[Torai]

> Are athletes unable to take medication such as Ritalin if they need it for a legitimate medical issue?

So you believe this top, elite athlete who excels at focusing has ADHD or narcolepsy? Are you willing to go that far before admitting they may have cheated on that, and use psychostimulants, steroids and amphetamines for unethical competitive advantage?

[jacalata]

It's actually really easy to believe that an elite athlete could be successful at following a highly scheduled, monitored training program with coaches and meal plans and parental support while struggling with the executive function necessary to e.g. successfully complete college classes. Are you familiar with ADHD? Heres some stories of athletes who have it: http://m.additudemag.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.additudemag.c...

[Udik]

Here's the example of Balotelli, an athlete that might have ADHD. I've even found an article claiming precisely that: https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/football/618456/kop-stars-...

Well, his career is seriously troubled because of his behaviour. Which suggests that the ability to focus and manage impulses and delay gratification has an important impact on an athlete's success. Therefore any drug that can enhance focus has also an impact on the success of a professional athlete, I think there can be little doubt about that.

[jacalata]

Well, duh. But ACL reconstruction or anti-psychotics can also be very beneficial, nobody in their right mind has ever argued that athletes shouldn't have access to modern medicine because we're pretending they represent primal humanity or whatever.

[Torai]

But not easy to believe they just take them to get an unfair advantage, right?

[jacalata]

I'm a little confused as to what you're trying to argue, because your last post suggested it is ridiculous to think an elite athlete could have ADHD, which is clearly an incorrect argument, and this post suggests that ... recognising ADHD in athletes is denying that any athletes cheat? Or maybe doubling down to say that you believe none of them have ADHD because it's more likely they are just cheating? Which also seems pretty nuts?

[Torai]

I argue that "having ADHD" is a very convenient excuse.