Between a rock and a hard place.
September 26th 2007 22:23
What do Ben Johnson, Justin Gatlin, Barry Bonds, Floyd Landis, Ian Thorpe and Lance Armstrong all have in common?
All have risen to the pinnacle of their respective sports, all have achieved great things, all have been adored by millions, and all have become fabulously wealthy as a result of unparalleled excellence in their chosen field.
And all have had their achievements forever tainted by one thing.
Doping.
So how widespread is the problem?
It depends very much on who you talk to; the doping authorities say relatively few professional athletes pursue a pharmaceutical edge.
Those who have fallen foul of the rules tell a different story.
Take the example of Ben Johnson and coach Charlie Francis when questioned at the famous Dublin enquiry – held into the state of the sport of athletics with regard to drug use and in light of Johnson’s positive test at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
On taking the stand Francis stated that as many as 95% of world class athletes regularly took illegal performance enhancers.
He also asserted that there existed in the professional sporting world a level playing field.
It just wasn’t the level playing field the public thought it was, or wanted it to be.
So if this is true put yourself in the spikes of any aspiring young athlete with the potential to be world class.
In order to make that final leap from potential to professional you have a terrible decision to make, remain just an also ran but with your morals intact or join the ranks of other world class stars on the ‘juice’.
Think carefully because this decision could represent the difference between making a living and a name from the sport you love, or remain impoverished and obscure for the rest of your life.
As some may know there is a large percentage of professional athletes come from disadvantaged backgrounds where sport is the only way out of poverty or even a life of crime.
Take this one pill or injection every so often and be world class, wealthy, famous and great - or hold onto your morals and spurn your chance of succeeding in life.
Tempting isn’t it.
Not so black and white now.
So the next time a big star tests positive please take a moment to think about the terrible choice they had to make and spare a thought for them.
They might just be the ones to suffer most.
All have risen to the pinnacle of their respective sports, all have achieved great things, all have been adored by millions, and all have become fabulously wealthy as a result of unparalleled excellence in their chosen field.
And all have had their achievements forever tainted by one thing.
Doping.
So how widespread is the problem?
It depends very much on who you talk to; the doping authorities say relatively few professional athletes pursue a pharmaceutical edge.
Those who have fallen foul of the rules tell a different story.
Take the example of Ben Johnson and coach Charlie Francis when questioned at the famous Dublin enquiry – held into the state of the sport of athletics with regard to drug use and in light of Johnson’s positive test at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
On taking the stand Francis stated that as many as 95% of world class athletes regularly took illegal performance enhancers.
He also asserted that there existed in the professional sporting world a level playing field.
It just wasn’t the level playing field the public thought it was, or wanted it to be.
So if this is true put yourself in the spikes of any aspiring young athlete with the potential to be world class.
In order to make that final leap from potential to professional you have a terrible decision to make, remain just an also ran but with your morals intact or join the ranks of other world class stars on the ‘juice’.
Think carefully because this decision could represent the difference between making a living and a name from the sport you love, or remain impoverished and obscure for the rest of your life.
As some may know there is a large percentage of professional athletes come from disadvantaged backgrounds where sport is the only way out of poverty or even a life of crime.
Take this one pill or injection every so often and be world class, wealthy, famous and great - or hold onto your morals and spurn your chance of succeeding in life.
Tempting isn’t it.
Not so black and white now.
So the next time a big star tests positive please take a moment to think about the terrible choice they had to make and spare a thought for them.
They might just be the ones to suffer most.
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Comment by Louie
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Climate Red
randomthoughts
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cheers
Louie
Comment by LukeS
Athletics News
It highlights the crazy world of professional sports.
I also needed somebody close to home for Australians.
to relate to.
Thanks for stopping by!