drugs.html
Purdman
Banned
Black-Balled said:I believe that Purdy will be testing all drugs, leading up to IPT.
It is a dilemma- why test?
Do you have evidence that drugs make a person play better?
Why not test- they are illegal and there is a certain level of integrity to uphold.
I got no answer for you. Got any weed?
I believe that Purdy will be testing all drugs, leading up to IPT.
Hey Blacked-Balled, you got a problem with me?
For your information and anybody else on this board, all the drug testing was completed in 1978. I would be more than happy to let you read the report. 
For a small fee. Purdman
TX Poolnut said:
How does he know that? I have not gotten an email saying anything about drug testing. I wouldn't mind it, but I know of others who might. Illegal drugs are probably not as bad as legal ones - i.e. alcohol and prescription drugs like Oxycontin.
rackmsuckr said:
Yeah, it's stupid how alcohol is legal and weed isn't. Weed itself can't kill you, alcohol can. You can't get addicted to weed either, and just go to any bar and half of the people in there go there every day and down beer after beer.
Bringing in drug testing is very effective at ensuring a bunch of bad PR and potentially big lawsuits.
There is no evidence it offers any advantages at the top level of the game.
Starting testing acts more to arouse suspicion than do any help in generating a supposed clean image.
If it is done, there are almost guaranteed to be a few helpless victims who inadvertently attended a party where dope was being smoked, or god forbid, they actually socially indulged in some unaccepted substance the weekend before.
Their carreers could be ended by the flap that ensues. All this to keep the do-gooders happy.
I won't be cutting down on my MSG intake, that's for sure ;-)
There is no evidence it offers any advantages at the top level of the game.
Starting testing acts more to arouse suspicion than do any help in generating a supposed clean image.
If it is done, there are almost guaranteed to be a few helpless victims who inadvertently attended a party where dope was being smoked, or god forbid, they actually socially indulged in some unaccepted substance the weekend before.
Their carreers could be ended by the flap that ensues. All this to keep the do-gooders happy.
I won't be cutting down on my MSG intake, that's for sure ;-)
Wow what a controversial issue, I think they should do drug testing because of the simple fact that there are drugs out there which will enhance a players ability. A good example of one would be the drug that snipers use to slow their heartbeat down, this could certainly be used to a players advantage in a high stakes/high pressure match. If the players are clean they should have no problem doing a drug test.
The European players certainly wouldn't be opposed to drug testing because they've had random drug tests on the Euro-tour for a few years now, the penalty for a failed test is pretty strict IIRC, first offense the player misses several events, second offense is a one year ban, and I believe the third offense was a see ya later don't let the door hit your ass on the way out
This is just my opinion and I bet everyone feels differently about this rather touchy issue, this would also be a good question for Deno.
The European players certainly wouldn't be opposed to drug testing because they've had random drug tests on the Euro-tour for a few years now, the penalty for a failed test is pretty strict IIRC, first offense the player misses several events, second offense is a one year ban, and I believe the third offense was a see ya later don't let the door hit your ass on the way out
This is just my opinion and I bet everyone feels differently about this rather touchy issue, this would also be a good question for Deno.
Alcohol will be tested...
The CPB a Continental Association within the WPA has announced they will test for alchohol. According to the CPB, anyone with .004 alcohol level will be disciplined. It was announce without consultation with the member countries, nor it was explained how they came with this number, or how players would be selected, if it is random or selective, etc. Obviously, I objected but don't know if any other country is opposed to the arbitrary imposition.
I also don't know if the other Continental Associations (APBU, EPBF, etc) have imposed the testing...
cuetechasaurus said:
The CPB a Continental Association within the WPA has announced they will test for alchohol. According to the CPB, anyone with .004 alcohol level will be disciplined. It was announce without consultation with the member countries, nor it was explained how they came with this number, or how players would be selected, if it is random or selective, etc. Obviously, I objected but don't know if any other country is opposed to the arbitrary imposition.
I also don't know if the other Continental Associations (APBU, EPBF, etc) have imposed the testing...
IMO,
Just the event winners should be tested.
The various users / losers will have eaten enough crow by that point.
I don't get it though.
If you were operating equipment or if there was any remote possibility of someone ( but yourself ) getting hurt by their "use", it would be understandable.
If they win and they have something in their system, might be a lot harder to explain
Just the event winners should be tested.
The various users / losers will have eaten enough crow by that point.
I don't get it though.
If you were operating equipment or if there was any remote possibility of someone ( but yourself ) getting hurt by their "use", it would be understandable.
If they win and they have something in their system, might be a lot harder to explain
Snapshot9 said:
Why do you think I objected to this number?
The CPB wants no alcohol served to players in their events, nor they want them smoking (anytime). This could lead to "witch-hunting" in the events and I'm obvioulsy opposed.
I can understand not drinking or smoking during a match but I cannot understand the logic after the match, where the player goes out of the venue and has a "smoke" or a beer.
I've been searching the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) website to find out some more info about the .004, and I sure cannot find it anywhere.
http://www.wada-ama.org/en/
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