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performance enhancing drugs

Posted By: Randy
Date: Friday, 29 August 2008, at 8:13 p.m.

In Response To: performance enhancing drugs (garyo)

The chess world has been embroiled in this debate for 10+ years now. One of the reasons it became a hot topic is because there was a serious movement to make chess an olympic sport, in which case drug testing would have been mandatory. The USCF (parallel to ABT but stronger) was contemplating extending drug testing into its rated tournaments. It didn't happen.

The conclusion that I came to a long time ago is that for short-term mental performance, yes, there are some things that can clearly help - various stimulants like caffeine, and for heavy drinkers, even alcohol.

BG people would have liked former world champion Mikhail Tal. He played exciting, slashing, sacrificial chess. He was also an extremely heavy drinker, and later in his life it took a serious toll on his play in long time-control events. However, he still dominated speed chess (5 minutes per side) just about right up until he died. A few snorts with a cigarette, and he was good to go for a speed game against anybody.

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