When successful athletes use drugs, like Lance Armstrong allegedly did, it sullies their athletic feats and causes fans to become disillusioned. CHRISTOPHE ENA/AP Certain forms of art are performed in private. The painter is alone when he paints, the writer likewise. But the most pertinent aspect of the performing arts is that they are watched. Dance, music, drama and sport are most challenging -- and most thrilling -- precisely because they are real, happening before our eyes. All of them, of course, can be tainted by human foible. We make athletes heroes at our peril. Athletes, for example, fix games. They cheat when they can. They can be cruel on the field, and off it brutish ---- especially in their treatment of women. Just read the paper any day and be disappointed. But none of all these iniquities taken together violates sport as drugs do alone. Athletics, like the other performing arts, is primarily a function of the body. Yes, it helps to understand well the game you are playing, but, ultimately, sports are physical. They require strength, speed, balance, hand-eye coordination and often, endurance. To succeed, the athlete must excel in at least one of these qualities, or even … Continue reading →

Cocaine. Cough syrup. Crystal meth. You name it, Bryan Saunders has probably swallowed or snorted it. Since March 30, 1995, Saunders has drawn at least one self-portrait each and every day. He now has more than 8600 of them and plans to continue drawing one every day for the rest of his life. Drugs and drawing them ... were a way to 'productively' escape. But the 43-year-old Tennessee-based artist takes an approach to his practice that is unconventional to say the least.He often creates these self-portraits under the influence of various drugs. All in the name of art. Unconventional approach ... Bryan Saunders. "At the time I was emotionally troubled and using art as therapy," he explains. "Drugs and drawing them, in hindsight, were a way to 'productively' escape." Advertisement The series, appropriately titled DRUGS, began in 2001 with a stint in which Saunders tried 18 different drugs in 11 days."Artistically it was wonderful and exciting to see myself in new ways," he says. "Physically, I suffered quite a bit and some damage to both my mind and body." The drugs in question range from illicit narcotics such as cocaine and crystal meth, to prescription pills including Klonopin and Xanax. … Continue reading →

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - A Danish Cycling Union (DCU) board member has been dismissed after failing a drugs test following a veterans race in June, the DCU has said in a statement. Soren Svenningsen, 47, who owned the now disbanded Team Capinordic cycling team, was found to have traces of three banned substances following the race. "On June 30, veteran cyclist Soren Svenningsen tested positive in a doping test in a Danish H40 race. The sample showed traces of two different glucocorticoids and testosterone," the statement said, adding that Svenningsen would leave the board and his position as chair of Holte Cycling Club with immediate effect. "I am deeply shocked to have received the news of Soren Svenningsen's positive drug tests. We stand for a clear and consistent doping position in the DCU," the statement quoted union president Tom Lund as saying. "That a leader in Danish cycling who is also a board member of DCU tested positive, and thus breaks our trust, is inexcusable. "As president of DCU, I would like to emphasize that our anti-doping line will continue to be sharp and consistent, and we will continue to hunt down cheats," said Lund, adding that testing was necessary in … Continue reading →

By Randy Dotinga HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- It's OK for some patients with asthma to stick with a combination of medications instead of abandoning one because of concerns about complications, a new analysis of existing research suggests. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that asthma patients who take both long-acting beta-agonist and inhaled corticosteroid medications should be cautious about using them together once their condition is under control. Long-acting beta-agonists -- such as drugs known by the brand names Serevent, Foradil and Brovana -- could cause side effects, the FDA cautioned, as could combination drugs. For that reason, the agency suggested that patients consider going with inhaled corticosteroids alone. However, the new analysis came to a different conclusion. "Adding a long-acting beta-agonist to an inhaled corticosteroid medication makes a lot of sense in a number of patients since you get better control of the disease," said Dr. Thomas Casale, chief of allergy and immunology at Creighton University, and lead author of the report. The report was published online Aug. 27 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine. At issue is how to best treat adults and older children who suffer from moderate to severe … Continue reading →