Drugs cheat Sharapova given wildcard for US Open

Drugs cheat Sharapova given wildcard for US Open Aug 16, 2017 16:33:32 GMT via mobile

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Post by Jep Gambardella on Aug 16, 2017 16:33:32 GMT

Aug 16, 2017 16:13:17 GMT @manlystanley said:

Aug 16, 2017 15:53:00 GMT poelzig said:

So it's the wildcard that is making you feign OUTRAGE not the fact she is being allowed to play? It seems like a reach to praise the UK over that but if it helps you justify your jingoism go with it mate.

Well I would ban every single drug cheat for life, no questions asked, you fail a drug test, and your 'b' sample is positive too, you're out, don't even think about trying to appeal or give us your sob stories. I'd also have them arrested, and on trial for fraud. Then when that is over, I'd freeze their bank accounts, and make them repay every single competitor they ever cheated out of money.

What I wouldn't do, is say "oh, don't worry about that tiny indiscretion when you defrauded thousands of players and many more spectators out of millions of dollars on a deceit that spanned over 10 years... here's a wild card for the US Open, you 'earned' it!"

Can you imagine if the Olympics gave wildcards to drug cheats like Ben Johnson or Justin Gatlin if they hadn't qualified, or the Tour De France gave a wildcard to Lance Armstrong? Wouldn't happen. So why is it okay to give Sharapova a free pass when she hasn't earned it?

I abhor doping in sports and it appalls me that whenever the subject comes up there are always people who say that since it is impossible to stop doping completely, might as well legalise it. Having said that, in a sport like tennis (unlike racing or swimming or cycling) I don't think the drugs alone will give you such a big advantage - you still need talent, and lots of it!

The same with football. I remember having a discussion on the old boards with somebody who dismissed Maradona's entire career because he was caught in a doping scandal. It wasn't the drugs that made him the best player of his generation and arguably one of the best ever.