Hi everyone,
I tend to agree with Will here. Athletes want to know whether something works
for
them and they don't bother too much about the scientific basis of the
improvement. Sure we
as academics might like to find out exactly what substance or treatment involved
caused the
change in performance but in my opinion that's not the concern of the athlete or
coach. In
fact when you come to perform such experiments its very difficult getting
subjects, as they
once athletes know there might be a chance of being in the placebo or control
group they
become dis-interested. Whether this type of research creates a doping mentality
I doubt it.
Researchers and athletes want to know if something works and is beneficial and
legal, if so,
then they will use it. Clean athletes always have in the back of their minds the
feeling that
they need to do absolutely everything in their power (and within the law) to
overcome the
cheating athletes so its not so much a doping mentality (which is a win at all
costs approach)
but a "overcome the odds mentality".

Mike Hamlin.
Mike Hamlin, PhD
Senior Lecturer, Environment Society and Design Division
P O BOX 84
Lincoln University
Canterbury 8150
NEW ZEALAND
Ph: 00 64 (3) 325 3820