Doping in Chess

Yesterday, after the Kramnik - Carlsen game, both athletes had to go through a doping test.

It's part of what FIDE has decided because they have to do it in order to get chess in the olympics. 

Is really doping tests neccessary in chess? Magnus said it was a waste of time :P

If it actually helps get chess into the olympics (probably doubtful), then it's not a waste of time. Otherwise, yes.

Winter Olympics or Summer Olympics?

I think testing for illegal use of medications like Ritilin to help with long peroids of concentration would be more relevant.

BTW, is it even against the rules to use such substances? (Whether or not you have a prescription)

Doping?? Ritalin is used for ADD/ADHD. People with this disorder could never become chess players without the medication. If it is used illegally, then that's a problem (i.e. no prescription). I think things like amphetamines (meth/small doses) and cocaine are what they should be looking for.

What other doping do they mean?

I sometimes play when not on my medication. It's a good way to lose a lot of points.

@Jamie Interesting, I didn't know Viagara had cognitive side effects.

any stimulants could be consider "doping"..if they increase your focus...what next no coffee between rounds....lol...stupid waste.

the olympics are a waste of time

the olympic commitee doesnt care if chess makes it into the olympics or not.how many people are going to buy tickets to that? particularly when its expensive an most likely a bunch a draw games...great..wow...

First let me say that getting chess included in the Olymips would be a monumental triumph. I can clearly see the benefits that would have for our game. The Olympics would go a long way to earning Professional Chess the worldwide recognition and sponsorship opportunities it has so far lacked.

That being said, is there really a "performance-enchancing drug" for chess? And if so, what?

Will a player taking steroids, really have some sort of unfair advantage over one who is not?

And what else is being tested for in these examinations? Is Marijuana one of those controled substances?

Because, in many parts of the world, marijuana is perfectly legal and/or acceptable.

And in many parts of the world, not.

Is the IOC really trying to enforce their narrowminded vision of what is a unacceptable substance, on the chess community, without any proof that that substance enhances a competitors performance in any way? This isn't like Lance armstrong, who used drugs to strengthen his leg muscles, to make himself more competitive than his opponents.

I understand they test all other competitions, so chess (as well as bridge) has got to fall in line as well. It wouldn't be fair to make exceptions.

And let us not forget the one inevitable thing that will happen with Drug testing. Players, some, will test positive. No other sport that has included drug testing in their regimine has failed to find a dirty competitor. Nor will chess.

These chessplayers will be disqualified. Their careers ended. And some of those players will be "Popular players." As in, they will have many fans. Chess will be hurt as a result.

And the players who lost their careers lost them due to "cheating." Nevermind that, in this cheating, they recieved no discernable unfair advantage over their honest opponents as a result. Their careers were simply terminated, to make some politician somewhere look good.

So we must ask ourselves, (as any good chesspayer must ask himself when choosing his mext move), in vieing for a spot in the Olympics, is chess gaining more than it will ultimatly be sacrificing?

Is that recognition worth the players we will be throwing away? Players who were gaining no unfair advantage over their opponent?

What will best for chess in the end?

@varelse1: If one player would indeed be tested positive and being disqualified from the sport in process, then so be it. He/she knew that taking that substance was against the rules and doing it in spite will throw away every trustworthiness this person once had, no matter if the prohibited drug was actually enhancing his/her performance.

If the Olympic recognition will flush mo' money into the funds of chess organizations and leagues worldwide, then it's a good thing. Besides, I simply can't imagine Chess players in the likes of Carlsen, Kramnik or Anand to bypass such a rule once it's set up. As long as everyday-stimulants like nicotine or caffeine aren't touched, I can't see any long-term problems arising from a stipulation against doping.

Last Saturday, I went to the Candidates' Tournament in London in the afternoon, then I went to Chess Boxing in the evening.

Of the two, I think Chess Boxing has much greater potential as an Olympic event, it is more fun to watch and you are allowed to shout out stuff to the competitors, "Hit him! Castle! Knock him out! Take the Pawn!" etc. The Candidates' Tournament was markedly SILENT, I think I annoyed everyone with my tickly cough. Chess Boxing is the modern Biathlon.

Thank you for this reply, TheBigDecline.

Your agruement there is "They knew the rules, therefore they deserved what they got."

This arguement has been used countless times throughout the milenia to justify most every rule or law that has been made. The good ones, as well as the bad ones.

And while this his arguement justifies the enforcement of a rule, it does not justify the implementation of a rule.

If a rule is counterproductive before the competitors informed of it, it will be counterproductive afterward as well.

Just because the person who broke the rule is in the wrong, does not mean the person who wrote that rule is not.

But, like you said, there is much to be gained from Chess in the Olympics. I just wonder, will we gain enough?

Absolutely right. Chess will be able to get sponsorship far beyond the niche world of IT companies like Intel.

In fact, it will be a severe detriment to the more mainstream sports in the Olympics like, say, ...Curling... who will lose sponsors as a result

PS Lance et al aren't after bigger leg muscles. Big muscles are good for cycle sprinters, but they only cost you when you have to carry the extra weight up hills. Touring cycle racers want high red blood cell concentrations for endurance, hence EPO use. Some steroid and anti inflammatory drugs are used to recover from the strain of riding at >80% of max all day, every day

Why would they test for doping? To me, the only way to cheat is to have a mini microphone with someone telling you the moves from a chess engine. And I don't think chess In the Olympics would be good (@paulgottlieb). Besides, I don't think "doping" is a good way to say that.

so wait?!? They want to put chess in the Summer Olympics? Will chess replace wrestling in the Summer Olympics?

Hm, really, I personally couldn't care less about licences and media coverage ... for me, the Olympic idea is ridden with flaws to begin with. IMO it only promotes rivalry and a baseless notion of the superiority of one people over another.

"Oh, look, that guy who has the same nationality as me is a really good sprinter, therefore it makes me feel awesome!" But I'm not a sports person either, so to each one his own. Those proposed doping checks, even imagining two dudes sitting at a chessboard amongst all the athletes, who perform 'real sports", is really laughable.

Buuuut... think about the money. And the women!! (hopefully)

It's a waste of time. Why is fide pandering to the IOC? The olympics is the most dumbest thing you can find. You start training for a sport when you are 12, then you get to compete but you get one shot! Only once chance! And if you lose, try again in another four years!! Just when you are at your prime you have to sit and wait.

In chess there is always something you can do. Either you get your IM or GM. And there are many tournaments you can play in. You are always improving. And it isn't just about the gold medals or becoming a world champion. You get to make discoveries, find new lines, learn new things. People play chess because they love it.

You can't do that in the olympics. No wonder they cheat. Chess and olympics are two different things. Chess shouldn't be sullied with the same possible hint that chess players are doping. Those tests should be thrown out.

In chess we can learn from each other, world champions publish their analysis of their games, we build the theory of the game by pushing each other forward. 

This doesn't happen in the olympics, it is every man for himself.

If the olympics attracts cattles taking growth hormones, let those mindless  drones play their own games. IT is fine, just don't allow their self inflictive indictiments into our game.