Danica Patrick in trouble for remarks about doping
Danica Patrick's SI Swimsuit Issue photo shoot – Click above for high-res image gallery
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, racing superstar Danica Patrick got herself into a bit of hot water when the subject of performance-enhancing drugs came up. When asked if she would take illegal drugs if she would not get caught, she responded by saying "Well, then it's not cheating, is it? If nobody finds out?'' She also spoke of exploring gray areas to gain an edge on her opponents, saying "You're trying to find where the holes are in the rule book.'' That, apparently, wasn't the answer U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart was looking for.
Tygart called Patrick's comments "totally irresponsible," and that her statement flies in the face of what millions of parents teach their kids every day. Danica replied to the criticism she's received with a 'just kidding' defense, which doesn't seem to be getting herself off the hook. We get where Tygart is coming from, but that fact that he made such a big deal of her comments gave the story a whole lot more publicity than it has already gotten. Last we checked, Danica hasn't tested positive for banned substances. And judging from her swimsuit photos in SI and her GoDaddy commercials, Ms. Patrick appears to be toning up the old fashioned way.
[Source: Fan House | Images: SI.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MikeofLA 11:35AM (6/03/2009)
Didn't this happen last week?
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Noidor 1:33PM (6/03/2009)
I am so fed up with this obsession with children and their role models, "OMG why won't somebody think of the children?" Reverend Lovejoy's hysterical wife.
Look what DP does is her business, whether she cheats or doesn't - it is completely irrelevant to us. Parents need be more involved in their children's lives not by means of more control, but more education and guidance. Stop looking to FCC or schools to instill manners and so forth.
I like what DP said, she was being honest about what ANYONE in ANY type of sport would do if they could get away with it. So why is Travis freaking out over that? Sounds like he's another one of those self-righteous chums who think they know better than anyone else. Well Travis, your employer has failed on war of drugs, has subsidized corn and soy bean industry to a point where their poisonous HFCS is present in everything we eat, failed to educate people, failed on ethics. Honestly, why the hell should we have government involved in sports and doping. The whole baseball thing was such a joke!
esteva03 3:46PM (6/03/2009)
YEAH!!!! PARENTS SHOULD TAKE CARE!!!! YEAH!!!
it is so like you said that i just can't add anything. some noise to it Noidor!!!
gt-racer 11:43AM (6/03/2009)
Why do people think that it is their favorite star's responsibility to raise their own children? Also BIG DEAL??? What she said is how most humans operate by trying to find an edge over others. Businesses do it, sports teams do it and most people try to find an edge in whatever they do, be it moral or immoral.
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John 12:11PM (6/03/2009)
Celebrities choose to live their life in the spotlight. Every comment they make is analyzed and that is the trade off for their fame.
Right now, if I'm a sponsor of Danica I am not happy about this and it's more than the "people think that it is their favorite star's responsibility to raise their own children". It's business and when a celebrity does or says something stupid, they should be held accountable because they putting their sponsors, who pay them millions, in a bad light.
If I'm her sponsor, I'm on the phone right now telling her to make an apology and appease the "PC" police ASAP.
imirk 12:26PM (6/03/2009)
Glad you're not my sponsor. but honestly maybe if you were and I was wearing your hat wouldn't you like the extra 50 million people having their brand in their face? I'm pretty sure Go Daddy doesn't care what soccer moms think of them.
Aloysius Vampa 11:43AM (6/03/2009)
That's what happens when you're cocky. She needs to get a handle on herself.
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nzo 7:22PM (6/03/2009)
Yea, plus I bet if she were actually hot people would have given her a pass on this.
Judy Zik 9:40PM (6/03/2009)
It is actually all really tired and boring. She only says these things because she knows it will get her press. Just like doing those commercials. It is her thing and so overdone because she knows the fanbase for her "sport" are mostly male. She is hardly a role model.
Kumar 11:45AM (6/03/2009)
As a clarification, the question was about performance enhancing drugs. Currently the IRL apparently doesn't list which drugs it tests for, but apparently only looks for recreational drugs.
See this SI article for reference:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/racing/wires/05/21/3010.ap.car.irl.indy.500.drug.testing.1st.ld.writethru.1151/index.html
So in that context, since performance enhancing drugs aren't outright banned (yet), then it is the grey area and could technically be exploited. Look for the IRL to ban steroids and the like soon now though.
So after all, it may be good for the sport that Danica's offhanded remarks exposed a lack of testing/consistency in motorsports drug policies. Now if a baseball player made those remarks...knowing that steroids are banned, it would be completely irresponsible.
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Aaron Martin-Colby 11:46AM (6/03/2009)
Apparently, it's only totally irresponsible if someone mentions it. Because if no one mentions it, it's not REALLY happening.
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JDM Life 11:50AM (6/03/2009)
She is not all that pretty.
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Visnick 11:56AM (6/03/2009)
Yes but she likes cars!
nexus 1:00PM (6/03/2009)
True. She's not that great looking. Those pictures had quite a bit of photoshop work done to them. No one has smooth blemish-free skin like that. Ever see her in person? I have & it ain't a pretty sight.
kiel0000 1:20PM (6/03/2009)
You guys must not like girls or something. I realize that no one looks that good in real life, they touch up all the shots of every model or whoever that gets published, and I think that makes her still pretty high up there on the list.
OKC08SKYRL 1:19PM (6/03/2009)
And she has the figure of a 12-year-old boy.
Soulquarian 1:58PM (6/03/2009)
I agree with JDM, she's average at best. Any girl with a professional photographer, professional make up artist, and a professional photoshopper can look like that.
I don't know what is about car guys and a girl that likes or can drive. IMO, that makes her cool to talk about driving or cars. It has no effect on attractiveness. But then again, it is VERY rare to even come across an AVERAGE looking chick that is into cars, so maybe I can see why lol
robautoblog7 2:53PM (6/03/2009)
Yeah, actually she IS very pretty. Is she exotic looking like most supermodels? No. She looks like the girl next door, she loves cars, and she's in great shape, UNLIKE MOST FATASS AMERICANS.
Lad 11:53AM (6/03/2009)
What she is saying is the way rules are interpreted in motor sports where all the grey areas are redefined for an advantage. For example, The ex-Honda F1 team's use of a diffuser and no kers system. Not a good remark by her to a man whose whole job is to root out doping in sports.
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XGM 12:01PM (6/03/2009)
I dunno what your trying to say here, but most teams are not using KERS. Also KERS is kinetic energy recovery system, so no need to call it KERS system.