Athletics still 'all corrupt' claims Ben Johnson

[Ryan]

Ben Johnson is writing an autobiography? That ought to be interesting.

"I look back and I made some mistakes. I was using steroids, but everyone was in the same level playing field. The person who is clean in this business is the person who doesn't make it.

I know some people who would agree with this and some who would not.

"I was the victim of sabotage. Sure I took steroids but just to train, not to run fast. It doesn't enable me to run faster."

Sabotage? Of what kind? He took steroids, he got caught. What I really like, though, is admitting he took them but just to train, not to run fast. They didn't enable him to run faster. Yeah, then why were you taking them? If they helped you train, didn't the additional training enable him to run faster? That's kind of how steroids work.

BBC article: Athletics still 'all corrupt' claims Ben Johnson

[Andrew A.]

Ben Johnson is writing an autobiography? That ought to be interesting.

"I look back and I made some mistakes. I was using steroids, but everyone was in the same level playing field. The person who is clean in this business is the person who doesn't make it.

I know some people who would agree with this and some who would not.

Actually, it is demonstrably false given that we know that - like with altitude or any given training stimuli - individuals will respond in differing levels to different PEDs.  Thus, the playing field cannot be leveled if all are indeed using PEDs as it will be the best responder who comes out ahead and not the best athlete if all were clean.

"I was the victim of sabotage. Sure I took steroids but just to train, not to run fast. It doesn't enable me to run faster."

Sabotage? Of what kind? He took steroids, he got caught. What I really like, though, is admitting he took them but just to train, not to run fast. They didn't enable him to run faster. Yeah, then why were you taking them? If they helped you train, didn't the additional training enable him to run faster? That's kind of how steroids work.

Even if one takes them for recovery, that still enables a higher workload than is possible without which will clearly lead to getting faster.  Put it like this, if they would not help him get faster then why did he take them?  Is training an end to itself?

[Ryan]

Even if one takes them for recovery, that still enables a higher workload than is possible without which will clearly lead to getting faster.  Put it like this, if they would not help him get faster then why did he take them?  Is training an end to itself?

Precisely. That's in fact how steroids work. They allow you to recover/rebuild more quickly so you can handle a higher training load, which will make you faster. You can't take them, sit on the couch, and turn into a sub-10 second sprinter. So in essence, he admitted that he used them for precisely the purpose they are banned for and yet he claims they didn't help him. I just have to wonder, is he that dense or does he think his audience is that dense?

[Andrew A.]

Ben Johnson is writing an autobiography? That ought to be interesting.

"I look back and I made some mistakes. I was using steroids, but everyone was in the same level playing field. The person who is clean in this business is the person who doesn't make it.

I know some people who would agree with this and some who would not.

Actually, it is demonstrably false given that we know that - like with altitude or any given training stimuli - individuals will respond in differing levels to different PEDs.  Thus, the playing field cannot be leveled if all are indeed using PEDs as it will be the best responder who comes out ahead and not the best athlete if all were clean.

Need to amend this: Thus, the playing field cannot be leveled if all are indeed using PEDs as it will be the best responder or the one who is willing to take the biggest risks in terms of personal well being and possibly getting caught who comes out ahead and not the best athlete if all were clean.