Pubdate: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 Source: Dominion Post, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2006 The Dominion Post Contact: http://www.dompost.co.nz Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2550 Author: John Chanter Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) DRUGS ISSUE SPARKED UP BY DICKEL Why do drug cheating athletes think they can get away with it? Will sport ever be clean? Cannabis is not performance enhancing, so what's the big deal? What image do drug cheats send to the influential minds of young athletes striving to be the best? The questions just keep coming. As soon as one is answered, more arise. Basketballer Mark Dickel tested positive for cannabis after the Tall Blacks' match against Australia in Napier last month. He admitted the offence and awaits punishment. That admission should be praised, the drug use should not. The Ministry of Health says marijuana is the third most common recreational drug used in New Zealand, but it is not good for you or sport's image and that makes it a banned substance in the World Anti-Doping Agency's eyes. "It meets the criteria that WADA established," Drug Free Sport New Zealand executive director Graeme Steel said. "There are three categories: it must be performance enhancing, it must have harmful health consequences or it must be contrary to the spirit of sport. "It seems that under the third category, along with the second one, WADA has decided to incorporate it on to the list. In other words, it is contrary to the spirit of sport and the health of the athlete." The black mark it puts on basketball's image has not been overlooked. "From our point of view, it is extremely disappointing," Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin said yesterday, when Dickel was suspended for this weekend's test series against Qatar, which tips off tonight in Dunedin. "Mark knows he has let a lot of people down and must now face the consequences." It has been a big couple of months in the hazy world of drugs in sport. Wallabies wing Wendell Sailor was benched for two years after his positive test to cocaine. The world's (equal) fastest man Justin Gatlin faces a life ban after a positive result to testosterone. He had a suspension reduced a few years back after convincing officials a positive drugs test was due to medication he was taking. Tour de France winner Floyd Landis is trying to convince the world the high level of synthetic testosterone found in his body was natural. "With these recent cases, we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg," WADA head Dick Pound said recently. It suggests getting drug users out of sport is a huge task. There is a big difference between using testosterone and cannabis but there is also a key similarity - both are on the WADA list of banned substances. WADA's international standard 2006 anti-doping code cannot be clearer. "Cannabinoids (eg Hashish, marijuana) are prohibited". For testosterone there is a lot of fine print to explain what is an acceptable level and what is not but smoke just one joint and you face a positive result. Drug Free Sport New Zealand outlines the risks for athletes who use substances such as cannabis. "Marijuana will be tested for in competition in all sports," DFSNZ states on its website. "All users of marijuana must be aware that traces may be detected many weeks after taking it, particularly for those who have been heavy or long time users. "It is listed as a 'specified substance' which means that it is possible to get a lighter penalty for the first offence." That last sentence may be some consolation for Dickel. A positive test to cannabis will not be career-ending. Between July 2004 and May 2005 nine New Zealand athletes tested positive to cannabis. The heaviest penalty was a six-month ban, given to a bodybuilder. All other penalties have been either a warning, reprimand, fine or a combination of those. "The matter is initially referred to Basketball New Zealand," Steel said. "Their rules, as I understand them, would require them to refer it to the Sports Disputes Tribunal, which is an independent body which hears these kinds of cases. "In the case of cannabis, if the athlete can show or satisfy the tribunal that it wasn't used to enhance performance then, because it's what's called a specified substance, the range of sanctions alters and the range applicable in that case is a warning at the bottom end to a one-year ban at the top end." With Dickel already admitting his guilt the likelihood of a small penalty and the matter being finalised before the Tall Blacks fly to Japan for the world championships is high. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath