Speculation of Steroid use for 6yr old “Counters” Champion
0 Comments
Larteh, Ghana, Aug, 2007 - After a six month long season, counters has a new champion. However, what should have been the happiest moment in young Ewura Esi’s life has been turned into shame, stemming from suspicions and accusations from her community in the mountain region of Larteh. The locals suspect she has been using steroids to give her a competitive edge over the more lithe players in the regional tournaments. Ewura Esi denies those claims.
“I have been training consistently,“ she asserts. “Sometimes, I would train for three, maybe four hours in the rain, honing my technique. I have used no performance enhancing drugs at all!“
Counters is a game enjoyed by school children and old men alike. Gamers can often be seen playing the game at beer bars, chop bars, or way-side surfaces. It involves the scooting of bottle caps towards one another until one cap is close enough to be flipped over one’s opponent’s. A successful flip will gain the player their opponent’s bottle cap, or counter, as it’s locally referred to as.
Ewura Esi has consistently conquered every opponent she has come into battle with. In the semi finals, it looked as if she may have been on her way to being knocked out of the round by 36 year old La resident, Nii Quarshie. He had successfully taken all but one counter from the 6 year old lass, but in an amazing comeback, she used the final cap to overthrow her challenger. It was this victory that began the rumor circulation of steroid use.
Ama Serwaa, a tomato seller from the Eastern Region summed up the general cause for speculation. “What 6 year old girl do you know has thick, thick hair on her back…or a voice deep like that?“ She shakes her head in wonder. “I have never seen anything like it in all my years!“
For the residents of Larteh, the concern is more for the child’s health than whether she actually uses performance enhancers in her game. They claim they just want her to live a long and healthy life.
Esi vehemently defends her initial assertion, denying any drug use. Eyes downcast, her baritone whisper barely audible.
“I cannot help it that I was born this way. I have always been more muscular than my mates, and hairier. But I have only used my God-given abilities to increase Larteh’s fame through counters. I would never use drugs to change myself.“
Ewura Esi will hold on to her title as Counters Champ. There are no rules against the use of steroids in the sport, although advocates are calling for a formal review and pushing for new regulations.
0 comments so far...
Leave a comment
Use the form below to add comments, suggestions, and the inevitable off-topic banter (please keep to a minimum). Feel free to use HTML code (optional), and be aware that we reserve the right to edit any raw language or banter that's too far off topic.
