I am confused.
Read the story as it was reported in media:
“The Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser, the Olympic and world 100-meter champion, withdrew from a Diamond League meet after her club said she failed a doping test in May. Bruce James, president of the MVP Track and Field Club, said it was a “minor doping violation” caused by taking medication to treat a “toothache.” James told The Telegraph of Britain that the drug was the painkiller Oxycodone, banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but not listed as performance-enhancing or as a masking agent”
Surely WADA is about peformance enhancement or attempts to mask such drugs and practises.
So why is a drug banned which does not enhance? Or if it does enhance why is it not listed as such?- It is greyness that gives rise to ambiguity, gives rise to controversy.
And if this is just a toothache remedy, why are we penalizing athletes for this? It reminds me of the day Elana Meyer was deemed to have violated by virtue of drinking too much coffee!!
Black and White.
There must be rules, rules with a proven purpose and background. And black and white adherence to them. Grey will always be a problem.
It is not just about the technical ins and outs – it is about keeping the public onside and supportive.
