63% of Liverpool squad "asthmatic" - any substance to this article?

If we were doping, I suppose recovery, less injuries. Less need to rotate.

People talk about us as if we're doing something superhuman with the intensity of our play, like Armstrong climbing up Alpe d'Huez. When in reality, we're not in any sort of off the chart situation once you look at the numbers.

A few years ago, Bournemouth topped the league charts for both Distance Covered and Sprints for the season. That made me pause.
I always liked how the hardest bycicle race in the world was about people with broken hips beating a bunch of asthmatics, once the cancer convalescent, who had dominated them all had retired.
 
Huh? I know. But the article states that 27.8% of players they studied had asthma and the info from other articles/reports that Liverpool has a squad where 63% have asthma. That's far larger. Ideally there needs to be a comprehensive study of the whole PL so we can see just how accurate each study is and if Liverpool is that high compared to the wider football league.

This is fair and consistent. Basically only 12% of people have asthma diagnosis because they don't push themselves hard enough to reveal it. Pro athlete push themselves hard and have about 25% diagnosis on the whole, Exercise Induced Asthma. I'd imagine if 25% of the entire population pushed hard enough often enough the base stat would be 25%.

63% is crazy though but its completely unverified.
If that could be verified and those 22 players were midfielders, wingers and fullbacks with GK's and CB's all being clear, there would be a reason for investigation.

Until a credible source says 63% its just conspiracy nonsense though
 
Maybe they only sign players with Asthma.

On the other hand, its insanely easy to get one of those inhalers prescribed. I got one because I had some trouble with air pollution in the winter while living in Houston. All I had to do was prove that my breathing levels were stronger after taking a hit of the inhaler.
 
This would be a massive story and journalists would be all over it, if there was anything reputable out there to follow... there isn't. Conspiracy theory.

Just like the journalists were all over City's financial doping, at least until a foreign publication brought it to light. They have no interest in upsetting the gravy train.
 
It lands in the realm of conspiracy theory because it's unproven and it's logic is self-fulfilling.

Liverpool have a good season or any luck with injuries - evidence of PEDs.
Liverpool are performing poorly or suffer a few injuries - also evidence of PEDs because they're off-cycling (or whatever its called).

Basically as long as Liverpool is successful it's a ready-made excuse. Which is why it's the same as RAWK spending years saying that Ferguson has the FA in his pocket.

It's the fact that the claims predicted when Liverpool would peak, and when that off season would occur, with alarming accuracy.
 
There is absolutely zero doubt in my mind that this is something every single football team pushes the limit on. I don't like to point fingers at any single team as I'm sure microdosing epo and testosterone is something EVERY team does.

If it was something everyone did, I feel like it'd be impossible not to hear about it. If doping is universal across the sport, surely somebody would have spilled the beans at some point. One team can keep it secret, but the entire sport can't. We're talking about tens of thousands of individuals who all have to keep this information to themselves. All players, all club staff, everybody involved in top-tier football would know it and it's not really possible for that many people to keep quiet about something so big.

I'm prepared to believe that there's a few teams here and there that do it. Or, more likely, individual players. I suspect certain coaches set some of their players up with PEDs without necessarily involving the rest of the team. I definitely think there are teams and coaches who don't do it, too. Probably the majority.
 
Child pornography ring in basement of pizzeria without any evidence whatsoever = conspiracy theory

Football team possibly involved in legally(?) using performance enhancing drugs = not conspiracy theory

It‘s silly to compare both situations, especially considering the same drugs have previously been successfully abused in other endurance sports.

Personally, I‘d be surprised if the number was that high in Liverpool‘s squad, but hey, there‘s a simple solution. The FA, UEFA, FIFA can just offer some transparency. They are the ones handing out Therapeutic Use Exemptions, no? If it‘s legit, why keep it secret? That way we can all sleep better at night.

Also, imagine the new stats we could gather by adding AiD (Asthma induced Medication) to xG. I‘m all for it. And don‘t forget the Jlingzinhalers that could be marketed on Jlingztagram. Sweet.
 
Sorry but i'm not a nutbag.
Please respond to the article and not attack the persons.
You are when you’re pedalling claims made by an Irish blog site.

The author of which is a pro Putin nutjob. The fact all origin can be traced back to it and hasn’t picked up traction anywhere else speaks volumes. The entire thing is completely unsubstantiated and it’s mind blowing this is the hill you’re choosing to die on.

Then we sit and wonder how the likes of trump got in to power.
 
It's the fact that the claims predicted when Liverpool would peak, and when that off season would occur, with alarming accuracy.

Liverpool's problems last year were due to losing two starting centre-backs through impact injuries - unless PEDs can prevent cruciate ligaments exploding and I'm not aware of that benefit - and the rest of the team being hamstrung trying to cover for those injuries. We were top of the league and looking alright until the weight of those injuries caught up.

Did those claims take that into account?
 
You are when you’re pedalling claims made by an Irish blog site.

The author of which is a pro Putin nutjob. The fact all origin can be traced back to it and hasn’t picked up traction anywhere else speaks volumes. The entire thing is completely unsubstantiated and it’s mind blowing this is the hill you’re choosing to die on.

Then we sit and wonder how the likes of trump got in to power.
Putin and Trump invoked in a response to a post that asked to respond to the article and not attack the person.

Noice!
 
Putin and Trump invoked in a response to a post that asked to respond to the article and not attack the person.

Noice!
Genuine question, has anyone got any proof of the 63% beyond that blog?
 
I suppose that is true, but even then you do not play a number of games that is unheard of or even particularly unusual for top teams. It would surely revert to whether you were able to cover an unusual amount of distance at an unusual intensity in those matches.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Liverpool have played every single possible game available to them this season.
 
Re. this YT video:

The UK average of people with Asthma is 12%

Liverpool FC have 63% of their squad (22 players) who can legally take drugs (Salbutamol + Albutrol) for Asthma.

These are the same drugs that got Bradley Wiggins Banned for life.

Bradley Wiggins was never banned, never mind for life. Whether he and others with Sky should have been for 'crossing an ethical line' is another matter. Cycling riddled with drugs anyway, and if anyone thinks there is substance in this Liverpool asthma stuff, the media would be making something of it, not just a conspiracist thread on redcafe. I'm sure all top clubs make use of legal TUE's where they can, again whether it's always ethical behaviour is a different argument.
 
Putin and Trump invoked in a response to a post that asked to respond to the article and not attack the person.

Noice!

Well I can understand his frustration tbh. The last years have shown that there are a ton of people believing the most moronic things and citing the most questionable sources. Look let's be honest here, this threads exists as a coping mechanism. Liverpool is very successful right now and some people just can't handle it and in order to feel better they convince themselves that it's because they are cheating somehow. It's cope 101 and you see this behaviour in any fanbase.
 
It's the fact that the claims predicted when Liverpool would peak, and when that off season would occur, with alarming accuracy.

They were savaged with injuries, come on, they had no centre backs for most of the season, midfielders covering in defence, they still managed top 4, so not a huge drop off which was blatantly down to an injury crisis.
 
It's the fact that the claims predicted when Liverpool would peak, and when that off season would occur, with alarming accuracy.

That may simply have been clever prediction.

The fact they had every centre back out, no crowds, and the season was condensed into 4-5 weeks shorter a time period are all huge factors.
If none of those factors applied, and the prediction had happened, THEN it'd be very interesting. With the factors applied, there's very obvious reasons for their 1 season drop off.
 
Bradley Wiggins was never banned, never mind for life. Whether he and others with Sky should have been for 'crossing an ethical line' is another matter. Cycling riddled with drugs anyway, and if anyone thinks there is substance in this Liverpool asthma stuff, the media would be making something of it, not just a conspiracist thread on redcafe. I'm sure all top clubs make use of legal TUE's where they can, again whether it's always ethical behaviour is a different argument.

I agree with you to a point.

But if you think the media are aware of every scandal immediately then you're being super naive.

It has to properly drop first, and then it'll be everywhere.
At the moment it seems to have come from some anonymous crank.
 
I don't believe it, not one for conspiracy theories but I detest that lot and I'm in favour of anything that shows them in a bad light
 
Child pornography ring in basement of pizzeria without any evidence whatsoever = conspiracy theory

Football team possibly involved in legally(?) using performance enhancing drugs = not conspiracy theory

It‘s silly to compare both situations, especially considering the same drugs have previously been successfully abused in other endurance sports.

Personally, I‘d be surprised if the number was that high in Liverpool‘s squad, but hey, there‘s a simple solution. The FA, UEFA, FIFA can just offer some transparency. They are the ones handing out Therapeutic Use Exemptions, no? If it‘s legit, why keep it secret? That way we can all sleep better at night.

Also, imagine the new stats we could gather by adding AiD (Asthma induced Medication) to xG. I‘m all for it. And don‘t forget the Jlingzinhalers that could be marketed on Jlingztagram. Sweet.

Probably comes under some sort of personal information medical records secrecy.
Although I don't think that is true in road running.
 
You are when you’re pedalling claims made by an Irish blog site.

The author of which is a pro Putin nutjob. The fact all origin can be traced back to it and hasn’t picked up traction anywhere else speaks volumes. The entire thing is completely unsubstantiated and it’s mind blowing this is the hill you’re choosing to die on.

Then we sit and wonder how the likes of trump got in to power.

So you come here as a 'Pool supporter and you and another call some of us 'nutbags' ?

It was someone else who posted the video not me.

Take care 'cause your post certainly qualifies for a 'Quality control Warning' here.
 
I don't actually buy that the media would be all over it if there were a story here. They've not exactly been all over previous cases of it have they?

Nonetheless, I would expect more than a singular blog claim. And I'd expect numbers that show something off somehow.

If we're doping we're doing an average job of it compared to the others.
 
I don't actually buy that the media would be all over it if there were a story here. They've not exactly been all over previous cases of it have they?

Nonetheless, I would expect more than a singular blog claim. And I'd expect numbers that show something off somehow.

If we're doping we're doing an average job of it compared to the others.

It's also a question of personal opinion too and we must respect each others opinions.

Before this story emerged I had already thought that the look on many of the Liverpool players faces was quite abnormal in my opinion.

The glaring/glassy eyes of many of the players was food for thought for me.
 
It's also a question of personal opinion too and we must respect each others opinions.

Before this story emerged I had already thought that the look on many of the Liverpool players faces was quite abnormal in my opinion.

The glaring/glassy eyes of many of the players was food for thought for me.
Ffs.

No it really is not. What a ridiculous trumpian post.
 
Ffs.

No it really is not. What a ridiculous trumpian post.

So we can't even have our opinions here now?

That's your opinion based on nothing concrete.

The 63% Asthma number of Liverpool players has been posted on many sites.

I won't even address your trumpian disparaging word toward me.
 
Re. this YT video:

The UK average of people with Asthma is 12%

Liverpool FC have 63% of their squad (22 players) who can legally take drugs (Salbutamol + Albutrol) for Asthma.

These are the same drugs that got Bradley Wiggins Banned for life.

Wiggins hasn’t been banned at all.
 
It's also a question of personal opinion too and we must respect each others opinions.

Before this story emerged I had already thought that the look on many of the Liverpool players faces was quite abnormal in my opinion.

The glaring/glassy eyes of many of the players was food for thought for me.
That's the fans
 
The fact that the 63% figure hasn't even been confirmed by a legit source, and that's what this conspiracy theory hinges on. It'd be like a conspiracy theory about a faked moon landing, but there's no confirmation that the faked landing even happened to start with.
 
It's also a question of personal opinion too and we must respect each others opinions.

Before this story emerged I had already thought that the look on many of the Liverpool players faces was quite abnormal in my opinion.

The glaring/glassy eyes of many of the players was food for thought for me.

Come on, you talk about 'Quality control' and then make very strange accusations like the above. You also claimed Bradley Wiggins to be banned for life when he has never been banned at all. You are correct that we have personal opinions but no we don't have to respect all opinions, do you respect all the opinions of Trump or Johnson or Putin? Bit extreme maybe but just making a point :-)
 
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Genuine question, has anyone got any proof of the 63% beyond that blog?

Saw something related to this in twitter feed. Scroll down to the comments section and there are few links related to this.

 
Come on, you talk about 'Quality control' and then make very strange accusations like the above. You also claimed Bradley Wiggins to be banned for life when he has never been banned at all. You are correct that we have personal opinions but no we don't have to respect all opinions, do you respect all the opinions of Trump or Johnson or Putin? Bit extreme maybe but just making a point :-)

I'm not accusing anyone here and i still respect your opinion, but we all have the right to what we believe or not and i honestly believe that there are ped's within the Liverpool team. Do i have to agree with you? No, and there are others who expressed a similar opinion to mine if you'd like to read the thread.

These things happened before in lots of sports too so it's quite possible.
 
Regarding Bradley Wiggins:

Controversy around therapeutic use exemptions
The leaking of his personal medical history by a group of hackers called the Fancy Bear, in September 2016, raised questions about Wiggins's use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs), which allow athletes with certified medical conditions to take banned substances so as to allow them to compete with healthy athletes.

The leaked files show that he received six TUEs during his career for substances which are otherwise banned by WADA. In 2008, he was granted TUEs for salbutamol (which has since been legalised), formoterol and budesonide to treat asthma. Wiggins later received three intramuscular injections of the drug triamcinolone, a powerful corticosteroid. Triamcinolone is a banned substance because it allows riders to lose weight while maintaining power. The injections were administered to treat hayfever shortly before the 2011 and 2012 Tour de France races, and the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

Whilst the use of banned performance-enhancing substances under TUEs is permitted by the sporting authorities provided the exemption was granted in terms of the WADA rules, questions have been raised about the in-competition use of such drugs. Dr Jeroen Swart questioned the choice of medication, the timing of the injections, the presence of disgraced doctor Geert Leinders on Wiggins's team at the time, and the fact that Wiggins said in his 2012 autobiography My Time that he had only ever received injections for immunisations and some drips.

Prentice Steffen, who was team doctor at Garmin–Slipstream when Wiggins rode for the team in 2009, said in a 2016 interview with the BBC that he was "surprised" that Wiggins was granted TUEs for the injection of triamcinolone immediately before three Grand Tours, that the decision by the team to apply for these TUEs was "questionable", and that he felt they should not have been granted. Wiggins has denied that Geert Leinders had any direct involvement in his taking of the TUE drugs.


On 5 March 2018, the British House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee published their report called "Combatting doping in sport". Their inquiry spanned the work of two committees, and started in August 2015. Among other things, the committee looked into doping in cycling, in response to the Fancy Bear hacking into the database of WADA and their publication of Therapeutic Use Exemption certificates (TUEs) issued to Bradley Wiggins in 2011, 2012 and 2013. They specifically inquired into the medication used at that time by Wiggins and Team Sky. In their conclusions, in paragraph 110, they state as follows:

From the evidence that has been received by the Committee regarding the use of triamcinolone at Team Sky during the period under investigation, and particularly in 2012, we believe that this powerful corticosteroid was being used to prepare Bradley Wiggins, and possibly other riders supporting him, for the Tour de France. The purpose of this was not to treat medical need, but to improve his power to weight ratio ahead of the race. The application for the TUE for the triamcinolone for Bradley Wiggins, ahead of the 2012 Tour de France, also meant that he benefited from the performance enhancing properties of this drug during the race. This does not constitute a violation of the WADA code, but it does cross the ethical line that David Brailsford says he himself drew for Team Sky. In this case, and contrary to the testimony of David Brailsford in front of the Committee, we believe that drugs were being used by Team Sky, within the WADA rules, to enhance the performance of riders, and not just to treat medical need.

The BBC called the report "A devastating blow to the reputations of some of the biggest names in British sport", and The Irish Times reported that Wiggins's Tour de France win is now in question. The Guardian wrote that: "It is only three months since we were last asking whether the latest crisis would signal the end for Team Sky. Now here we are again, wondering how much longer this organisation can continue when every scintilla of credibility they had as a completely clean team has been decimated by another inquiry."

Wiggins and Team Sky have continued to deny that any drugs were used without medical need.
 
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Regarding Bradley Wiggins:

Controversy around therapeutic use exemptions
The leaking of his personal medical history by a group of hackers called the Fancy Bear, in September 2016, raised questions about Wiggins's use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs), which allow athletes with certified medical conditions to take banned substances so as to allow them to compete with healthy athletes.

The leaked files show that he received six TUEs during his career for substances which are otherwise banned by WADA. In 2008, he was granted TUEs for salbutamol (which has since been legalised), formoterol and budesonide to treat asthma. Wiggins later received three intramuscular injections of the drug triamcinolone, a powerful corticosteroid. Triamcinolone is a banned substance because it allows riders to lose weight while maintaining power. The injections were administered to treat hayfever shortly before the 2011 and 2012 Tour de France races, and the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

Whilst the use of banned performance-enhancing substances under TUEs is permitted by the sporting authorities provided the exemption was granted in terms of the WADA rules, questions have been raised about the in-competition use of such drugs. Dr Jeroen Swart questioned the choice of medication, the timing of the injections, the presence of disgraced doctor Geert Leinders on Wiggins's team at the time, and the fact that Wiggins said in his 2012 autobiography My Time that he had only ever received injections for immunisations and some drips.

Prentice Steffen, who was team doctor at Garmin–Slipstream when Wiggins rode for the team in 2009, said in a 2016 interview with the BBC that he was "surprised" that Wiggins was granted TUEs for the injection of triamcinolone immediately before three Grand Tours, that the decision by the team to apply for these TUEs was "questionable", and that he felt they should not have been granted. Wiggins has denied that Geert Leinders had any direct involvement in his taking of the TUE drugs.


On 5 March 2018, the British House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee published their report called "Combatting doping in sport". Their inquiry spanned the work of two committees, and started in August 2015. Among other things, the committee looked into doping in cycling, in response to the Fancy Bear hacking into the database of WADA and their publication of Therapeutic Use Exemption certificates (TUEs) issued to Bradley Wiggins in 2011, 2012 and 2013. They specifically inquired into the medication used at that time by Wiggins and Team Sky. In their conclusions, in paragraph 110, they state as follows:



The BBC called the report "A devastating blow to the reputations of some of the biggest names in British sport", and The Irish Times reported that Wiggins's Tour de France win is now in question. The Guardian wrote that: "It is only three months since we were last asking whether the latest crisis would signal the end for Team Sky. Now here we are again, wondering how much longer this organisation can continue when every scintilla of credibility they had as a completely clean team has been decimated by another inquiry."

Wiggins and Team Sky have continued to deny that any drugs were used without medical need.

Wiggin’s hasn’t been banned though.
 
Wiggin’s hasn’t been banned though.

Just like Liverpool won't be banned too.

And you think that Wiggins and the Sky team and many other cycling teams never touched peds?
Bodybuilders were banned and others died because of the drugs taken.
Cyclists were banned and others died too.

But everyone is free to believe what they want.