A top swimmer who ended his career James Magnussen announced on Thursday that he will use all means to break the 50m freestyle world record.
At the same time, he told about his participation in the new doping competition, Enchanted Games.
Urheilu’s swimming expert Ville Kallinen states that the ME goal and the new doping competition cause conflicting feelings.
– Fascinating and interesting. How close will he get or will he even break the world record? But on the other hand, I strongly question the meaning of such doping competitions, says Kallinen.
Magnussen is a two-time world champion in the 100-meter freestyle (2011, 2013) in the long course. At the 2012 London Olympics, he bent over on his way to silver.
– His swimming technique is much better suited for 100 meters, so 50 meters is a surprising choice. Why doesn’t Magnussen set out to try the 100m freestyle record? Kallinen thinks.
Magnussen has been promised one million dollars (927,250 euros) in prize money if he sets a new world record. Kallinen believes that that amount of money can attract other former top players as well.
– Swimmers and track and field athletes don’t earn any big sums during their career. Must be an extraordinary name, like this Michael Phelps or Usain Boltthat really makes a lot of money.
To make the ME result, Magnussen plans to use a rubber suit, which is currently prohibited. That’s why expert Kallinen believes that a new world record is possible.
– With those rubber suits, records were broken in the World Swimming Championships in Rome in 2009 and in other events there.
Magnussen’s record in the 50 meter freestyle is 21.52. The world record of 20.91 belongs to Brazil Cesar Cielo on behalf of. He just swam the record in Rome wearing a rubber suit.
Cielo was caught with a banned concealer, but got off with a warning.
– He gave a positive sample in 2011. The sample contained such a prohibited substance, the purpose of which is to cover up the use of anabolic substances. I’m pretty sure that Cielo was not a completely clean athlete when he swam the world record with a rubber suit, says Kallinen.
At the same time, it should be remembered that Magnussen’s possible world record time is hardly officially accepted.
The effect of doping is individual
The new doping competition is a mystery. Only one thing is known for sure about it; there is no doping control at the games.
Sports doctor and Orthopedist Tapio Kallio notes that the effects of doping substances are individual, and there is little information on their safe use. It certainly cannot be said that playing sports under the influence of doping substances is safe, Kallio estimates.
– It is very difficult to give the right answer because safety limits and safety issues would require accurate research information on how substances are used and how the human body reacts to them, he says.
Kallio emphasizes that there is not enough reliable research data on the effects of doping substances, because such a research setup is ethically difficult to implement. Still, doping substances are constantly being developed.
– Doping substances are effective. For the most part, in every sport, different types of doping substances are useful – some more and some less. But, for example, increasing the amount of training and speeding up recovery can be secured with some doping substances.
What are the social effects of the new competition?
Experts have reservations about the new doping competition. Ville Kallinen especially considers the possible effects on sports for children and young people.
– I think there is clearly a hidden purpose in that, which is to try to make the use of doping substances more acceptable. It can have negative effects, for example, on how children and young people relate to the use of prohibited substances, says Kallinen.
Doctor Tapio Kallio reflects on the ethics of doping in a more general context. He reminds us of one of the basic pillars of sports, fair play. Everyone has to follow the common rules.
– If some means or substances are prohibited, they must not be used. If the rules change, those changes must be justified, i.e. why, why and what will follow, Kallio states.
– If doping were allowed, it would be included in the scope of fair play. The health risks would clearly increase, even if the use of doping substances took place in a controlled manner and under the supervision of medical experts, he continues.
If doping is used at the top, it will inevitably move to the lower levels as well, Kallio believes. When you are at a low enough level, the human masses are large, and there are not enough resources.
– Then the health risks, which would also have social effects, would increase.
Enchanted Games or what?
Enchanted Games is a competitive event funded by equity and cryptocurrency investors. To the background troops include, among other things German-American Peter ThielGerman Christian Angermayer and Indian-American Balaji Srinivasan.
The participants of the “enhanced games”, the location of the competition, the prize money or the exact date have not yet been announced. It has been reported that the competition will be held for the first time this year.
In addition to swimming, the selection of sports at the Games includes athletics, weightlifting, gymnastics and martial arts.
of the Games on the website it is promised that all athletes will be paid a base salary and, in addition, prize money. At the same time, the International Olympic Committee is accused, for example, of the organization collecting over a four-year period 7.6 billion in turnover not exactly oozing money for athletes.
– From a medical point of view, I don’t see any sense in that event. The only reasonable motive is sports entertainment, Kallinen estimates.
– I would believe that the question is purely about entertainment. In this way, the aim is to arouse people’s interest and get great results – possibly better results than previously achieved, Kallio thinks.