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Rusty, I don't think using 'knead' in that sense is local? It's a word that I have always heard used in connection with the action cats make when putting their claws in and out when on someone's knee?
What will Seb Coe do? I wouldn't have said that he is a "waffler"?
I think he is seriously concerned about the future of Athletics and will do what he can to lay down strict rulings across the board.
At the moment, It looks highly likely that Russia will be banned from taking part in the coming Olympic Games.
As I said earlier though, taking Russia out of the equation - they are such strong competition - will only lower the standard - and will any "medals" be worth their value if too easily achieved?
It is a difficult situation.... I think barring an individual for "life" is defintely justified if he/ she is caught taking performance- enhancing drugs - but barring an entire country could be the beginning of the end of serious competition.
What do YOU think?

Elle's bells!
I did not know that knead, but Google has a few examples of cat's kneading.
I am not sure at all about Coe.
These sporting organisations all appear to be corrupt.
Backhanders for votes etc. How on earth did Qatar get the World Cup? Corruption!
The USA did not take part in the Moscow Olympics and it went OK. I often wonder about cyclists and athletes who sleep in oxygen tents. What will they try next to gain an edge? And why are so many athletes on asthma medicine? That should set alarm bells ringing!
A slippery slope!
I do not think sport will ever be clean.
If Russia have been cheating on an industrial scale, bar them from sport. They have been at it for many years.
There have been cover ups in the USA, too, in athletics.
Maybe even in GB?

Rusty, this is all too depressing for words......I'd like to say that I think you are looking on the black side, but I am afraid that it is most probably all too true?
Wasn't it Germany, not all that long ago, who was involved on a national scale in administering drugs to all its Athletics competitors - remember that young woman that you liked? I cannot recall her name now?
It turned out that every athlete in every discipline was on drugs.
But I cannot see a logical conclusion to the problem without doing away with any viable competition?
As you say, this is the same in each sport.
Maybe it does happen in GB? but we certainly came down hard on Dwain Chambers - he paid a far more severe penalty for his transgression than did others of different nationalities.
But a national sport can no longer be classified as such if entire countries end up being banned .
The solution? Who knows?

Hello, Elle!
It was East Germany, Elle, and I was a fan of Heike Drechsler.
She was a great long jumper and sprinter.
The other two well known ones were Marita Koch and Marliese Gohr. Koch broke the world record for 400 metres in, I think, 1985, by over a second! No woman has got anywhere near that record since then. Yet, Marita Koch never failed a test.
She says she did not dope. When the two Germanys re-united, the Stasi (who ran the doping program) handed over the doping records of all the athletes to (West) German authorities.
Koch threatened to sue for being called a doper, but never did.
Other East German athletes asked for their names to be removed from the record books.
My problem with Dwain Chambers is he trained on steroids. I have read that steroids have a permanent effect. Even years later the athlete will still benefit from their effect. That can't be right?
It is a difficult one. The dopers are always a step ahead of the testers. Remember Serena Williams and the panic room!

Hi Rusty
I think it is right that steroid use can give advantage many years after it has been stopped. Something to do with additional nuclei in muscle cells? So a lifetime ban is the only answer, even if the drugs have been administered without the athlete's knowledge.

If a scientist cheats by fixing his results in some way and is discovered, that's it for life. No reputable journal would ever publish their work afterwards. (However, I'm not sure if this is entirely true for employees of drug companies, I foresee the day when far fewer people are prescribed statins, for example,)

Good morning, Rosalind!
The before and after pictures of Ben Johnson, the sprinter, are very revealing. He went from being a normally built athlete to a muscle bound monster. Steroids. I remember well the East German swimmer, Kornelia Ender. Her shoulder muscles were enormous. The steroid effect!
What I have gleaned, as a layman, is that steroids create a permanent change in muscles, so for me, a 2 or a 3 year ban is not enough. Has to be permanent or it is making a mockery of clean athletes.
I know there has been debate and controversy about the "benefits" of statins. I tend to agree with you that there will be fewer prescriptions in the future.

Morning, Rusty!
Another somewhat dreich day here!
I do indeed remember the "panic room"!
Yes, as Rosalind says, there is thought to be a lasting effect after taking steroids for body -building purposes.
The steroid drugs boost the number of cell nuclei in the muscle fibres. These nuclei are key to building strength in muscles when people exercise.
There is something called "muscle memory", I think? - I'm sure I've heard the term? I'm not sure how it works.........?
I am shortly going to Bromley to do some shopping - among other things I need to buy a new scratching pole for the cat ( the boys broke the previous one by..... er...... sitting on it!)
Then I am having lunch with a friend - we are meeting today instead of the usual Thursday, as on Thursday this week I am attending another school Open Day with my daughter.
Have a good day.... talk later......

Hello, Elle!
I have no knowledge of "muscle memory", but at least we are all in agreement that steroid abuse has permanent effects.
So, for me, a life ban is appropriate, if proven.
I suspect that there are many more countries at the capers as regards doping.
Just heard there will be no Black Friday at ASDA this year!
Oh dear!
Hope you enjoy lunch!

Hi, Rusty!
I had a most enjoyable lunch, thank you!
We went to a Chinese restaurant in Bromley - I had beef curry and noodles with beansprouts - delicious!
No room for any dinner tonight!
I bought the scratch pole for the cat - he was trying to dig down to Australia in the lounge carpet without it!
I must look up "muscle memory" later on when I get a moment ......
No Black Friday at Asda? did you have one last year then?
I think I bought all those Jane Austen books from Amazon on Cyber Monday? I shall look out for more bargains this year!
What have you been up to today?

Hello, Elle!
How is everybody in Bromley getting on?
Something at the back of my head tells me it is in Kent?
We had Black Friday last year.
I remember large screen Polaroid TV's were very cheap.
I did not know Polaroid made TV's.
Looks like it will just be Amazon for me this year.
I have had a quiet day, even did my crossword!
Then studied some leaflets about recycling.
Our council has replaced our rubbish bins with 4 different coloured recycling bins and I am not sure what goes where!
I wish they would leave me in peace!