Splash of Scandal: Orinda Swim Team's Victory Questioned Amid Doping Allegations
Overly dramatic artists concept of events that took place at the swim meet in order to make the story better clickbait
In Orinda, the local swim community is abuzz with allegations of unfair play following the surprising victory by the Live Oak Pool Owls' boys six-and-under free relay team in a meet against the Orinda Country Club (OCC) Sharks. The young swimmers from Live Oak Pool are suspected of consuming Mountain Dew X-Treme, a discontinued and controversial soft drink, only sold in the Middle East, prior to their match.
Mountain Dew X-Treme, first introduced in Kuwait in December 2010, spread across several Middle-Eastern countries before being pulled from the market. The drink was reportedly discontinued after studies found it caused extra limb growth in amphibians, although the specifics of these studies remain unclear, including who conducted them and why.
The scandal unfolded when the Oak Pool Owls outperformed expectations by defeating the favored OCC Sharks in the relay. Witnesses report that the Oak Pool swimmers provocatively stuck out their tongues at their rivals post-race, which an observant OCC parent photographed. The photo revealed distinctly orange tongues, an unusual detail not part of the Oak Pool team's spirit colors.
Curious parents from the OCC did some digging. They came across a 2006 study from the Prince Farid Medical School in Saudi Arabia, which noted that, in rare cases, consumption of Mountain Dew X-Treme could cause an orange discoloration of the tongue. (2) This evidence has led to speculation that the young swimmers might have had access to the banned beverage, although how they obtained it remains a mystery.
No physical evidence of Mountain Dew X-Treme was found at the event or in the possession of any team members or parents from Live Oak Pool, making the allegations difficult to prove. The Orinda Moraga Pools Association (OMPA) has taken the claims seriously and initiated a thorough investigation, including checking birth certificates and conducting random blood and urine tests on the young swimmers.
Coaches and parents from Live Oak Pool have denied any wrongdoing, asserting their ignorance of the drink's existence and denying any knowledge of their children consuming it. Despite their strong performance in this one event, the OCC Sharks dominated the rest of the meet, leading to further suspicion about the anomaly.
The community remains divided on the issue, with some demanding more stringent oversight of competitive events while others believe the allegations are blown out of proportion. As the investigation continues, the incident has sparked a broader discussion on the pressures facing young athletes and the integrity of local sports competitions.
Footnotes:
1) According to people who were at the meet and paying attention, none of the swimmers had additional limbs.
2) According to the study, ten percent of people who drank Mountian Dew X-treme had their tongue turn slightly orange, while 100 percent of people who ate Dorreto Nacho Cheese chips had an orange tongue.
3) Legend Pride Forever!
4) The story of Mountain Dew X-Treme https://mountaindew.fandom.com/wiki/X-Treme