In reply to yesbutnobutyesbut:
> Exactly what all the Lance supporters said for years. There is no evidence as this is not a proper 'sport'. I'm perfectly entitled to my opinions thanks.
Unlike some others, I don't mind people being skeptical or suspicious, but you need to understand that merely implying someone might be using PEDs is an unsavoury and ill-spirited approach. Without evidence of some kind, your comments will just be seen as mudslinging, which rarely ends well for either side.
Just having an 'opinion' does not confer any value or significance to that opinion, and the act of expressing an antagonistic and derogatory opinion without evidence is not something of which to be proud or defensive. 'Entitled' is becoming a loaded term.
Also, if you're serious in your doubts, it starts you off on a bad foot, which may undermine any more valid enquiry in the future.
This is not like the other, quite justified, issues with Steck's climbs. I have never heard any suggestion of him using PEDs until this thread and it never occurred to me. His 8000er claims are appallingly documented for someone at his level and his photos, GPSing, tracking, timing, stats etc on these Eiger and Alpine climbs only throws into stark relief the absence of any such things on the 8000er climbs. There are valid questions about timing and contradictory statements on these climbs, which have already been raised, and no doubt time will bear these issues out.
Buhl used drugs on the FA of Nanga Parbat and lots of people use drugs on Everest. People have done far worse than this in the history of Alpine and Himalayan climbing. The genuine ethical questions of environmental impact of alpine development, underpaying poor people to repeatedly carry your stuff under tottering ice cliffs, or leaving dying climbers to a lonely death is a far greater ethical issue worth debating that whether or not someone used caffeine or dex.
Climbing has never been pure.
Post edited at 20:41