Shocker! Russia Bans Beer Drinking During Athletes’ Doping Tests

Russian athletes can no longer power-pound beer while they’re waiting in line to be tested for performance enhancing additives.

And the reason they did is probably not what you think…

Why Blood Tests For Athletes?

In today’s world of “better living through chemistry” athletes have long sought the advantages that using anabolic steroids, androstenedione, human growth hormone, erythropoietin, diuretics, creatine and stimulants can produce…

But Russian athletes historically seem to know their benefits better than most…

And since 2015’s explosive state-sanctioned doping scandal (which the Netflix documentary Icarus chronicles so entertainingly) that ended 47 Russian athletes being banned from the Winter Olympics, Russia has been bending over backwards (!) to prove that its athletes are fully compliant with all World Anti-Doping Agency protocol.

Why Beer before Blood Tests?

Even though athletes drinking beer while waiting to be drug tested seems ridiculously counter-intuitive, there’s an obvious reason why (up until now) Russia has promoted the practice…

In addition to being enjoyable, beer has well-documented diuretic effect…ever been to a beer festival?

And athletes coming in from a demanding competition, tend to be dehydrated, which makes taking a leak more difficult and why having a beer made sense.

Why Not Beer before Blood Tests? (At Least For Russian Athletes)

Because as Russia’s Anti-doping deputy CEO, Margarita Pakhnotskaya explained to the AP  Russian athletes can get unruly when they’ve been drinking beer…

“It is not very good for athletes’ behavior at doping control, politeness and following the rules…They’d be rude, a bit aggressive.”

And although there’s no evidence athletes were deliberately trying to manipulate the tests, Pakhnotskaya also noted that beer drinking before the blood tests could occasionally muddy the panel’s results…

Which you’d think, given Russia’s extensive efforts to hide its state-sponsored doping program back in 2015, might be seen as a good thing…just sayin.’