Surfing to clean up image with drug tests

THE long-held image of the dope-smoking surfer dude is no more with the world’s best surfers to face drug testing on their competition tours this year.

ASP International confirmed on Monday both the top men’s and women’s tours would adopt the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.

It includes the prohibition of both recreational and performance-enhancing drugs applying to the various football codes and Olympic sports.

Surfing veteran Joel Parkinson, who finished second in the 2011 title race behind the legendary Kelly Slater, says it won’t be an adaption for the current breed of professional surfers as the image of surfers and recreational drugs was outdated.

“That’s been out of date since I’ve got on the tour,” the 30-year-old Queenslander said.

“Older generations or people who aren’t very surf aware still think that but it couldn’t be more different.

“All of us are so dedicated and we put in so much hard work and train so hard and you go through so much equipment to get everything right that that image is a long way behind us now.”

He didn’t believe a surfer could be a top 10 contender and be a “party boy”.

“I don’t really know but you’d have to ask that about any sport, but I have a couple of beers and that’s it,” Parkinson said.

“So I don’t know you’d go being a party animal in any sport.”

A father of three, Parkinson hoped that the anti-drugs policy would set a good example for kids who looked up to their surfing heroes.

Surfing’s image took a heavy hit when three-time world champion Hawaiian Andy Irons died in a Texas hotel room in November, 2010, with cocaine and methamphetamine present in his body, although the medical examiner ruled he died a natural death from a sudden cardiac arrest.

Parkinson also hoped that mainstream sponsors would take more notice of a sport he considered healthy, outdoor and natural.

“It’s still a battle to make it more professional but this is another step in that direction,” he said.

“When we had our meeting about drug-testing all the surfers were all OK.

“No one’s got anything to hide so I think it’s a good thing.”

The first stop for the men and women in the 2012 ASP World Title Series will be the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast from 25 Feb to 7 March. - AAP