BOSTON -- It resembles the symbol for infinity: a sideways S that Kara Goucher, Molly Huddle and other elite U.S. athletes suddenly are sporting on biceps, wrists and shins.The tattoos are temporary. But the campaign they represent is an all-out attempt to permanently purge competitive athletics of doping.People are getting the impression that everyones dirty, Goucher, a top-ranked marathoner based in Boulder, Colorado, told The Associated Press. We need to build the sport back up in a positive light.Thats the goal of the Clean Sport Collective , a new anti-doping initiative making a splash on social media.It launched this month with an aggressive campaign on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms. Olympians and amateurs alike have been publicly pledging to live, train and compete clean -- totally free of banned performance-enhancing drugs -- and taking selfies aimed at both inspiring and shaming track-and-field competitors, swimmers, cyclists, triathletes and others.Significantly, their bully pulpit is getting a boost from the corporate world: Brooks Running, Oiselle, Skechers and other companies have signed on as partners.Shanna Sparks Burnette, a former Division I collegiate runner, co-founded the Collective to get the focus off the cheaters and back onto athletes committed to drug-free achievement, whether at an Olympics or a local 5K.We really wanted to make a positive impact and change the narrative to celebrate the brands and all of the amazing and inspiring people who are doing it the right way, she said. The mentality is `win at all costs -- do whatever you can do to get ahead. As a society of people, we need to not do that to each other.Its been an especially tough year on the doping front.Russias track and field federation remains barred from international competition, and all but one member of the team was forced to sit out the Rio Olympics after independent investigators appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency issued a damning report into widespread use of banned substances.Kenya, too, has been caught up in dozens of offenses implicating dopers who robbed clean athletes of winnings and glory. Last month, former Chicago and Boston Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo had her doping ban doubled to four years and was stripped of her Boston title from 2014, when shed been hailed as a hero for winning the iconic races first running since the deadly 2013 finish line bombings.Huddle, a two-time Olympian, said its gotten to the point where she wonders about some of the runners who outkick her in international competition.Sports are supposed to be inspiring to people watching them, but theres so much cynicism implanted now, said Huddle, who wore the Collectives tattoo on the back of her hand while finishing third at this months TCS New York City Marathon, her debut at the 26.2-mile distance.The upstate New York native, who now lives and trains in Providence, Rhode Island, is calling for a one-strike-youre-out approach to the doping scourge -- a lifetime ban, not just a brief suspension, for those who test positive once for a banned substance.That would put the fear in the back of an athletes mind: `What if I get caught? she said. Right now theres just not enough risk.The Clean Sport Collective means business. Pro athletes who take the pledge promise to donate $25,000 to the nonprofit if they ever test positive. Those opting for the extra step of certification have to get bloodwork and a biological passport that attests theyre drug-free.Corporate partners, likewise, commit to sponsor and invest in clean athletes only. And athletes of all abilities are using the hashtag #cleansportco to post about their vows.To Kevin Rutherford, CEO of Nuun Life, a Seattle-based sports hydration and energy company, that makes sense for both the finish line and the bottom line.There are very few brands that are saying something outwardly. I just think weve got to take a stand and say we wont stand for it -- well only work with clean athletes, he said. Theres been scandal after scandal. Its talked about, it hits the headlines, and then it goes away. How do we make it a conversation, a movement? How do we make doping the smoking of sports?Jesse Williams, global sports marketing manager at Brooks Running, said contracts for the elite athletes he sponsors all contain a clause forbidding the use of performance-enhancing drugs.If we dont hold our athletes to the highest standard, were not moving the sport forward, he said. If theres no punishment for the crime, whats the incentive to stop doing it?Huddle hopes the sport can clean up its act.Amazing still does exist, she said, and clean athletes are still getting it done.---Follow Bill Kole on Twitter at https://twitter.com/billkole . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/william-j-kole . Gare... Bolles Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Br... Langley Broncos Jersey . 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Not much was expected out of the Carolina Hurricanes this season, and theyve lived down to expectations, hampered in part by a brutal early-season schedule that put them on the road for eight of their first 10 games.A lot was expected from the Nashville Predators, but theyve not lived up to expectations, caused partly by a difficult early schedule of their own. They played three back-to-backs and spent seven of their first 10 games away from Music City.Carolina (2-4-3) and Nashville try to correct their early difficulties Saturday night when they meet at Bridgestone Arena, the start of a four-game homestand for the Predators (3-5-2).Fittingly, both are coming off losses on the road. The Hurricanes fell 2-1 Tuesday night in overtime at Ottawa, while Nashville wrapped up a poor 1-2-2 road trip with a 3-2 shootout defeat Thursday night against Arizona.The Predators latest loss was irritating to coach Peter Laviolette, who saw his team outshoot the Coyotes 18-7 in the first period and 37-28 for the match. But they went just 1-of-7 on the power play, including a misfire to end overtime, and then went out quickly in the shootout.The power play had a really good first period and had a lot of shots and chances, defenseman Roman Josi said. We just couldnt convert and then we didnt shoot the puck enough after that.It was an appropriate end to a road trip which saw Nashville get outscored 17-11 and lose twice after regulation, continuing last seasons unwelcome trend of settling for loser points. The Predators lost 14 times in overtime or shootoutss.ddddddddddddWe let a game get away, Laviolette said.As for Carolina, it wasnt feeling quite as upset with its most recent defeat, going toe-to-toe with one of the Eastern Conferences surprise teams before Kyle Turris goal at 3:09 of overtime decided matters.The Hurricanes played a tighter brand of hockey after allowing 30 goals in their first eight matches, outshooting the Senators 33-32 and getting 30 saves from Cam Ward in one of his better outings of the season.Weve been fluctuating up and down, good games and bad, and tonight was a solid effort, center Jordan Staal said. We may not have got the result but we definitely played the way we want to play. We were tight on our forecheck and in the neutral zone tight on guys and causing turnovers.It was more like the way Carolina played last season, when it mounted a surprising run at an Eastern Conference playoff spot before falling short down the stretch.Not all the Hurricanes numbers have been bad. Theyve a top five team in adjusted Corsi percentage, and have a top 10 power play and penalty kill. But Ward and backup goalie Eddie Lack have combined for a brutal .900 adjusted save percentage.Coach Bill Peters is hoping his team can build on their game in Ottawa.The effort was good, probably one of our better efforts for 60 minutes, 65 minutes, 64, whatever it was, he said. I liked the effort. I liked the execution. We shot the puck and we stayed on it early. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '