| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Pandora
United Kingdom
45 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Jul 2010 : 19:54:24
|
I would have never thought about asking this question on a UK tennis forum until recently.However I am so shocked and alarmed that despite not logging on for a long time, I have to voice my concern.
When we were over in Saddlebrook a few years back, it was almost an acceptable norm that various performance drugs (plus other enhancement medications) were part of the normal tennis players kit bag...even at very junior level. However we just thought....well that's America isn't it. Always over the top!
However, I am shocked to have recently heard of at least 3 girls on the U12 and U14 scene taking either growth hormones, steroids or both. I didn't believe the rumours at first, but all 3 girls have changed body shape so dramatically that I am questioning if this indeed may be correct. One of them even has the pronounced forehead and jaw growth one would associate with overdose.
Heck we would all love our tennis playing kids to reach 6 foot. However I have heard that this stuff can be really dangerous for young kids. I would not give these to my daughter under any circumstances.
There is of course no evidence and Im not naming names....but I would like to know the forums opinion on this. I have assumed that all this stuff isn't safe. |
|
|
GoBaltacha
845 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2010 : 21:55:46
|
| My what a big spoon you have! |
 |
|
|
Pandora
United Kingdom
45 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 08:29:11
|
| Sorry but the "big spoon" thing flew right over my head. I totally miss the point. Does that mean I am stiring it up? I think that may be what you mean. If thats the case, I am reading between the lines that this is a common issue. If it is....fine no big deal to me. I just wanted to know thats all. I am new to this game and a bit innocent, so I really honestly do not know if this practice is uncommon and frowned upon or common and an accepted practice. I know it was in the States when I was over there. I just thought GB differed...but maybe Im wrong. Can anyone just be honest with me as I am too dump to understand cryptic comments. |
|
|
|
olddexter
1068 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 09:11:47
|
| well as someone who has been around the junior game for too long here is my view, for what its worth! i have never seen anything drug related at a club, academy or tournament etc. the LTA do threaten to teat players but my daughter has never been nor has anyone i know. i do agree that some girls have bulked up a hell of a lot but i have always put that down to more and more fitness/weights etc, never drugs. some girls have changed personality wise but again i put that down to better focus more determination, not drugs. ofcourse in tennis juniors on drugs would not surprise me, and i suppose given whats involved and the lack of testing, and given some of the characters around the junior scene, drug use must be happening, but as yet i have never seen it. |
|
|
|
tiredmum
United Kingdom
140 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 12:01:06
|
I only ever saw copious quantities of nurofen being quaffed for all the aches and pains - i think the bulking up is due to girls realising just how fit they are going to have to be to make it in tennis - being too skinny does not seem to be the way to go. Hope you are all well.
quote:
[i]Originally posted by olddexter[/i]
[br]well as someone who has been around the junior game for too long here is my view, for what its worth! i have never seen anything drug related at a club, academy or tournament etc. the LTA do threaten to teat players but my daughter has never been nor has anyone i know. i do agree that some girls have bulked up a hell of a lot but i have always put that down to more and more fitness/weights etc, never drugs. some girls have changed personality wise but again i put that down to better focus more determination, not drugs. ofcourse in tennis juniors on drugs would not surprise me, and i suppose given whats involved and the lack of testing, and given some of the characters around the junior scene, drug use must be happening, but as yet i have never seen it.
Enjoy |
|
|
|
thingsjust dontaddup
141 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 12:13:13
|
quote:
[i]Originally posted by Pandora[/i]
[br I am new to this game and a bit innocent, so I really honestly do not know if this practice is uncommon and frowned upon or common and an accepted practice. I know it was in the States when I was over there. I just thought GB differed...but maybe Im wrong. Can anyone just be honest with me as I am too dump to understand cryptic comments.
Your new to tennis, however, a few years ago you visited Saddlebrook and took enough interest so as to find out whay were in the kids tennis bags!
Mushrooms must sprout during your every word!
|
|
|
|
dads taxi
United Kingdom
106 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 13:42:46
|
| I find this hard to believe but certain players have done some serious growing in the 12u age group but they dont have square jaws yet |
|
|
|
GBTG
42 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 20:50:39
|
Hi
We've never ever come across anyone doing this within British tennis. Never known it to be offered or even suggested. In some households it may of course go one but don't think coaches would be advising it.
Between us and the contacts we use when researching there is decades of experience and the only thing we can think of which is different but along the same lines is that some players were being advised to take creatine at one time so they could train longer and get fitter.
|
|
|
|
Colin B
United Kingdom
225 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2010 : 21:05:55
|
quote:
[i]Originally posted by Pandora[/i]
However, I am shocked to have recently heard of at least 3 girls on the U12 and U14 scene taking either growth hormones, steroids or both. I didn't believe the rumours at first, but all 3 girls have changed body shape so dramatically that I am questioning if this indeed may be correct.
The fact that 12 - 14 year old girls "changed body shape so dramatically" shocked you?
As the father of four daughters...... |
|
|
|
olddexter
1068 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2010 : 14:47:05
|
since this topic started on here i have been giving it some thought and now believe it is quite possible that some kids could be on performance enhancing drugs! my thought process is thus. athlectics, cycling, and many other sports have had their drug problems and still have even though the authorities are on to them. neither sport attracts the nutters and freaks that tennis has done in the last 10 years, along with many great decent people of course, and the rewards for tennis success are huge, if you make top 10 etc etc, so why wouldnt coaches and more so parents, because lets be honest, no other sport lends itself more than tennis to allow a parent to take total control of a juniors sport. if other sports have their drug problems then for a fact so should tennis, it makes no sense for it not to have a problem.where there is reward there will be drugs, and while the LTA dont enforce a testing policy, the problem will not come to light. maybe the strange sudden rise of players followed by a total disapearence of them soon after could be a side effect of drug use?
maybe we are being too naive to assume that junior tennis is totally drug free! |
|
|
|
GoBaltacha
845 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2010 : 16:33:46
|
There could be mud men from mars as well - but if there is it's not worth slinging mud at everyone in fake "innocently asking" posts that have malicious intent.
This appears to be P's normal modus operandi if you look at some of her other threads.
Who opened the box!!! |
|
|
|
olddexter
1068 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2010 : 16:55:23
|
| AGREE THAT P enjoys opening the box but maybe its about time a look into junior tennis was taken. its not a amuture sport anymore at junior level, many are on a path, if not a realistic path, to top 20 tennis, so there must come a time when all options are looked at. it has to be like all other top level sport now, and tennis more than any other empties the pockets of parents on a weekly basis, so the sooner some return is found the better for many, so performance enhancing drugs will and must have been looked at by many! we cant ignore it, and its all well and good people saying it doesnt exsist etc but maybe its not going on in academies or clubs but many players move around so often and not many parents give over 'control' of their player to anyone so how would a coach really know its not going on? |
|
|
|
GoBaltacha
845 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2010 : 18:01:17
|
OD
I wont quibble with your opinion. I know you have a lot more experience of this area than myself and talk a lot of sense.
GoB |
|
|
|
olddexter
1068 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2010 : 18:24:31
|
| funny thing is my wife has just reminded me of a comment i made about a girl who had not only improved a hell of a lot but had also changed body shape.ie muscles on skinny arms, i was heard to say at a tournament...that girl must be on drugs! now i'm sure a lot of us say that as a matter of fact about many things yet at the time i was searching for an explantion into such improvement in a short space of time, 6 months i think, and this girl does move around from academy to academy more than most, now i'm thinking maybe i was right, maybe she was on' drugs'. i suppose if i was at a running club and a kid improved their times beyond believe then suspisions would be roused, a game like tennis that does require a large amount of concentration and physical effort over a long period, sometimes twice a day in junior tennis, maybe lends itself to drugs more than say running |
|
|
|
nickynu
335 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2010 : 01:30:41
|
HEADLINE: OLDDEXTER TAKES THE PANDORA BAIT IN DEFAMATORY COMMENTS SHOCKER.
:-(
|
|
|
|
olddexter
1068 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2010 : 09:17:53
|
| would like to think i know my own mind thank you very much |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
How common is drug abuse in the junior game?
