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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Rex Holman added to this discussion on February 21, 2020
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Quick recap on cocaine.
Highly addictive. If you've taken it once and have the money or proximity, you are taking it again. That would correlate to multiple positive tests.
It is out of your system quick. 3-5 days. If you are within that window, chances are you took it for performance, not recreation.
So, what does that really say?
You have developed a habit and lack humility.
Couple thoughts.
Read a good article about a Fellowship of Christian Athlete wrestler the other day. Basically, when the fans and fame abandoned him, he looked for a lasting relationship through Christ. Lord knows the other stuff doesn't last.
Reinforces the image that ASU is a party school.
When I was a kid I read Amateur wrestling news from front to back. This one time a future NCAA Champion got destroyed in the Big 8s before tech fall rules. I was looking at the result and it didn't make sense and really stood out. Well the destroyer didn't have the expected NCAA tournament and the other guy went onto win. Twenty some years later it strikes me that I am talking to a teammate of the destroyer. I'm like what happened to that guy( yes I do remember the names but don't care to share), he kept it short and said I am pretty sure that guy was using cocaine.
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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Justin Hayes added to this discussion on February 21, 2020
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Spot on, Rex.
Any cop, fireman, paramedic, etc. who has dealt with a combative coke/crack addict knows....especially if you run into one who still has some athletic prowess and/or hasn’t utterly compromised their health yet.
#LawrenceTaylor
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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Rex Holman added to this discussion on February 21, 2020
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Yes, LT, best defensive player of his era. I don't think his use is in question.
So, to drive my point home and connect all the dots.
If an 11 year old kid can play the sesame street game and say one of these things is not like the others while looking at wrestling results and recall it some twenty years later while getting some fairly solid discreet speculation from an insider about the complete drubbing of the National champion at the conference meet two weeks prior then I think it is fair to call cocaine a performance enhancing drug.
Oh what a tangled web we weave.
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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Bill Splete added to this discussion on February 21, 2020
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This is the world we are in, where cheating is not looked upon poorly until you are caught. We applaud the behemoth who we watch on Sundays or tell ourselves when an athlete goes from 165 to a ripped and crazy strong 86 kg, it's just good hard work, it's not... it's right in front of us, we can't see them cheating, but we, in the back of our minds know that it's going on.
Let me go you one better and pay attention here this is crazy if a doctor gives a high school athlete a prescription pain killer during a game or before so he can compete, is that ok, well, according to this state it's not ethical but not illegal and therefore just fine. I'm talking tramadol, perc, whatever they need as long as doc prescribes it. The world has put the game ahead of the athlete and the athlete has followed suit in putting his accomplishments above their health. We can't be surprised by this. I know a powerlifting coach for several top CrossFit guys and he told me they all take PED, whether for recovery or and edge. No one these days can deal with who they are and if they can get an edge they take it and if they want to escape they do that to, it's everywhere, a fix is a phone call or doctors visit away. Is a PED worse than weed, or cocaine worse than painkillers to compete in a high school game, I don't know but they all have consequences and I know young athletes that will have struggles for the rest of their lives because of all of these and the outlook is not good.
You should all look up what sarms are and how athletes are using them, I know of a supplement company that supplies 25% of NFL wives with PED, you know Peyton Manning style.
If it's his third failed drug test for weed, I struggle with total banishment seems very extreme but it's their rules, he knew them and now has to deal with the consequences of them. tough day for his family, friends and I'll throw Zeke a little love but he will be fine.
Thanks to Jim for helping me look less stupid I appreciate the forum for it's honesty and guidance, Zahid could use the wisdom of this forum.
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Last edited by Bill Splete on February 21, 2020; edited 5 times in total
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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Brady Hiatt added to this discussion on February 21, 2020
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Makes one wonder how long this has been happening.
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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Jared Ball added to this discussion on February 22, 2020
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Quote from Justin Hayes's post:
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"If he doesn’t participate in the NCAA tournament, who/what team benefits the most? Surely some chose a weight class above or below in part by considering Valencia the most likely to win."
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Penn State maybe. 184 outside of Zahid is the biggest crapshoot weight in the country. Aaron Brooks may be the most talented of the group. PSU could land three, now maybe four finalist. Their chances of four champs just went up. What happens if RBY makes the finals. That team race gap could shrink up rather quickly.
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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Chris Thomas added to this discussion on February 22, 2020
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No need to feel sorry for ASU,family,or coaches. The person to have compassion for is Valencia because he has devoted and sacrificed the most to reach his goals. Obviously, he must have an addiction problem. Wouldn't throw away his collegiate career for no reason. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs to redeem himself. A minor setback for a major comeback.
If it is recreational drugs the penalty shouldn't be the rest of the season. Whether his drug of choice is marijuana or cocaine it did not give him a competitive advantage. PED should be held in a entirely different category when it comes to athletics. let's try and help young people instead of taking the thing they love away.IMO
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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Chris Thomas added to this discussion on February 22, 2020
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No need to feel sorry for ASU,family,or coaches. The person to have compassion for is Valencia because he has devoted and sacrificed the most to reach his goals. Obviously, he must have an addiction problem. Wouldn't throw away his collegiate career for no reason. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs to redeem himself. A minor setback for a major comeback.
If it is recreational drugs the penalty shouldn't be the rest of the season. Whether his drug of choice is marijuana or cocaine it did not give him a competitive advantage. PED should be held in a entirely different category when it comes to athletics. let's try and help young people instead of taking the thing they love away.IMO
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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on February 23, 2020
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I always feel for coaches. I understand how hard Zeke Jones has worked.
I do agree that Valencia should be allowed a path back to competition since it wasn't a PED. But I don't feel too sorry for him. I know...I'm contradicting myself.
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Discussion Topic: Zahid Valencia Fails (Non PED) Drug Test
Gary Lusson added to this discussion on February 23, 2020
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Chris--
I appreciate your thoughtful comments, if I may reply?
To your first point, we should have compassion for all the parties involved. Everyone in an athlete's life is affected when things like this happen.
As all coaches and parents can attest, one of the most important ideas to deeply instill in a young athlete is that they are part of a team: your parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family. Everyone who has helped you and who is invested in you in ways you can't imagine. From your actual teammates and coaches and teachers to your neighbors and your fans. The mailman and the guy who cleans the gym!
Everyone is part of Team Thomas or Team Hiatt or Team Valencia, working for you, pulling for you, CONNECTED to you. You are not alone. You do not exist in a vacuum, and every single thing you do affects those around you, your TEAM. Like it or not this is true. Like it or not you have an obligation and a responsibility to your team members.
Starting at an early age, when reinforced over and over, this kind of thing keeps a young athlete on the straight and narrow.
As to your second point, most every adult involved in youth, high school or college sports is indeed trying to help preserve the thing they love. And one important way to do this is to make sure that everyone is competing on a level playing field
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