Efforts to ban the use of drugs in sport must be considered a dismal failure. Despite rigorous drug testing there is not a sport in the world that can claim to be drug free - nor is there any chance of that happening anytime soon !
One of the problems is the relationship between sport and money.
Become a champion and all sorts of rewards are showered upon you. In addition to fame, sponsors proffer cash and sponsorships. Society lionises a winner and the media can not get enough of that persons social life to splash across magazine pages.
Fame begets additional ego - and results in lurid stories of drinking sessions, sex and anti-social behaviour that is condoned because the person is " a celebrity ".
The organisers of sport also have an axe to grind. Their " champions " bring people to the sport - and huge crowds generate admission money and wealth for the clubs involved - hence it is not in their interests to enquire too closely into drug habits.
So - what is the answer ?
Perhaps the only answer is to break down the barriers and create an open slather competition environment where " anything goes ". Drop any pretence at drug testing and accept the fact that in a regime where there are no barriers all those competitors will be equal.
No longer will a person enhanced by drugs be in competition with a person who is playing the game fair and square - and is drug free.
At least everyone has the chance to compete on equal terms.
The war on drugs was lost a long time ago. Now would be a good time to declare a truce - and have all the parties sit down at the table and sign an armistice !
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