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Tas Pappas says drug testing an issue for skateboarders at Olympics as many 'reliant on cannabis'

An Australian skateboarding legend claims drug testing may be an issue for skaters in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics because they are so reliant on cannabis.

The International Olympic Committee has rubber-stamped surfing, skateboarding, karate, sports climbing and baseball/softball for the Tokyo Games.

Controversial skateboarding star, Tas Pappas, is raising doubts that drug testing in the 2020 Olympics may put off skaters. Photo: Supplied

The controversial skateboarding star, Tas Pappas, has raised doubts that drug testing may put potential athletes off and overall will affect their performances.

"I'm wondering how it's going to work as far as the drug testing is concerned, because some guys skate really well on weed and if they have to stop smoking for one competition (the Olympics) it might really affect their performance," Pappas told ABC.

"I truly believe you do better sober, but I've known guys who couldn't skate unless they were stoned, so I don't know how it's really going to work."

The summer X-Games, the most mainstream competition for skateboarders, doesn't drug test.

In 1998, Tas and his brother became the world's number one and two skateboarders. Photo: AAP

Tas Pappas of Australia celebrates victory in the Skateboard Vert event during the Planet X Extreme Games held at the Sydney Superdome. Photo: Getty

Pappas said that the skate community didn't justify itself on country v country and it's not the sport's unified culture.

"When you meet a bunch of skaters you don't feel like it's us verses them, it's just a bunch of guys getting together and want to have a skate," he said, adding that it would be "cheesy".

The concerns were resonated by the Western Australia Director of Skateboarding, Ben Bowring.

Mr Bowring said there would be some skateboarders "keen to go to an Olympics", but believes it won't be the "pinnacle" of the sport.

"Australia's skateboarding culture is really positive, it's very creative, free and open," he said.

Pappas says that the skate community doesn't justify itself on country verses country. Photo: YouTube

Despite the culture, Pappas claimed that in order to be competitive with the US, the Australian government need to invest more money into proper skate parks and facilities.

"It's going to be pretty unfair for quite some time if you have skateboarding at the Olympics when America is the one with all the facilities," he said.

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Pappas says that in order to be competitive with the US, our government need to invest more money into proper skate parks. Photo: Instagram

In 1998, Tas and his brother, Ben Pappas, became the world's number one and number two skateboarders while competing in a competition against America's Tony Hawk.

The brothers dubbed “little bogans” had grown up in a violent household, and Tas had been sexually abused by a family acquaintance.

The brothers made it to the US and were living a rock star lifestyle – complete with fame, parties, and lots of drugs.

"I just thought I was superhuman, I could just feel the way I was moving," Tas said.

"Looking back I probably would have done it better sober. I was just young and dumb then, that's all there is to it."

Ben Pappas (left) and Tas Pappas (right) were dubbed "little bogans". Photo: YouTube


In 1999, the dream turned into a nightmare when Ben was caught trying to smuggle 103 grams of cocaine in the sole of his shoe.

His conviction meant he could not return to the US, which effectively ended his professional skateboarding career.

In 2005, the violent upbringing of Tas' childhood had returned when an assault on his wife Colleen landed him in a San Diego prison.

In March 2007, the body of Ben's girlfriend Lynette Phillips was found weighted down at Dights Falls in Melbourne.

The body of Ben's girlfriend was found weighted down at Dights Falls in Melbourne. Photo: YouTube

The state coroner found that Ben had killed her before taking his own life.

Incredibly, in 2008 Tas tried attempted to smuggle cocaine into Australia – a drug-affected decision that landed him three years in prison.

Arguably the prison sentence saved his life.