This is the 2004 US Women’s Silver Medalist Team

Immediately following my win in the last round of the 2004 Olympiad in Calvia, I was told that I was “randomly” selected to take a drug test. Could it be because I had the best performance of the entire Women’s Olympiad after 9 years of retirement? Coincidence?

When I asked what FIDE was testing for, they seemed to have no idea. I do not drink. I do not smoke. I do not drink soda. I eat healthy food and I exercise. So that makes me the perfect candidate for drug testing? I guess.

Here is another article about the upcoming drug testing policy in chess. What do you think?

‘Doping in chess? Rubbish!’
Joe Williams
Wednesday, November 29, 2006 23:04 IST

MUMBAI: “Doping and chess? Rubbish!” is how former world number 3 Nigel Short reacts when asked his take on doping test for chess players at the Asian Games in Doha, beginning on Friday.

The Englishman says he has no idea how drugs could be used to enhance chess performance.

“I don’t know which drug could help a chess player in improving his game. As far as I know, it takes years to develop one’s knowledge, and if there was something like enhancing your brain with drugs, there would not be schools or colleges.”

“In the last 100 years or so, have we heard of anyone cheating in this game? No,” he says, while adding that it (testing chess players) was just a waste of time and money.

Dronavalli Harika too has no clue. “I don’t think there exists any drug which can help a chess player enhance his or her performance,” she says.

Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte too feels it is just a waste of time. “Drugs in chess? You must be kidding,” reacts Kunte, who finished fourth in the Commonwealth Chess Championship. “Precious time will be wasted in the process. But having said that, one has to abide by the rules laid down by the Asian Games organisers.”

The full story can be read here. Posted by Picasa

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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