Andy Murray... Poor Lamb

disgruntledgoat
disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
edited February 2009 in Pro race
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/fe ... nti-doping


And Nadal too, who saw that one coming?

Turns out WADA's rules make it impossible to live a normal life. Unlike before they were imposed when Murray led the "normal" life of jetting off around the world to play sport for fabulous sums of money 9 months of the year.
"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

@gietvangent

Comments

  • For me this sort of thing is totally irrational and doesn't stand up to any sort of examination of the issues at all.. But don't let that stop supine, fawning, non-journalists from sticking it in their 'features' pages or the internet. Sports journalism is increasingly sycophantic and appears to have misplaced its critical faculties.

    This sort of stuff from Murray and Nadal is stroppy teenager nonsense. That court case in Belgium (it HAD to be there didn't it?) had better fail.
  • andyrac
    andyrac Posts: 1,195
    You've beaten me to it - I've seen this and I'm almost apoplectic!!
    Not surprised, talk about double standards.


    Forgive me, I can't beleive I'n going to say this, but I really wonder if cycling goes too far.......
    All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    If the reflex to update the Whereabouts system is too difficult for Murray and his entourage, I suggest he takes up a different job, perhaps in a factory or an office.

    Andy Schleck is having a whinge too:
    Sometimes it can be hard though. If I want to go out with friends I have to declare it, but I'm young and I don't plan every occasion.
    The irony is that the scheme is a cross to carry because of the likes of... his own brother and his expensive training plans from Dr Fuentes. Or his boss, Bjarne Riis.

    No one has to state their movements 24 hours a day. So why don't the riders simply name a time at home from 8.30 - 9.30 every morning? They are bound to be at home, eating breakfast before a training ride, not on some impulsive trip to the cinema.
  • leguape
    leguape Posts: 986
    Kléber wrote:
    If the reflex to update the Whereabouts system is too difficult for Murray and his entourage, I suggest he takes up a different job, perhaps in a factory or an office.

    Andy Schleck is having a whinge too:
    Sometimes it can be hard though. If I want to go out with friends I have to declare it, but I'm young and I don't plan every occasion.
    The irony is that the scheme is a cross to carry because of the likes of... his own brother and his expensive training plans from Dr Fuentes. Or his boss, Bjarne Riis.

    No one has to state their movements 24 hours a day. So why don't the riders simply name a time at home from 8.30 - 9.30 every morning? They are bound to be at home, eating breakfast before a training ride, not on some impulsive trip to the cinema.

    Innit, every sensible athletic put 6-7am at their home address as their available hour. Although one suspects that's because they know that the testers aren't likely to make that trip frequently.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,907
    Kléber wrote:
    The irony is that the scheme is a cross to carry because of the likes of...

    because it those that do who spoil it for everyone else
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • dave_1
    dave_1 Posts: 9,512
    Nadal is not really in a position to be complaining , he should be thanking his lucky stars operation puerto prosecutions have been held up, cancelled as he might be involved . As for Murray, whinger...get used to it...you earn a fortune
  • Dave_1 wrote:
    Nadal is not really in a position to be complaining , he should be thanking his lucky stars operation puerto prosecutions have been held up, cancelled as he might be involved . As for Murray, whinger...get used to it...you earn a fortune

    Indeed. Do you know I have to account for my whereabouts for about 8 hours every day. It's a scandal.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    perhaps he could take up Rugby or how about I take the tests for him in return for 50% of his earnings. Of course he may be inconvenienced but most of us can tell others where we are most days and I would have thought that for an athlete they are training or resting and in either situation they can arrange a suitable time. But I think we really know why they complain and if they huff and puff loud enough, the nasty men will go away. Alex Ferguson was using Murrays line the other week so do I detect a pattern forming of sports people and their relevant bodies forming up against testing?
    M.Rushton
  • I would have thought most married men have to account for their whereabouts, 24 hours of every day.

    Too much money=too much ego. If they don't like the inconvenience, they can always do a Mancebo.
    Something to hide, methinks.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    It's the irony that gets me - the more they're paid, then the greater the whingeing - it was the same when the football players were asked to provide their whereabouts too. Doesn't say much for their professionalism if they don't have a structured programme that dictates what they'll be doing on what days - they even hire coaches and trainers to do if for them FFS - it's not like they're out every day on a 100km training ride or something.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    I suspect it may be that the more they are paid, the more their whinging is publicised, and the more we are affronted by it. Most of us are whingers about something or other (present company excepted :wink: ). Also, I can understand that if you are a top and totally clean sports person you might be a little aggrieved (or affronted) at you have to bother with this stuff when you know the testing will always be negative, and when the system is only required because of cheats, of course, that's if taking a very narrow perspective on things.
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    It would appear from this article that either Andy Murray or the journo who wrote it has no idea of why out-of-competition no-warnings testing has to be done.

    A mainstream non-sport newspaper reader of this article wouldn't, which is perhaps what is so bad about this article, because any clued-up reader will see just how ridiculous it is - but then again, perhaps a mainstream non-sport newspaper reader would either not read the article in the first place or not care less about it if they did !

    Actually, thinking about it, it must be Murray who doesn't understand.
    After all, he's British, hence by definintion doesn't dope and will have no idea of how doping is carried out, and is a tennis player too, a sport which has no doping problem... :roll:
  • Kléber wrote:
    If the reflex to update the Whereabouts system is too difficult for Murray and his entourage, I suggest he takes up a different job, perhaps in a factory or an office.

    Andy Schleck is having a whinge too:
    Sometimes it can be hard though. If I want to go out with friends I have to declare it, but I'm young and I don't plan every occasion.
    The irony is that the scheme is a cross to carry because of the likes of... his own brother and his expensive training plans from Dr Fuentes. Or his boss, Bjarne Riis.

    No one has to state their movements 24 hours a day. So why don't the riders simply name a time at home from 8.30 - 9.30 every morning? They are bound to be at home, eating breakfast before a training ride, not on some impulsive trip to the cinema.

    A bit unfair there mate you cut out the bit where he says that its the cyclist fault they have to deal with this because they created the problem. I think Matty White said that after a while he resented the testers rocking up becuase it made him feel like a cheat even though he wasnt doing anything wrong. As far as other sportsmen complaining, my guess is that they've seen whats happening in cycling and dont want to end up in the same boat.
    Take care of the luxuries and the necessites will take care of themselves.
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    Is it me or does Andy Murray remind you of Robert Millar?

    They look alike and have the same shy on camera appearance.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • I have to not only account for my whereabouts 8 hours a day, but additionally I have to be where someone else tells me to be for those hours at the same time everyday. I mean, the infringement on my human rights eh? I even have to let them know where I am inside an hour of not being where they tell me to be in order that they know I'm 'safe'. If I'm ill the swines insist on asking me why and how and if I'm off for more than 3 consecutive days I have a meeting with them at a venue of their choosing - again I have to go to them. If I'm off for more than 5 consecutive days I need a letter from my GP explaining it to these people. It's like living in a police state. And to top it all I'm not paid £2 million pounds which is clearly an outrage.

    They are attempting via their supplicant media allies to appeal to the man-in-the-pub on the basis that 'it's a bit harsh all that testing and not being able to fart without a man with rubber gloves turing up at your doorstep..' It's bollicks, we all know that but if you talk to Dave from number 47 in your street he won't know that or why it is needed and that is what football, golf, Rugby and tennis are all relying on.
  • I feel your pain brother... Do you know, I can't just get up and walk away from those 8 hour long sessions without sanction? It's an outrage.


    I particularly liked the bit about "the bloke turned up at my house at 7 in the morning! Asking all sorts of questions!"

    YOU TOLD HIM YOU'D BE THERE YOU DOLT. You can't very well complain about them turning up at an agreed time and place.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • top_bhoy
    top_bhoy Posts: 1,424
    Sportspeople may have to undergo the testing and resign themselves to accepting it but it doesn't mean they have to like it.

    Most people have a day or two away from their job where they can have private time to themselves and their family without intrusion. Not so with sportspeople who are under the microscope 24/7 - money can't buy that privacy.

    I'm wondering if a compromise of sorts can't be reached to allow the degree of privacy they deserve for at least one day per week or a set number of days per year.
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    Ha ha yeah i nearly spat my lucy charms everywhere when i read this. It is a burden for the athlete, but as has been said here, its the path they chose. I was kinda hoping it would reflect well on cycling, and more people would be aware of how much the sport is doing in the fight against doping, but as it was in the everyday press, that probably won't happen... Rafa and his muscles must be pooping themselves....

    Was glad to see that Federer was in favour it thought... old heads see!
  • Yeahbut, they could work on the checkout at Tesco for a quiet life. Except for the little Hitler that'd be giving you grief about what time you take your break and make a fuss over holiday requests. Possibly.

    As an athelete you've got on a structured day - meals, time you train, how long you train, where you train, other people you meet to facilitate this (coach, team mates etc). So it is not rocket science to set an hour for another bit of structure. Especially if it is 7am - 8am while you are changing the babies nappy or eating your high protein, carbo rich breakfast. I'm sure they'd all rather do without it, but they can't and shouldn't so if you have to wee into a bottle at 7.37am to keep everyone happy and to allow you to lead your current lifestyle it isn't too much to ask. Tell you what if you let me ride my bike for a living (current salary will do) I'll pee into bottles and give blood twice a day everyday if it means I don't have to go back to the day job.