King Richards used drugs

[Mamu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Richards-used-to-take-performance-enhancement-drugs-Umar/articleshow/4916257.cms

KARACHI: In a startling revelation, ex-Pakistan cricketer Qasim Umar has claimed that former West Indies captain Vivian Richards used to take performance enhancement drugs before the new anti-doping regulations were enforced by the ICC. Appearing on television talk show on Thursday, Umar, a controversial figure in Pakistan cricket, said Richards had himself confessed to him that he used to take drugs to release tension and improve his stamina and endurance levels. "Use of drugs was common among many players and they used to transport these drugs in their kit bags," Umar, who represented Pakistan in 26 Tests and 31 ODIs said. He had also accused former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and other players of using their kit bags to transport drugs to the United Kingdom and was subsequently banned for life by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Umar's accusation had led to the customs authorities at the Heathrow airport unleash sniffer dogs on the Pakistan team when they landed for a Test tour in 1987. "I spoke the truth and I was penalised for it and my career was destroyed. But I stand by what I said. Players did use drugs and they transported them frequently in their kit bags," he said. "I know of players who used and carried drugs. This was common until anti-doping laws became more stringent in international cricket and drugs cheats were caught," he added. Umar recalled that on the 1993 tour to the West Indies, four Pakistani players only escaped a criminal trial in Grenada after they were arrested for smoking marijuana only because the cricket authorities back home told their West Indies counterparts that they would call back the team if the players were prosecuted. "The West Indies board relented because they faced financial problems." Umar also blasted the PCB for failing to deliver the goods. "Honest and straight forward people can't survive in Pakistan cricket which is perhaps the worst cricket system in the world. I spoke the truth and my career ended," he said. He pointed out that the board was not properly utilising the services of former greats. "Differences apart there is no doubt that players like Miandad, Imran or Wasim Akram are born once in a while and I don't think the position given to Miandad in the board at the present is according to his status as a cricketer and captain."

[Sachinism]

Source is Pakistani and therefore has no credibility

[goose]

He probably did - who didn't...

[Guest Hiten.]

Ravi will be shattered :P On a serious note, if it weren't banned in those days then how is it cheating ? :dontknow:

[Anakin]

Someone else once mentioned the same thing, may be he did, who knows what went on at that time.

[Anakin]

Ravi will be shattered :P On a serious note, if it weren't banned in those days then how is it cheating ? :dontknow:

It's still cheating though, if it's performance enhancing drugs because of the same reason they are banned now. Just because nobody cared much at that time about these, doesn't make them fair game. Anyway, I doubt how correct this info is.

[DomainK]

Lets not deal with ifs and buts and on the basis of a testimony of someone like Qasim Umar. Unless we have proof, we should not be saying such things about a great cricketer like Viv. May be he did, may be hi didn't. He is innocent until proved guilty.

[Lord]

Qasim Umar is the last person to be believed.he is an attention seeker.he also accused Imran n few others of match fixing

[Anakin]

Qasim Umar is the last person to be believed.he is an attention seeker.he also accused Imran n few others of match fixing

I wouldn't be surprised there really

[Desi Cartman]

says someone who was sacked for barking nonsense about his own team .. :hehe:

[Ram]

I doubt if he used performance enhancing drugs. He probably did use recreational drugs like Cocaine, but I can bet that a big proportion of athletes, both past and present, use some sort of recreational drugs or the other.

[Mr. Wicket]

Richards did marijuana, not cocaine. And not PEDs. This fella's talking a load of unsubstantiated BS.

[Ram]

Richards did marijuana, not cocaine. And not PEDs. This fella's talking a load of unsubstantiated BS.

I am pretty sure he doesnt even know the difference b/w PED and drugs like marijuana..:D

[Anakin]

Richards did marijuana, not cocaine. And not PEDs. This fella's talking a load of unsubstantiated BS.

That might not be PED, but it might give u quite a bit of focus. Not that he'd need that anyway, just saying.

[Mamu]

Huh? Marijuana gives you focus ? Have you used it ? Take it from somebody who has done it, it is anything but that.:winky:

[Anakin]

Huh? Marijuana gives you focus ? Have you used it ? Take it from somebody who has done it, it is anything but that.:winky:

Yes :winky:

[Sachinism]

Couple of my team mates smoke a joint before going in to bat and they do perfectly fine, one of them claims he concentrates better, so its not all that bad :winky:

[flamy]

:regular_smile:

[karthikshining]

I doubt the great Viv ever took performance-enhancing drugs. He might have smoked marijuana, but I'm guessing this Pakistani player just misunderstood him or something.

[mhr123]

Well i am not sure how can a drugs enhance the batting , bowling ... can some1 like Venkatpati Raju be given 3-4 heavy dose of these drugs so that he can bat like Viv..