kyoto wrote:
Not Lance, Rupp, or Mo wrote:
The thing is Kipchoge has the track speed to make these times believable. Along with he lives a consistent life style, so why wouldn’t consistent times be believable. There is no shred of cheating so just enjoy what this man is able to do.
Tergat had similar track speed and Geb and Bekele had superior track speed. This does not explain it. Many said Lance was not cheating. That opinion means NOTHING.
We will never know. That I genuinely believe. We would never have known about Lance, but he had too much desire to still compete, a large a$$hole streak, and a list of people with vendettas. Kipchoge has none of that. He will race, win, and leave. He just doesnt have a personality that makes enemies.
Obviously, he could be doping. He is, however, an athlete of insane talent. 18yr old WC win over El G and Bekele. 12:4x. Etc. The shoes seem to help. Kipchoge doesn't fit the profile of a typical doper. He doesn't disappear, he is consistent, etc. Contrast that to guys like MakDaddy or Kiptum, or Kiptoo, or whoever that disappear for ages with no explanation or bounce between being terrible and amazing.
As with any doping scenario, you just never know. It all comes down to belief. Kipchoge checks only one box that is "indicative of doping": he's fast as hell. Outside of that, zero.
Truth is, Kipchoge makes me believe. Lots of guys claim integrity and that they don't dope. Kipchoge eminates it. His entire lifestyle of one simplicity, compassion, and integrity. Every action he takes that we know or hear about emphasizes that. Outside of being fast, every other snippet of Kipchoge points to genuine integrity. No rumors or whispers. No bad behavior. No one with any negative story. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire.
Consider guys who are believed protected like Lance, Mo, Bolt, etc. Tons of smoke around all of those. One already went up in flames. Character flaws, anger, risk taking lifestyles, reported missed tests, sketchy associations with coaches, allegations and rumor.
With Kipchoge....zero smoke. Zero rumors. Zero whispering. At the end of the day it comes down to what do you believe. Eluid, simply put, makes me believe. If it's possible to be clean and dominant, it's Kipchoge that could be that athlete.
One other thing I know, if Kipchoge were to ever be revealed as dirty I would never believe a top athlete could be clean. I already doubt it, but the fall of Kipchoge would be the final nail in the coffin for the ideal of a clean champion.