Tokyo Teasers, Women's Rugby Risks, and Doping Double Standards

5 snips

Aug 29, 2025

Dive into the excitement of the upcoming Tokyo World Championships and the aftermath of the Diamond League finals. Discover the doping controversy surrounding a South African rugby player and the ethical complexities of athlete medication. The Women's Rugby World Cup shines with record-breaking moments but highlights the performance gaps that threaten its growth. Explore the importance of improving tackling safety in rugby and the need for strategic investments in young talent to elevate the sport.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Dropper Post Training Accident

Ross installed a dropper post on his mountain bike and found it reduced the risk of going over the bars.
He accidentally climbed with the saddle three centimeters too low and discovered it produced an intense specific muscle workout.

INSIGHT

City-Centre Field Events Boost Engagement

Zurich's city-centre field-event format increases spectator intimacy and athlete visibility.
Constraining run-up length can disadvantage some jumpers and may affect competitive integrity.

INSIGHT

Season-Ending Worlds Stretches Athlete Peaks

Moving World Championships to the end of the season lengthens the competitive calendar and forces athletes to extend peak form.
That scheduling may de-emphasize earlier events like Zurich and change athletes' race choices.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Get with the Discourse, and share thoughts on the subjects we tackle - a small monthly pledge gets you into the VIP room for the "best content on the internet!". Plus, we really value the support!

Don't forget you can also watch us on YouTube!

Show notes

In this Spotlight, our news roundup begins with a look ahead to the Tokyo World Championships, via a rewind to the Diamond League finals in Zurich. Has Zurich shown the way forward for field events? We unpack whether this model can help the field events and thus sport grow, celebrate new stars and seasoned champions. We discuss how moving the World Championships to the season’s end poses unique challenges for athletes, and stretches the physiological peak many can sustain. We look ahead to epic clashes, where new favourites have emerged and old stars have shown form at just the right time.

From track to turf, we turn to rugby and the doping case of Asenathi Ntlabakanye. The South African prop has been provisionally suspended after a positive test for a substance SA Rugby has said was not performance-enhancing and was medically prescribed. Ross and Gareth explore what this may mean, and the broader grey areas that challenge athlete rights and fairness in sport.

Then in Center Stage (53:34), the Women’s Rugby World Cup takes the spotlight. The tournament is off to a fantastic start, breaking records and continuing its growth. But Ross explains why wide performance gaps between rugby’s juggernauts and minnows could threaten the game’s continued long-term prospects, and how targeted investment will be key to keeping the sport competitive and fair.

In Ross Replies (1:09:42), Stu asks whether women experience head injuries differently from men? Ross explains that the answer is "it depends", a variation of yes and what this means for preventing head injury in women. And Finally (1:18:39), Mike asked for insight on whether children should be taught to tackle when learning rugby, and we discuss why the answer is a cautious, and qualified "yes", with some evidence and a cautionary tale about how the speed with which we introduce risk is the key.

Links

Story on Ntlabakanye's doping positive and SARU's statement
The NCAA team that lost a title because of caffeine
As discussed re the NCAA, the London Marathon death attributed to a stimulant in a weight loss supplement
Stu's question and discussion about head injury mechanisms in women's rugby: Discourse members only
Ross' paper describing head injury mechanisms in elite women
The paper that documents head accelerations in players aged 13 to adult

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.