Jun Mizutani boycotting boosters/tuners!

[TableTennisDaily]

According to the recent ITTF Athletes' Commission report on December 2012 it states as follows:

"Jun Mizutani had stopped competing due to the use of boosters and tuners, which could not be detected through the racket control process."​

There has been speculation, rumors that Jun Mizutani protested to ITTF because 'other' players use illegal boosters in many events. It's believed Mizutani has pulled out of ITTF tournaments to put some pressure on the ITTF to get this issue resolve.

Athletes Commission report here
Japanese Article here

What have you heard? Your thoughts?

Jun Mizutani: Photo by: Feng Li/Getty Images Europe

 

[ttunreal]

Good on him for doing that! It's time competition became fairer! But I mean, if he's doing this because of his losses recently...

It's time he improved.

 

[Takashi F.]

Once I heard that the japanese team was the only one among the tops who doesn't use boosted/tunned materials, and I think that instead of boycott all the thinks they should come along with the others and stuff, using what everybody are using.

Since it's impossible to detect those chemicals used on the material, the only viable solution would be making the players mount their rackets over supervision, like the rubbers comes factory sealed and blades and verified by the ITTF bureaucrats, then they gluing with glue provided by the tournament.

I think Mizutani should rethink his decision and play anyway.

 

[nightwolf34]

I think that he is doing the right thing, even though this will not change anything, he is making a clear point and a fair one. We all know the top players in the world use booster and it is fair to stand against it. However if he stops playing, Japan will lose one of the best players (if not the best in its recent history) for team and singles competition

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Wow that's a huge commitment to the cause, I admire his staunch decision to crack down on the use of boosters and I hope the ITTF can come to some form of solution soon as it will be a shame to see Mizutani out of the game.

 

[theinvisible]

This will take time and we will not see Jun soon.
I miss him

 

[silvershamaa]

http://www.ittf.com/ittf_tournaments/ittf_entries_web2.asp?Gender=M&Tour_ID=2198&Singles=1
it shows that mizutani is going to the kuwait open

 

[LethalForehand]

unboosted rubbers suck. Speed glue was banned primarily for health effects. Oil-boosters pose no health risk. They make the game more enjoyable to play and watch. I appreciate the fair play of Mizutani, but I would rather try to convince the ittf to legalize boosters so that everyone can use them.

 

[YosuaYosan]

Admirable choice indeed..

In the other hand, however, ITTF has actually employed a rule about banning all types of tuning and boosting in 2014 (please correct me if I am wrong) together with the new poly ball..

Until such time, I don't know if Jun's decision could affect ITTF's decision..
Hopefully Jun's sacrifice could make a change in our sport of table tennis.. For the better..

It's good to know that Jun together with many players around the world is still hoping for a clean table tennis play.. This time equipment-wise..

Kudos to Jun Mizutani of Japan!

 

[WiWa]

unboosted rubbers suck. Speed glue was banned primarily for health effects. Oil-boosters pose no health risk. They make the game more enjoyable to play and watch. I appreciate the fair play of Mizutani, but I would rather try to convince the ittf to legalize boosters so that everyone can use them.

Absolutely agree. There is nothing wrong with boosters, apart from the fact that you can't play for a couple of days when boosting :/

 

[ttunreal]

unboosted rubbers suck. Speed glue was banned primarily for health effects. Oil-boosters pose no health risk. They make the game more enjoyable to play and watch. I appreciate the fair play of Mizutani, but I would rather try to convince the ittf to legalize boosters so that everyone can use them.

The thing is, is that not EVERYONE is going to use boosters and obviously that wouldn't be fair for players that choose not to. In order for a good game, everything has to be equal in terms of the equipment. Rather than boosting to make it more exciting, it's better off that these players actually train more and improve themselves rather than use boosters (in ITTF tournaments) to give them the upperhand. Now THAT is much more legitimate and exciting in my opinion!

However, because you're not one of these professionals, of course in your perspective it would be much more fun and enjoyable (It would be hella enjoyable even for me since I know I can give the ball so much more speed) but you have to remember that Jun Mizutani is doing this in terms of professional players and the fair play needed in such important tournaments!

FYI, Marty Reisman, a Ping Pong legend back in the day said that back in the days, there was no speed glue, no serve hiding, no boosters, NOTHING, just a wooden paddle, and that was all he had to rely on to win. He said that these days, players and others are finding ways to give them a upper hand and it isn't fair, but back in the days it wasn't like that at all!

 

[ttEDGE - William]

Would be a pity to Jun not play. I think a better idea would be to join the movement to lobby the ITTF to remove this flawed rule. Everyone agreed that speed glue was bad, dangerous and needed to be banned. Booster was banned because the ITTF said so. Athletes Commission has a proposal going to address this - will see what happens.

 

[Vihito]

When will you stop posting months old material ? It's really a shame that a site with this kind of daily visits and good Facebook activity gets it's news so late. Jun Mizutani hasn't been competing internationally since the Olympics.

 

[ttunreal]

When will you stop posting months old material ? It's really a shame that a site with this kind of daily visits and good Facebook activity gets it's news so late. Jun Mizutani hasn't been competing internationally since the Olympics.

Well, it's not like we stay up 24/7 looking out for table tennis news.

 

[ttunreal]

Would be a pity to Jun not play. I think a better idea would be to join the movement to lobby the ITTF to remove this flawed rule. Everyone agreed that speed glue was bad, dangerous and needed to be banned. Booster was banned because the ITTF said so. Athletes Commission has a proposal going to address this - will see what happens.

A movement is a much better idea, definitely agree with you! However, I reckon that with him not participating for a brief period of time, it might give this thing much more of an emphasis, and you never know it might get a movement to rise much quicker than what it would be without Jun's actions. Hopefully someone will make some sort of petition

By the way, do you use boosters?

 

[huri]

This whole boosters afair is ridiculous. I mean according to ITTF factory boosted rubbers are legal but when a player boost it himself it s not. It s just another way of forcing players to buy new rubbers more often...

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Would be a pity to Jun not play. I think a better idea would be to join the movement to lobby the ITTF to remove this flawed rule. Everyone agreed that speed glue was bad, dangerous and needed to be banned. Booster was banned because the ITTF said so. Athletes Commission has a proposal going to address this - will see what happens.

Straight from the mouth of the Athletes Commission, cheers William keep us posted

 

[Matt Hetherington]

When will you stop posting months old material ? It's really a shame that a site with this kind of daily visits and good Facebook activity gets it's news so late. Jun Mizutani hasn't been competing internationally since the Olympics.

Did you know the reason behind why he hasn't been competing? The report is dated Dec 2012, and I would assume it was made public some time after that, hence this is NEW news.

 

[Camarão®]

Well, Mizutani says everybody has been boosting, doing this protest alone will have zero effect. He might join the boosting club or find another top players to go along with him, but thats not going to happen. 90% of them boost their rubbers.

 

[TripleC]

I haven't really used boosters or tuners yet, nor will I ever use one. I just think that normal playing is good even without these stuff. I know, I know, games get exciting because of these guys, but does Timo Boll and other non-booster players do not boost and tune or even use speed glue but they can still play professionally? It is true, that even if I say this, people will say that I have not really used tuners and boosters compared to playing with none of them. But I think the joy of playing comes in the natural state of professionalism, not edgy professional play. It's a shame that Jun does a sacrifice for the ITTF but that entails him to lose various tournaments. I wanna see them in action again, but I hope the ITTF CAN do something about this problem.