Self harm, the paraplegics' passport to success?

[vernon]

The full article is here

Here's a summary:

Would you break your own toe to win a Paralympic medal? Would you sit on a sharp object or strangulate your testicles? It's cheating, but a scientist who will be monitoring athletes at the Paralympic Games says a third of competitors with spinal injuries may be harming themselves to boost their performance.
The practice, called "boosting", is designed to increase blood pressure and enhance performance.
It's banned by the International Paralympics Committee (IPC), but some researchers say these are the desperate acts of athletes trying to compete on a level playing field.
I don't think that I'd ever be desperate enough for a win to resort to such measures. There again I'm a bit of a wimp.

 

[tadpole]

Would an able bodied athlete risk sterility and damage to internal organs just so they can run/ride/swim faster, of course they will. Why is surprising that any other kind of athlete would do the same, be it drugs or blood doping?

 

[vernon]

Would an able bodied athlete risk sterility and damage to internal organs just so they can run/ride/swim faster, of course they will. Why is surprising that any other kind of athlete would do the same, be it drugs or blood doping?

There's no drugs involved and breaking bones and self mutilation offer immediate side effects i.e. pain and mutilation. In my opinion that's a whole world of difference.

 

[yello]

To follow on from tadpole's comment, it is said that some athletes would do just about anything to win. Winning being the most important thing to them. I think there was some kind of research or poll conducted on the subject no so long ago.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

The full article is here

Here's a summary:

Would you break your own toe to win a Paralympic medal? Would you sit on a sharp object or strangulate your testicles? It's cheating, but a scientist who will be monitoring athletes at the Paralympic Games says a third of competitors with spinal injuries may be harming themselves to boost their performance.
The practice, called "boosting", is designed to increase blood pressure and enhance performance.
It's banned by the International Paralympics Committee (IPC), but some researchers say these are the desperate acts of athletes trying to compete on a level playing field.
I don't think that I'd ever be desperate enough for a win to resort to such measures. There again I'm a bit of a wimp.

That's why it's likely that you, or I won't win an Olympic medal, Para- or otherwise any time soon. There are some insanely competitive people out there who are constantly looking for that edge, whether it's good for them or not, to boost their performance and win, and they will continue to do them until those things are banned or generally frowned upon, and something else is found that works.

 

[tadpole]

There's no drugs involved and breaking bones and self mutilation offer immediate side effects i.e. pain and mutilation. In my opinion that's a whole world of difference.

I don't see why it is different, they both involve doing something to your body to improve your performance, Blood doping involves no drugs, and increases performance, why is hitting your boysack with a tazer to stimulate blood-pressure/adrenaline any difference. Sorry I cannot see a line whereby you can draw a distinction. Drugs and self harm are banned for the same reason, they work to give you an unfair (hidden) advantage.

 

[black'n'yellow]

I don't think that I'd ever be desperate enough for a win to resort to such measures. There again I'm a bit of a wimp.

I'd be glad to step in, if you were not man-enough to self-inflict. Incidentally, why are you singling out paralympic athletes on this issue?

 

[vernon]

I'd be glad to step in, if you were not man-enough to self-inflict. Incidentally, why are you singling out paralympic athletes on this issue?

I don't see the relevance of your vituperative comments. Save them for a thread where you can make a positive contribution

I'll not be responding to any replies of yours so don't squander electrons in further attempts to bait me.

 

[laurence]

I'd be glad to step in, if you were not man-enough to self-inflict. Incidentally, why are you singling out paralympic athletes on this issue?

this... from the report in full...

"When able-bodied competitors engage in hard physical activities like running or swimming, blood pressure and heart rate increase automatically. Athletes with spinal injuries do not get that response. "Boosting" is a short cut to higher blood pressure and the improved performance that comes with it."

 

[black'n'yellow]

this... from the report in full...

"When able-bodied competitors engage in hard physical activities like running or swimming, blood pressure and heart rate increase automatically. Athletes with spinal injuries do not get that response. "Boosting" is a short cut to higher blood pressure and the improved performance that comes with it."

that's a relief - I can put the hammer away and put my shoes back on.....

 

[black'n'yellow]

I don't see the relevance of your vituperative comments.

What an absolute coincidence! - because I didn't see the relevance of yours in the Nicklinson thread either.

 

[al78]

There's no drugs involved and breaking bones and self mutilation offer immediate side effects i.e. pain and mutilation. In my opinion that's a whole world of difference.

If they have spinal injuries, there is a distinct possibility that they are not feeling the pain from breaking various parts of their body, or at least not to the extent that you or I would.

 

[vernon]

If they have spinal injuries, there is a distinct possibility that they are not feeling the pain from breaking various parts of their body, or at least not to the extent that you or I would.

Now that's something that I'd not considered. All the same I couldn't bring myself to self mutilate. If they can't feel pain they can't feel any ensuing infections or other complications....

 

[Noodley]

I have been strangulating my testicles for years. Nowt to do with winning medals tho.

 

[vernon]

I have been strangulating my testicles for years. Nowt to do with winning medals tho.

So what's the motivation for you twisting your bawbag?