Don't rush to judge VCB
Published:Tuesday | June 18, 2013 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I hold no brief for Mrs Veronica Campbell-Brown, but I become mildly annoyed when, in relation to her present difficulties, the media describe a diuretic she is said to have ingested as 'a masking agent'.
The word 'diuretic', from as far back as its origins in Late Latin and Greek, refers to an agent that facilitates the passing of urine. The word actually comes from the Greek word for urine.
Listening to the news, one cannot escape the suggestion - deliberately or otherwise - that she was trying to hide something. We do not have sufficient information to come to such a conclusion.
Diuretics are used to treat heart problems, cirrhosis, hypertension and kidney problems. There are a wide variety of diuretics with different uses, e.g. high ceiling loop diuretics, thiazides, potassium sparing diuretics, carbonic inhibitors, calcium sparing diuretics osmotic and low ceiling diuretics.
None of these, however, can build muscle, increase energy, or enhance performance.
Having said all that, it would not be fair to ignore the fact that a diuretic is also able to increase urine volume and dilute doping agents and their metabolites thereby making detection difficult or impossible. They can also be used to rapidly alter weight to meet a weight category in a sport like boxing.
The silence from Mrs Campbell-Brown's camp is hurting her and all other local athletes. But we should not add to her troubles, by saying or doing anything that could cause lovers of gossip to make uninformed opinions in this matter.
GLENN TUCKER
Stony Hill, Kingston 9