The ugly side of running in Thailand: Age category doping

[webfact]

The ugly side of running in Thailand: Age category doping
by Murray Hunter

BANGKOK: -- DOPING is a serious issue in sport and Thailand has not been unaffected by this ugly side of competition. The Nuttapong Ketin doping case at the SEA Games earlier this year was seen as a great setback to Thai sport, which is feared could only be the tip of the iceberg.

The performance of Thai marathon runners in the age category 50-59 years old is amazing, to say the least. In the recent Rayong Marathon held only a week or so ago, the winner of the 55-59 year old category would have also with his time of 3 hours and 16 minutes won the 18-29, 30-34, 40-44, and 50-54 years old age categories.

This year’s winners in the 50-59 years old categories in the Bangkok, Pattaya, or Khon Kean marathons would have run fast enough to win the same age grouping at the Adelaide and Brisbane marathons, and place 2nd in the Canberra, Gold Coast and Melbourne Marathons, which are held in mild temperate conditions.

Full story: http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/12/the-ugly-side-of-running-in-thailand-age-category-doping/

-- ASIAN CORRESPONDENT 2015-12-15

[jaywalker]

One must ask, how long was the marathon supposed to be, as opposed to how long it actually was?

If it was 5.5 km shorter than advertised, then of course they were running like the Flash.

I wonder why this wasn't a headline in the opposite direction w/ the recent BKK marathon?

Bangkok Marathon Runners All Complete Slobs, as it took them FOREVER to finish a marathon that runners in other cities normally finish in much less time.

Edited December 15, 2015 by jaywalker

[limbos]

One must ask, how long was the marathon supposed to be, as opposed to how long it actually was?

If it was 5.5 km shorter than advertised, then of course they were running like the Flash.

I wonder why this wasn't a headline in the opposite direction w/ the recent BKK marathon?

Bangkok Marathon Runners All Complete Slobs, as it took them FOREVER to finish a marathon that runners in other cities normally finish in much less time.

Nice to see that you have no idea about what your're talking about. The recent Bangkok Standard Chartered Marathon distance was fine, 42km, it was the half marathon that was 6 km over normal distance.

Now this was an absolute horrendous mistake and didn't do Thailand any good in the international media. The same author wrote about this massive mess up, in case you're interested, you can look it up.

All these races around Thailand have mostly different organizers and many races are fairly spot on with their distances, like last Sunday the 5th International half marathon in Bangkok was held with a very accurate distance of 21.19km on my race watch.

However, this article is concerning marathons and not half marathons. Maybe first check up on the Thai marathon races mentioned in the article and you will see that these races are mostly well organized with the correct distances.

Now, to get back to the article at hand, it's a real shame and very unfortunate if this really is happening.

[Jeremy50]

Those are some very impressive running stats. Some older Thais are also pretty useful on a bicycle. I ride in the 49-60 age group at races, and the pace is full on.

As for doping, I doubt there is a top athlete in almost any sport that doesn't bend the rules towards controlled substances to their advantage. There is a lot more money spent on finding undetectable enhancers than is spent on finding ways to detect them. Also circumstances when taking certain drugs can be allowed, with a doctors certificate for example. Lance Armstrong gained a lot of respect by keeping quiet about all the other riders on 'the sauce'.

[jaywalker]

One must ask, how long was the marathon supposed to be, as opposed to how long it actually was?

If it was 5.5 km shorter than advertised, then of course they were running like the Flash.

I wonder why this wasn't a headline in the opposite direction w/ the recent BKK marathon?

Bangkok Marathon Runners All Complete Slobs, as it took them FOREVER to finish a marathon that runners in other cities normally finish in much less time.

Nice to see that you have no idea about what your're talking about. The recent Bangkok Standard Chartered Marathon distance was fine, 42km, it was the half marathon that was 6 km over normal distance.

Now this was an absolute horrendous mistake and didn't do Thailand any good in the international media. The same author wrote about this massive mess up, in case you're interested, you can look it up.

All these races around Thailand have mostly different organizers and many races are fairly spot on with their distances, like last Sunday the 5th International half marathon in Bangkok was held with a very accurate distance of 21.19km on my race watch.

However, this article is concerning marathons and not half marathons. Maybe first check up on the Thai marathon races mentioned in the article and you will see that these races are mostly well organized with the correct distances.

Now, to get back to the article at hand, it's a real shame and very unfortunate if this really is happening.

Long, half, 500 yard dash who cares? Was the distance measured accurately?

Yeah I read the response from the General in charge of the BKK debacle.

"Organizers worked very hard, but they were confused"......Over something that could have been routed on Google Earth!

Just an extra 3.4 MILES, as was it reportedly 5.5 km, not 6 km over.

I stand by my question. Was the actual distance of the marathon, be it half, full or whatever accurate????

[jaywalker]

One must ask, how long was the marathon supposed to be, as opposed to how long it actually was?

If it was 5.5 km shorter than advertised, then of course they were running like the Flash.

I wonder why this wasn't a headline in the opposite direction w/ the recent BKK marathon?

Bangkok Marathon Runners All Complete Slobs, as it took them FOREVER to finish a marathon that runners in other cities normally finish in much less time.

Nice to see that you have no idea about what your're talking about. The recent Bangkok Standard Chartered Marathon distance was fine, 42km, it was the half marathon that was 6 km over normal distance.

You are very correct in that my view of "marathons" is this:

Some folks like to run a lot & sometimes they do it in something called a marathon.

Some people think it's fun to go to a crowded event to watch a bunch of sweaty people panting for breathe jog by.

I TOTALLY do not understand this phenomenon, but it's really none of my business, except once in Indiana when I was staying at hotel (just checked in the night before after a trip across the Atlantic), and nobody bothered to tell me the streets around said hotel were closed the next day. I had runners & cops screaming at me...GRRR.

Back to my main point I don't care about the semantics of a half or full marathon.

I care a lot about competency of organizers of anything though.

I get quite frustrated with incompetence too.

[MiKT]

My long distance running days are over, but 555 I wouldn't mind some of that stuff.

Joking aside I used to run a lot in organised races, Bnk, Pattaya etc and all the Sunday morning stuff and this must be a new phenomena, even for the big marathons which attracted some of the good international runners times were always commensurate with the Thai climate.

NB I was always in the slowest categories, but used to love the atmosphere and happy comradery of all grades of Thai runners who really liked having an old farang making the effort alongside them. I hope this sport will not be spoilt with doping at this level.

[ianf]

Those are some very impressive running stats. Some older Thais are also pretty useful on a bicycle. I ride in the 49-60 age group at races, and the pace is full on.

As for doping, I doubt there is a top athlete in almost any sport that doesn't bend the rules towards controlled substances to their advantage. There is a lot more money spent on finding undetectable enhancers than is spent on finding ways to detect them. Also circumstances when taking certain drugs can be allowed, with a doctors certificate for example. Lance Armstrong gained a lot of respect by keeping quiet about all the other riders on 'the sauce'.

I don't think your comment about Lance A is correct. But having said that I am concerned about not only drugs in sport in Thailand (and in countries where this is no regular test programme) but also the way sport is organised here. My experience with sport is as a coach running under the auspices of the National Junior Coach, Thai Cycling Association. The cheating and stuff that goes on within my sport (outside of doping) beggars belief so I would say that this also raises some serious questions about the possible use of PEDs. As for doping across all sports in Thailand I would say that is easier easier than in many other countries due to the availability of products and of the willingness of doctors to prescribe. As some one who has raced in the 55+ categories here I haven't had the feeling that the guys around me were doped up. I've won a few things here where I have been way ahead of other riders in my age group. I think that has got a lot to do with the lack of training.

[mikebell]

I've stopped road running because of dog attacks - no sense in getting fit & contracting rabies.

[theking01]

gclub sbobet

[MiKT]

I've stopped road running because of dog attacks - no sense in getting fit & contracting rabies.

Living in Thailand you should get the anti-rabies jab, they are very cheap and not painful.

If you can only run where you might be bothered by dogs you could try the small mace sprays that are easy to obtain but most Thai dogs are deterred by a stick. Something light like a 1/2 m lenght of plastic water pipe should do the job. But you and all your family should get the rabies jabs.

[louse1953]

I've stopped road running because of dog attacks - no sense in getting fit & contracting rabies.

Living in Thailand you should get the anti-rabies jab, they are very cheap and not painful.

If you can only run where you might be bothered by dogs you could try the small mace sprays that are easy to obtain but most Thai dogs are deterred by a stick. Something light like a 1/2 m lenght of plastic water pipe should do the job. But you and all your family should get the rabies jabs.

Maybe walk your run for a few days and feed the dogs a few titbits and pat them,works for me.