KARACHI: Scientists have questioned the sense behind the drug’s inclusion on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) banned list.
Experts think marijuana, or cannabis - whether it’s eaten or smoked - can do much to enhance the kind of speed, strength, power or precision that Olympic athletes wish for.
Many wonder whether the expensive time and effort of sporting drug testers might be better spent catching serious cheats who top up their blood with EPO or pop anabolic steroids to boost testosterone levels and muscle growth.
“There’s no evidence cannabis is ever performance enhancing in sport, and since its use is legal in a number of countries, there’s no reason for it to be banned by WADA,” said David Nutt, a professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London.
However, it’s generally accepted that cannabis is unlikely to give athletes any advantage in fast-paced sports, some experts say it could prove helpful in sports like shooting or golf where a steady hand is needed.
Under WADA’s rules, athletes face a two-year ban if cannabis is found in their system while they are in competition.
The anti-doping body does not sanction those who test positive for marijuana outside of competition times, while they are in training camps or during rest periods.
WADA president John Fahey indicated in May the agency may look at changing the criteria for cannabis as a banned substance for athletes, but no decision is expected this year.
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