US Judoka Delpopolo tests positive for Cannabis

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 8/06/2012 9:00am

In a statement, the International Olympic Committee said: "(Mr Delpopolo) was requested on 30 July 2012, in London, at approximately 3:15 pm, immediately following the completion of his participation in the above-mentioned event, to provide a urine sample for a doping control.

"The analytical report of the laboratory analysis ...indicated the presence of 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid" (the main active compound of the product from cannabis).

http://news.sky.com/story/969462/us-...-in-doping-row

Delpopolo has been disqualified from the Olympic games, had his diploma withdrawn and his Olympic identity and accreditation withdrawn.

http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Com...-Delpopolo.pdf

Shame I thought Delpopolo showcased some good Judo. He's now going have this tar his Games for the rest of his career and probably the rest of his days.

**slamdunc** · Posted On: 8/06/2012 9:05am

This saddens me greatly; what a waste of talent and training. An elite, olympic athlete should be setting the standard, not rolling the dice. Michael Phelps odd behavior in 2008 was just as bad; no excuses.

**Evilenzo** · Posted On: 8/06/2012 9:43am

Excuse me, i'm not familiar with doping matters, what positive effects are to be gained from cannabis usage?

**Ming Loyalist** · Posted On: 8/06/2012 9:49am

i believe him, and that it was accidental. bad luck, and let's hope that if phelps' obviously non-accidental consumption didn't ruin his career, nick can come back from this as well.

i also think it's absurd that cannabis is on the banned substance list, but that's another discussion and i agree that athletes know what is banned and should make sure they will be clean if tested.

**daishi** · Posted On: 8/06/2012 9:55am

Originally Posted by Evilenzo

Excuse me, i'm not familiar with doping matters, what positive effects are to be gained from cannabis usage?

None. There is a theory that marijuana can have a calming effect on fine motor skills and benefit such sports as shooting and archery...but I find that a bit of a stretch. The same findings also suggest there is no benefit whatsoever of high impact and aerobically intense sports like judo. Besides all that, the guy tested on 20 July making the effects of the drug completely null.

I don't know when people will realize weed is fat-soluable and stays in your system for a very long time. Anyway, I smoked weed immediately prior to a couple track meets in high school and it had absolutely no discernible effect on me whatsoever; positive or negative.

To paraphrase an ESPN personality, "C'mon on, man!"

**Evilenzo** · Posted On: 8/06/2012 11:44am

Thank you very much, Daishi!

**slamdunc** · Posted On: 8/06/2012 12:26pm

Originally Posted by daishi

I don't know when people will realize weed is fat-soluable and stays in your system for a very long time. Anyway, I smoked weed immediately prior to a couple track meets in high school and it had absolutely no discernible effect on me whatsoever; positive or negative.

I realize that THC stays in your system for a while. I agree that it probably won't have any effect on your performance of any task that does not require divided attention. The part I cannot understand is how someone who is on top of the world, would risk humiliation and loss of Olympic status over some bullshit weed craving.

**vinhthekid** · Posted On: 8/06/2012 1:54pm

he said consumption was accidental... which can happen.

for example, if it was in a brownie left out at a party, he might have been merely scratching a chocolate or sweet craving. he might not have realized it was spiked before feeling the effects, at which point it was too late.

**slamdunc** · Posted On: 8/06/2012 3:00pm

Originally Posted by vinhthekid

he said consumption was accidental... which can happen.

It can, indeed, happen, but if some rotten bastard spiked his **** as some kind of cruel joke, he needs to watch his six. Not hanging out with some shitheads that would screw his future up, would be my recommendation.

Originally Posted by vinthekid

for example, if it was in a brownie left out at a party, he might have been merely scratching a chocolate or sweet craving. he might not have realized it was spiked before feeling the effects, at which point it was too late.

This comes down to the company you keep. Situational awareness. Cliche as that **** sounds, know where you are, who is around you, and what they are about at all times.

A person doesn't just become a world-class athlete by accident. You work, train, focus and sacrifice your family and social life to some degree. You also are mindful that anything that you put into your body either helps or harms it. If you are living in the Olympic Village, who is doing the baking?