World surfing champion welcomes anti-doping move

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World surfing champion welcomes anti-doping move

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The new ASP Anti-Doping Policy will test for both illicit and performance-enhancing substances.

23 February,2012 12:27 pm

World surfing champion Kelly Slater is happy to abide by new doping regulations being implemented in his sport but he doubts whether performance-enhancing drugs would make anyone surf better.Surfings image has always been clouded by images of wild lifestyles, of cashed-up athletes treading a fine line between partying and performing.While the modern professional surfer is a super-fit athlete the Association of Surfing Professionals still wants to clean up the sport for good.Slater, speaking at the launch of a world surfing tour that will have its first series of formalised drug testing this year involving standards prescribed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), said he had no problem with the tests.Doesnt bother me, Slater told Reuters.I actually dont know that the performance-enhancing issue applies to us so much. Surfing is a lot of decision making and skill. Its not just based on speed and its not just based on strength.I dont know that if someone takes a drug its going to make them win a heat, whereas if a guy is running round a track and he wants to go as fast as he possibly can, a drug probably can make him go faster. I think he probably can cheat.Surfing is a little different.The new ASP Anti-Doping Policy will test for both illicit and performance-enhancing substances. Offenders face a minimum one-year ban from the tour.Slater was also confused about marijuana being regarded as performance enhancing.Anyone going to get busted on tour? Maybe, Slater said before the season-opening Quiksilver Pro. It would be kind of funny. I mean, it would be a bummer for that person, it would be embarrassing.Obviously there has been no shortage of drug insinuations in surfing, the lifestyle and travel and everything, but as far as affecting competition, I cant say with any authority that itdoes.But there are standards we are expected to rise to as a professional sport so the drug testing, its totally viable for us to have it.The 40-year-old is undecided about whether he will compete full-time this year. The 11-times world champion said he hoped his longevity inspired other elite athletes to ignore the notion they should retire in their early-to-mid 30s.Maybe some of the best athletes weve ever seen have quit too early, he said.The Quiksilver Pro begins on Saturday.