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Bump - I think we crossed Rusty!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, a good afternoon of Athletics from Birmingham!
And at least the competitors had gusty breezes to prevent them from becoming too hot!
Although of course the wind tended to play havoc with the timings.
A good job that most of our top athletes have already acquired the requisite times.
Yes, Laura indeed ran well.......
However, I got the impression that her entering for that distance had been unexpected..... and might ruin the chances of other athletes getting to Berlin?
But of course Laura must put her own career first.
I am pleased about Steph Twell's coming first in the 3000m; she has always been a good, and likeable, competitor.
And wasn't it great to see Dai Greene back on form after all his injuries, and winning the 400m hurdles?
I am looking forward to the European Championships in five (? )weeks.....
I think we stand a good chance of doing well!
And I still have the Paris Diamond League yet to watch....
I recorded it earlier!



Hello, Pigale!
Goodness, your temperatures sound positively alarming!
Our high has been supposedly 27C...but it is also very airless.....
I've just been out in the garden with the dog....she is brave enough to remain outside !
I have scurried back indoors....to the fan!
Far too hot for me!
I think I might take a trip up to Birmingham and experience some wind!

Good afternoon, Pigale!
It is fairly hot here, too.
The best spell of weather that I can remember.
I am eating mainly fruit in this hot weather, too!
Now, Le Tour!
The tour organisers have told Team Sky that Froome will not be welcome at the Tour due to his failed drug test.
But, true to form, Team Sky are appealing that decision to the National Olympic Committee of French Sport.
It will be heard on Tuesday, with a decision on Wednesday.
I hope they back Le Tour organisers!

Good evening, Elle!
Yes, a good afternoon of athletics and I also enjoyed Russia beating Spain at the World Cup!
Laura ran very well, a class apart from her competitors.
Laura running the 800 was not unexpected to those who knew about it.
Apparently, Andy Young, her coach, had that race as part of her programme since the start of the season.
Yes, Steph ran a super race, as ever!
There were some fine young athletes on display at Birmingham.

How many positive tests must he have before they finally decide
to ban him for good? I too hope that the Committee backs Le Tour
organisers - It is their race and surely they can impose strict rules
if they so wish!

I don't quite understand why Team Sky is appealing to an Olympic
Committee anyway - it is Le Tour and has nothing to do with
Olympics, surely?

Hello, Pigale!
Apparently, Froome can ride as long as his case is under appeal, say the UCI.
Team Sky are a wealthy team and seem happy to appeal forever.
They are lacking in ethics, though.
Their rider, Froome, had double the permitted amount of an asthma drug, therefore failing the drug test.
That is a fact, but Sky won't accept that, hence their appeals.
If he is allowed to ride, Bernard Hinault is prepared to call the riders to strike in protest.
I agree it seems strange that Le Tour is appealing to an Olympic Committee.
I have no answer to that.

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, I did not know that Laura's participation in the 800m was long-planned....
I was just going off what the commentators said about her presence giving the Selection Committee a potential headache!
Now I'm a tad confused here, as I do not usually follow cycling and its competitors......
Is Chris Froome an asthma sufferer?
If so, does he usually take Salbutamol for the condition?
Is the problem deciding whether he genuinely needs the drug?
( It seems strange, though, that he would cycle under tough conditions were he asthmatic?)
Or is it that excess amounts of the drug were detected in his system?
I may be asking inappropriate questions, from a lack of knowledge, but I am trying to grasp the issue?
It seems to me that Maria Sharapova was banned from tennis for a similar issue?

Hello, Elle!
I wondered too, about Laura, but her programme is planned at the start of the season.
I was surprised to see her in an 800.
Froome and many other riders/athletes/swimmers claim to be asthmatics.
That being so, in cycling they are allowed a certain amount of Salbutamol.
Froome's drug test at the Tour Of Spain had double the permitted amount of the drug in it.
But Team Sky won't accept that finding, hence this has been going on since September.
Le Tour do not want him in their race, especially after all the bad publicity of the Armstrong case.
Armstrong was stripped of his Tour wins eventually.

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I can see the problem about Froome now....
Is it not suspect, though, that an asthmatic would, in any case, choose to take part in a highly competitive sport?
Surely it would put his/ her health at risk?
( I am not saying here that a person suffering from asthma shouldn't play sport....but not under risk conditions?)
I know I personally tend to be a bit naive in certain circumstances, in not liking to believe than an idol might have feet of clay.....but surely all this would appear obvious to the governing authorities?
And shouldn't identical "punishments" apply to all Sports across the board for silmilar medical infringements?
After all, Maria was banned under parallel circumstances?

Now...I shall have to disappear for a bit...time to talk to my cousin.. my turn to phone......
I'll be back later!

Hello, Elle!
I do not have the medical knowledge to answer your question about asthmatics taking part in sport.
There are studies saying sport can cause asthma.
Paula Radcliffe says running caused her asthma, for instance.
But, in cycling, there are strict limits as to how much of an asthma drug you can take.
I think the same applies to other sports, too.
Your point about the governing bodies.
Often they are corrupt, too.
Top cyclists and athletes have paid the testers money to change adverse drug test readings.
Sport is by no means clean.