Newsflash…We (IOC and WADA) are drug testing here (Athens). And by the way…we have a whole slew of new tests. We’ve been telling you this for months. We’ve been telling you since the last Olympics that we were going to make a huge effort to improve our ability to catch drug cheats. If you are doing drugs…you should reconsider…
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Is anyone else astounded at the numbers of athletes STILL getting caught at the Olympics? I guess my thinking is that, given the above information, that if I were an athlete going to the Olympics, and if I were on a drug regimen, particularly one of the tried and true ones that hadn’t been detected…I would have been rethinking that position. I would have assumed that one of their new tests might and probably would catch me. I expected a few to get caught. There’s always that few. But the numbers are exploding. I’d say IOC and WADA are well on their way to being able to call these games a success in that dirty little war, at least relative to past efforts. Some are probably still getting away with it, but as an athlete, I’d take this as a wakeup call…they’re going to get you sooner or later.
“Is anyone else astounded at the numbers of athletes STILL getting caught at the Olympics?”
No. At least I’m not. Drug testing will not eliminate, nor significantly reduce, drug usage in sports. Athletes will always take their chances, and I firmly believe that a vast majority of the Olympic athletes are using something. So many, many more are getting away with it than are getting caught.
I agree with you 100%. Being involved in powerlifting and bodybuilding, as well as cycling and triathlon, I have seen all sorts of drug usage even at the local level and national level. I can only imagine what is going on at the international level.
I firmly believe that the new drugs that are coming out are far ahead of any testing. You can’t have a test for a drug that is not known about yet. There is also a lot more money to be made by those who can develop new drugs than for those who are trying to come up with the tests for them.
I understand and agree with your point. I guess my underlying premise is that I’m surprised that so many athletes are not ahead of the drug curve. The Greek weighlifter (or was that shotputter) popped for stanozolol…the same drug Ben Johnson was on for chrissake…I mean, c’mon…if you’re going to do drugs…why do something so two decades ago? The IOC and WADA said they had new tests. I would have assumed they had found my EPO/NESP/known steroids/etc…and found something new (if I were of the cheating/doping sort of person). If you’re going to cheat, at least TRY to be smart about it.
There is also a lot more money to be made by those who can develop new drugs than for those who are trying to come up with the tests for them.
This is what I don’t really understand.
PED use seems to be rampant in just about every sport- even sports in which the financial payoff is (I would guess) very small. How much money do weightlifters earn, for crying out loud?
My understanding is that these drugs are very expensive- even the primitive, outdated ones. Developing new drugs to stay ahead of the testers must cost a fortune.
Who’s footing the bill? Is it a case where the wealthier sports/athletes (football, etc) pay the bulk of development costs, and the poorer sports/athletes “benefit?” And even so, how do these athletes afford to support their habits?
New test comes out people get caught. New drugs come out they don’t. Repete for 20 years or so. Some things never change. One year the users are better than the testers, then it changes around. Tell that to your grandkids in 20 years and the story won’t be any different. G
No, sorry about that. I should have separated the sports. I am not aware of drug usage at the local tri level, and have only heard rumors on the local cycling level. Nothing I can substantiate like in bodybuilding and powerlifting.
For the first time I actually agree with you! These athletes that are getting caught need to get with the program and start using the new drugs and techniques that keep the others from getting caught.
I believe it begins with those athletes that can afford to pay for them and then trickles down to the lesser athletes.
Look at the names in the BALCO scandal and you see what I mean. People like Marion Jones with her Nike contract and Barry Bonds. They can definately pay for them.
In other Countries they have a section of the government that is strictly for the advancement of sport and helps to support the athletes. Maybe they help pay also?
I do believe the U.S. has caught and passed a lot of the world in the development of PED’s and in finding new ways to beat tests. Look at the drugs some of the ‘Eastern block’ athletes are getting caught with. They are so old and outdated and they used to be the world leaders in doping.
no worries - local tri level would have been a bit shocking but who knows. Now when you are in the gym and some meathead gains 20 lbs in two weeks and is all puffy and red then it is pretty obvious the dude is on the juice.
