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#Post#: 150335--------------------------------------------------
Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World Cup
wins
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: March 2, 2026, 6:38 am
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South Africa has highest number of convicted dopers in rugby yet
sixfold decrease in testing coincided with 2019 and 2023
triumphs
HTML https://archive.ph/08OIw
Article behind pay wall now so above link is via archive.ph.
#Post#: 150347--------------------------------------------------
Re: Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World
Cup wins
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: March 2, 2026, 8:07 am
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I guess the question is whether there are doping convictions at
the highest level. Are players who are playing internationally
or potentially international doping, or is it lower level
players?
#Post#: 150348--------------------------------------------------
Re: Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World
Cup wins
DIR By: dinsdale
Date: March 2, 2026, 10:00 am
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An anecdote.
A few years ago I bumped in to a former pro rugby player. As he
cycles with friends of mine we were discussing pro cycling and
doping. This chap steadfastly refused to believe that ANY
athlete in any pro sport wasn't doping with everything they
could get their hands on all the time.
Very few drug tests catch people doping. It's usually
whistleblowers or people facing convictions for supplying drugs
who dob people in.
I assume it's everybody until proven otherwise.
#Post#: 150353--------------------------------------------------
Re: Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World
Cup wins
DIR By: Quinky
Date: March 2, 2026, 12:15 pm
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There's a really interesting documentary (I think it's on
YouTube) called The Dirtiest Race In History. It talks about the
100m "won" by Ben Johnson, and the subsequent stripping of the
title in favour of Saint Carl Lewis. Fascinating stuff. All but
one of the runners had been, or was subsequently, guilty of
doping. The guy who ran the testing company said that he'd kept
samples from all of the runners, and in later years with more
advanced testing, he decided to test them again... but hurriedly
stopped, with the implication appearing to be that he was better
off letting sleeping dogs lie. Quite literally.
Well worth a watch, and puts the whole shebang into a different
perspective.
#Post#: 150354--------------------------------------------------
Re: Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World
Cup wins
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: March 2, 2026, 12:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I guess if everyone is, then maybe there isn't a cloud over
their wins, because their opponents were also doing it.
#Post#: 150361--------------------------------------------------
Re: Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World
Cup wins
DIR By: Quinky
Date: March 2, 2026, 2:25 pm
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--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> I guess if everyone is, then maybe there isn't a cloud over
their wins, because their opponents were also doing it.
>
--- End Quote ---
Unless it until anything is proven, there's no cloud at all.
#Post#: 150369--------------------------------------------------
Re: Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World
Cup wins
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: March 3, 2026, 2:40 am
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Quite sunny here too.
#Post#: 150427--------------------------------------------------
Re: Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World
Cup wins
DIR By: 22 Dropout
Date: March 4, 2026, 12:42 pm
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Drugs are widespread in the SA U16 system, where there is no
testing and the pressure to get into the academies makes or
breaks your dreams. The benefits of that are there for life.
Many athletes are told they are taking drugs for recovery not
performance, not realising that it is the ability to train
harder for longer that leads to a performance gain.
The Rodchenkov Affair: How I Brought Down Russia’s Secret Doping
Empire – Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2020
is very informative and fascinating.
#Post#: 150428--------------------------------------------------
Re: Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World
Cup wins
DIR By: Quinky
Date: March 4, 2026, 2:41 pm
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--- Quote from: 22 Dropout link ---
>
> Drugs are widespread in the SA U16 system, where there is no
testing and the pressure to get into the academies makes or
breaks your dreams. The benefits of that are there for life.
> Many athletes are told they are taking drugs for recovery not
performance, not realising that it is the ability to train
harder for longer that leads to a performance gain.
> The Rodchenkov Affair: How I Brought Down Russia’s Secret
Doping Empire – Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the
Year 2020 is very informative and fascinating.
>
--- End Quote ---
I've heard that rumour too. You have proof?
#Post#: 150429--------------------------------------------------
Re: Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World
Cup wins
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: March 4, 2026, 3:46 pm
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I've always assumed that drug use is rife in most countries in
the age group just below academy levels. I have heard of plenty
of young players who are told they're 5-10kg too small and to go
off and get bigger. They're eating loads but training loads and
some can't get bigger. Do drugs, get academy deal then clean up
when in the resting pool. I'm sure it's not just South Africa
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