With many of the Olympic sports we watch every four years on the TV under scrutiny thanks to Marion Jones, Justin Gatlin, and many others, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has introduced blood testing for doping at the Olympic trials for track and field this weekend and will use them for swimmers next week as well, reports the TAMPA TRIBUNE.
Essentially, the agency is trying to catch users of HGH or anything that would enhance oxygen transfer. The article cites blood transfusions and “synthetic hemoglobin” as two of the particular methods that could be detected by the blood test but aren’t through the usual urinalysis.
The top three finishers in each trial will get the testing treatment. Given that the recent tests for EPO aren’t worth a thing, we’ll all just sit and watch with subconscious thoughts of who’s on what designer drug anyway, regardless of what barriers USADA tries to put in place.
American swimmer Natalie Coughlin won two gold medals in the Sydney Olympics four years ago, in addition to a bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle.
The two-time gold medalist added an American record to her resume yesterday in that event, but then lost the race by nine hundredths of a second. Read more…
WITH LEATHER via HUGGING HAROLD REYNOLDS reels in some snapshots of Michael Phelps donning his latest sensational swimwear:
Last we saw Mike, he was styling in a Speedo body suit. Here’s the get-up, both with and without Photoshop help:
Based on the immediate pic above, the tailfin doesn’t look so bad.
Meet Stephanie Rice, the Australian swimmer who will be fishing for gold this summer in Beijing. And her chances are good, as she recently set new world records at the Australian Olympic trials.
But it’s not all work for Steph. She likes to have a good time away from the pool - and like most young gals, wants to share her fun with the world. So, Ric put up a collection of party photos on her Facebook site, and set them up for public viewing.
However, her generous nature has gotten Rice into hot water with her country’s governing swimming body.
Read more…
An Indiana high school swimming coach has been arrested for secretly videotaping girls in the locker room.
The KOKOMO TRIBUNE reports that Kokomo coach Brian Hindson was hauled off by authorities on federal child pornography charges. After searching his home, police removed 65 items from Hindson’s house, including “computer hard drives, monitors, CDs, DVDs, camera equipment and Hindson’s passport.”
Hindson might have gotten away with his perverted actions, had he remembered to clear off his computer drives.
Read more…
AMANDA BEARD WILL NOT BE THE BUTT OF YOUR JOKES: TMZ.com has Amanda Beard giving herself a wedgie in front of boyfriend Sacha Brown:
After seeing her most recent commercial, we’ll take the back over the front:
And so will, apparently, B.J.:
• WITH LEATHER wouldn’t mind taking a dip with the ladies of the Texas Tech swim team:
• MR. SUNSHINE isn’t too thrilled about Mike Tirico and Stephen A. Smith taking over Dan Patrick’s ESPN radio spot.• EPIC CARNIVAL examines which ex-USC RB is having the better NFL season.
• Where’s the love? DEADSPIN reports some U.S. right-wing groups are mad at a Canadian team for allowing their logo in a gay hockey film:
• MY BRAIN SAYS RAGE doesn’t believe Andy Reid will be joining Mensa anytime soon.• STEROID NATION gets Jim Bouton’s take on the drug state in baseball.
