Steroids in horse racing – is it just Godolphin?

Posted by on May 16, 2013 in Horse Racing | 6 comments

Sadly over the last few years, steroids have found their way into horse racing, not only portraying a bad light on the sport, but also revealing some of the harsh and cruel ways these beautiful animals are treated. In many cases, the criticism for the horse racing industry is completely deserved, and having a unfair and illegal competitive advantage over your opponent should never be allowed. Furthermore, when these advantages are abused, the effect it can have on the animals, as well as the careers of the people involved in the sport can be devastating.

Little do people know however, that there are some steroids that can be beneficial for horses. When applied in the right way, certain steroids can help improve a horse’s health, and the way they perform in races, making it safer for the animal in general.

Naturally occurring steroids can be found in fungi and plants, and some of the most used steroids in the world are even found within animals themselves. From estrogen and cortisol to testosterone and progesterone, these steroids are all naturally occurring and are produced in the body’s glands. Not only do they help to balance and improve the metabolic systems in humans, but they can also be used to strength the immune system too.

Steroid Use In The UK

Recently however, there has been widespread outcry surrounding Mahmood Al Zarooni’s 15 horses that tested positive for anabolic steroids, subsequently causing his eight year ban from the sport. Blaming the use of steroids on a ‘misjudgement’, horse racing in the UK is now under intense global focus, now tarnishing it’s previously impeccable record and participation in the sport.

Worryingly, the outbreak of such ‘misjudgement’ hasn’t stopped there. Last month, another horse trainer, Gerard Butler, is facing an enquiry for using banned steroids on his horses. Butler claims that his horses were given a drug to help them in their recovery for injured joints, and although over 100 of his horses were given the drug, only 9 tested positive for banned steroids. Butler also stated that the drugs were given the all clear by his personal vet, and all injections complied with regulations.

Unfair Advantages

Steroid use on horses isn’t just limited to the UK however, and experts believe that trainers are increasingly looking for ways to incorporate ‘safe’ steroids in conventional horse injury treatment. Vet Medic treatment for horses not only provide first aid, but they also combat lice and other conditions that could affect their performances on the track.

In 2008, the Triple Crown races In America came under media spotlight as it was revealed that Big Brown, the horse that won that year’s races, received regular injections of the steroid called stanozolol, a substance that was known to build the muscles around joints in horses.

Although the steroids complied with industry regulations when they were administered, the horse came in last in the following Triple Crown, where the substance was banned. This is not hard proof that the steroids gave the Big Brown an unfair advantage, however it is cause for concern according to industry insiders. Not only can unregulated steroids cause massive changes in behaviour for horses, but the side effects can also be passed onto their young when breeding.

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David is a keen animal lover and has a particular interest in horse racing. Stay tuned for more animal related blogs in the future.

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Enjoying the Water in the Right Swimwear

Posted by on May 10, 2013 in Swimming | 2 comments

Swimming is an all-time favorite activity whether as a sport or as a recreational activity. People of all ages enjoy spending warm sunny days swimming at the beach or at the nearest pool. This activity can be made much more enjoyable with the right swimwear. Great options are available in swimwear Australia by Speedo. Anyone who chooses a swimwear from this internationally recognized brand is sure to be satisfied with his choice.

Swimwear from this brand comes with performance, form, and function. The fabrics used in the manufacturing of these products are developed and made with the latest in clothing technology. Speedo has been known for innovations in swimwear with less drag and chlorine resistance. This is the reason why this brand is the choice of many professional swimmers who compete in various swimming events all over the world. Athletes have observed the difference between the construction of conventional swimwear and the innovative swimwear designed and manufactured by Speedo.

On top of performance and function, Speedo swim suits are also known for style. Their designs go from the basic solid colors to exciting designs that are as fashionable on the runway as they are functional in the water. The online catalog of Speedo has a lot of options for swimmers from babies to adults. There are also training aids and swimming accessories like kick boards, ear plugs, swimming caps, pull buoys, aqua belts, nose clips, power paddles, goggles, and underwater MP3 players and cameras. Although these products are priced higher than other swimwear brands, these are definitely worth every penny.

When choosing swimwear and equipment, it is important to take into consideration several factors. There are appropriate swimwear and accessories for particular activities. Those who are looking for swimwear to wear on their family beach vacation would be content to have stylish swimsuits. On the other hand, those who are looking for swimwear and accessories for sporting events like triathlons would have to choose those that are made for optimum performance. There are buying guides and sizing charts available on the website to help consumers make the right choice. Shoppers can send in their specific inquiries through Speedo’s customer service facility too. There’s also a newsletter that shoppers can subscribe to for updates on Speedo’s latest products that are designed to make swimming more enjoyable.

Sir Chris Hoy to work with Scottish Rugby

Posted by on Apr 29, 2013 in Rugby | 0 comments

Scottish Rugby is set to benefit from the retirement of Sir Chris Hoy from competitive cycling. Sir Chris is set to take up an advisory role as one of his many post-retirement plans.

Sir Chris Hoy announced his retirement from cycling in his native Edinburgh bringing to an end an astonishing career. He quits cycling as Britain’s most successful Olympian ever with six gold medals and one silver to his name. For good measure he also has 11 World Championship gold medals, eight silver and six bronze and two Commonwealth Games golds and two bronzes. He is credited with taking cycling from a minority sport to being one of the most popular in the country.

Scottish fans ware disappointed that he has decided to retire before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later in the year but Hoy says that, at 37 years of age and with the punishment his body has taken over the years, he will not be able to reproduce the winning form that we are so used to. Hanging on to compete in Glasgow would result in disappointment for the fans and himself and could have a harmful effect on the Scottish team.

Sir Chris now plans to focus on his own bicycle brand and will carry on with his charity work for the Scottish Association of Mental Health and UNICEF. But he will not be lost to sport entirely. Although he has no intentions to take up coaching he has offered his services as an ambassador and mentor for future Scottish sports stars and has agreed to become an adviser to Scottish Rugby.

The significance of Sir Chris’s new role cannot be underestimated. Scottish domestic rugby is in decline, and has been for a while. Scottish performances in the Heineken Cup have been poor with efforts in the RaboDirect Pro12 not much better, the exception being Glasgow’s efforts this year that could see them run out winners or at least go close. The national side performed decently in this year’s Six Nations championship but even the most ardent fan would have to admit that the men in blue find it hard to hold their own on the international stage.

There is also a problem with the talent pool, with the number of senior male players registered being way below that of most other rugby playing nations, even Spain and Malaysia. And, the Scottish Rugby Union is still facing massive debts resulting from the disastrous introduction of the Border Rievers into the Celtic league.

Rugby in Scotland is not in a good state of health, but having a man like Sir Chris Hoy standing in the sidelines ready to offer advice and encouragement to players will be of incalculable benefit to the game. His name alone is enough to attract players and inspire them to give of their best.

Sir Chris has a reputation for having a deep desire to win and to make the necessary sacrifices to do so. He never shirked the hard work that needed to be put in and always seemed to find that little bit extra when the situation demanded. Scottish Rugby will be all the better for his presence.

Scotland sponsors Canterbury of New Zealand will also be pleased to have a man like Sir Chris on board. By raising the profile of Scottish Rugby he will also increase the exposure of the CCC brand, which can only be good for Canterbury and Scotland alike.

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My name is Eddard Blake and I am freelance rugby copywriter. The fact that Chris Hoy is going to be involved in the scotland national team is great for the nation.

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Top 5 NBA Players of ALL Time

Posted by on Apr 9, 2013 in Basketball | 1 comment

Selecting the National Basketball Association’s top five players is a matter of general consensus; the players are chosen by NBA analysts, sportswriters and experts alike, yet the bickering continues concerning which players deserve to stand the tallest at the top of the hoopster’s throne.

Michael Jordan

Arguably the best all-around player in the history of the game, Jordan’s 15-year career included averaging over 30 PPG (1st) while helping the Chicago Bulls win six NBA championships. The 10-time scoring leader also amassed 32,292 points, which is currently 3rd on the all-time list. Voted the league’s MVP a total of five times, Jordan ran circles around his opponents. He stepped away from the game after winning three consecutive titles from 1990-93 to play professional baseball for the Chicago White Sox organisation. After returning to the Bulls in 1995, he won three more consecutive titles.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Formerly known as Lew Alcindor, Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader with 38,387 points. After spending 20 seasons in the NBA, he accumulated a half-dozen championship rings and MVP titles to match. His patented sky-hook became virtually untouchable, even against the league’s toughest defenders. Also an 18 time all-star, Kareem averaged over 24 PPG in his time spent with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers combined. Inducted into the NBA Hall of fame in 1995, Abdul-Jabbar is a living legend whose bronze statue stands in front of the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Bill Russell

William Felton Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships in 13 NBA seasons; no other player has been able to match this achievement. One of the smallest centres to play the game professionally, his 206 cm stature paled in comparison to the big men of the era. Between 1956 and 1969 his athleticism helped the Celts to win eight titles in a row, a record that may stay in the books for years to come. Not exactly known for his prolific scoring abilities (15.5 PPG), Russell’s defensive prowess earned him a spot in the top five, averaging over 22 rebounds per game.

Wilt Chamberlain

The only player in the history of the league to score 100 points in a single game, Wilt the Stilt averaged 30 points while grabbing 20 rebounds per game for nine seasons. During the 1961-62 season he averaged 50 PPG for the Philadelphia Warriors, which still stands as an all-time record. Chamberlain also played on the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers team that won 33 straight games, a record that is still in place. He also holds the all-time record for collective career rebounds with 23,924, as well as a dozen other basketball-related accolades. He currently holds the # 5 position on the coveted NBA all-time scoring list with 31, 419 points.

Magic Johnson

Earvin Magic Johnson is known for giving the NBA a shot in the arm while helping his Showtime Los Angeles Lakers win five championships during the 1980s. The all-time record holder for averaging over 11 assists per game also played every position at one time or another, and with exceptional skills. His 14 seasons with the Lakers included three MVP awards as well as nine All-NBA 1st Team honors. His three finals MVP awards against the likes of Julius Erving (Dr. J), Larry Bird, and Isaiah Thomas have secured his position as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

It’s also important to note that many other NBA players who are in the game’s top 50 may qualify, depending upon the source. Three of the most notable active players are also destined to land at the top of the pile: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.

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Tom is an NBA fanatic based in Brisbane, Australia. He has been actively following and writing posts on NBA and basketball related topics for over 20 years. With this much experience, these are Tom’s top 5 players off ALL time. For local and global fan news, Tom follows www.dunk.com.au for inspiration on hot topics. 

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10 minute madness

Posted by on Mar 28, 2013 in Apps | 0 comments

Fans at the Heart of the Action with New 10 Minute Madness Euroleague Basketball Game – In an attempt to bring the excitement of the courtside to the living room of basketball fans everywhere, Bwin have launched an interactive digital basketball game for enthusiasts to enjoy.

Already the Euroleague Basketball sponsors, Europe’s largest sportsbook, Bwin, have gone one step further in their affiliation with the game by launching the interactive, ’10 Minute Madness’, digital game.

Roser Queraltó, Chief Business Development Officer at Euroleague Basketball, said, “This is another great example of Bwin bringing something new to the Euroleague experience, enhancing the action for dedicated fans everywhere.”

10 Minute Madness allows players to accumulate points through the correct prediction of the winning team, scorers, quarter-by-quarter scores and more. Players can then win exclusive prizes such as VIP courtside tickets for the Euroleague Final Four in London, signed basketball jerseys and game tickets to name a few, all of which greatly appeal to basketball fans.

With the game available on several mobile platforms including iOS and Android tablets and smartphones, basketball fans are invited to re-enact the excitement of their favourite game from the comfort of their living room. They can also take to twitter and participate in discussions taking place using #Makeyourplay, and use the account to converse with their favourite players.

Daniele Sano, Head of Sponsorship & Events at Bwin said: “Our aim is to bring the courtside thrill of Euroleague into the living rooms of our customers. 10 Minute Madness’ inspired use of second screen technology means fans are constantly involved in the action, with a stake in the outcome of each and every play.”

She went on to add: “This is consistent with our overall digital sponsorship strategy which is focused on enhancing the user experience through digital innovation rather than on more traditional sponsorship activity.”

For more information on the ’10 Minute Madness’ interactive basketball game visit www.bwin.com/.