Croydon Medical Society Events

Wednesday 11th March

AGM and Talk

Given by: Christian Kinmont, Consultant knee surgeon CUH

Talk: “From figs to jiffy bags – the evolution of drugs cheating in sports.”

Venue: Scout HQ – 1, Farm Fields, Sanderstead  CR2 0HQ (opp Sanderstead Library on corner of Sanderstead Hill and Farm Fields)

Starts at: 7.15pm for supper with meeting commencing at 8pm

Using the modest amount of time free from a medical career, Christian Kinmont has been a very keen lifelong cyclist and has avidly followed the world of competitive cycling. With long term close scrutiny of any sporting activities, patterns of performance emerge – professional cycling being no different.

Official identification of drugs cheats, from major stars to relative ‘unknowns’, rarely comes as a surprise to those who have followed an individual’s sports career with interest.

This presentation is certainly not confined to cycling but cycling provides a wealth of entertaining material. It will examine the type of person who uses illegal medication and the reasons why they do so. The moral aspect to drugs misuse will be covered as well as the self-justification of athletes. The progress of drugs misuse, from ancient times to the present, will be discussed, as will the reaction by the sports governing bodies. A selection of infamous medical figures who have had key roles in drugs scandals will be highlighted along with the influence of clubs, teams, national organisations and world governing bodies.

Bearing in mind that this presentation will be given by a surgeon, minimal medical knowledge will be required to appreciate the material.