WPA Announces Details of Thorpe Suspension

[MattPoland]

WEED? you have to be kidding me? What is this 1952

It’s not too surprising.

The general concept of drug testing in international competition is pretty standard at this point. You don’t want people taking steroids, Aderall, snappers or heroin if they are going to be representing on the world stage. You shouldn’t need to med up just to keep up the micro advantages needed to eke out wins on the world stage.

I’ve read that it was the US that pushed for marijuana to be in the anti-doping list of banned substances originally.

I know it’s still prohibited for 2022 but WADA did publish that they are engaging research on whether it warrants being on the list.

I think it should be removed from the list and treated like alcohol and perhaps it will. But there is extremely little surprise it is there now.

 

[kling&allen]

It’s not too surprising.

The general concept of drug testing in international competition is pretty standard at this point. You don’t want people taking steroids, Aderall, snappers or heroin if they are going to be representing on the world stage. You shouldn’t need to med up just to keep up the micro advantages needed to eke out wins on the world stage.

I’ve read that it was the US that pushed for marijuana to be in the anti-doping list of banned substances originally.

I know it’s still prohibited for 2022 but WADA did publish that they are engaging research on whether it warrants being on the list.

I think it should be removed from the list and treated like alcohol and perhaps it will. But there is extremely little surprise it is there now.

I agree weed's inclusion on the list isn't surprising as WADA is the world's strictest drug testing. But, not to beat a dead horse as you have already posted on this, it is surprising to most people that pool players are subjected to Olympic-calibur drug testing to play in routine professional events.

 

[tableroll]

Oh my it's 2022 not the dark ages. Time does not erase the law.

 

[MattPoland]

I agree weed's inclusion on the list isn't surprising as WADA is the world's strictest drug testing. But, not to beat a dead horse as you have already posted on this, it is surprising to most people that pool players are subjected to Olympic-calibur drug testing to play in routine professional events.

It is a good point but it’s also a catch-22. There’s two major professional promoters. Matchroom has the world 9-ball championship and has created a structure around world 9-ball rankings, seeding and invitations via sanctioned events. Predator has had the world 10-ball championship and has created a brand around world 10-ball sanctioned events. They’ve both rebuilt their brands (as promoters) on top of the WPA foundation. Either miraculously they both walk away from the WPA or even more miraculously the WPA walks away from WADA and/or IOC.

I know there’s established models in other sports but that’s because they’ve had an established commercial model that’s surpassed the power and influence of IOC affiliation where in pool that relationship is inverted and there’s no clear path to flipping it.

 

[measureman]

A little off track but weed is legal in Colorado.
A large local supplier to my company had to drop testing for weed because they could not hire ware house workers because all the people that applied failed the draconian test.
.Now on the other hand my Daughters company that is also local has to follow Federal law on drugs and has to test for weed.
What a mess.

 

[kling&allen]

It is a good point but it’s also a catch-22. There’s two major professional promoters. Matchroom has the world 9-ball championship and has created a structure around world 9-ball rankings, seeding and invitations via sanctioned events. Predator has had the world 10-ball championship and has created a brand around world 10-ball sanctioned events. They’ve both rebuilt their brands (as promoters) on top of the WPA foundation. Either miraculously they both walk away from the WPA or even more miraculously the WPA walks away from WADA and/or IOC.

I know there’s established models in other sports but that’s because they’ve had an established commercial model that’s surpassed the power and influence of IOC affiliation where in pool that relationship is inverted and there’s no clear path to flipping it.

I agree with all these points. The only reason Matchroom or CSI would disregard WPA sanctioning is if they are losing audience because of missing (banned) players. But Matchroom didnt make a public peep over Thorpe, Gorst, or Tkach, who were once heavily promoted before their various bans.

The other side is that the players could demand rights like those found in other sports. But I think that's the least likely result as pool players do a uniquely terrible job supporting each other. None said anything about Thorpe's treatment or the Russia ban (unlike Tennis players who spoke out over the Wimbelton ban).