In 1988, after Carl Lewis was awarded the gold medal in the 100M dash when Ben Johnson tested positive for steroids, (I believe it was) Lewis stated that he was not really that surprised because he just didn't think that it was humanly possible to run the 100m in 9.79 (Johnson's winning time).
In the past 3 years, 2 american’s have euqaled or surpassed that time.
In today’s Houston Chronicle there is a tiny article (which is a true disappointment considering the magnitude of the accusations) that reads as follows:
According to Terry Madden, the chief executive of the US anti-doping agency: "What we have unconverted appears to be intentional doping of the worst sort (...) this is a conspiracy involving chemists, coaches and certain athletes using what they developed to be undetectable designer steroids to defraud their fellow competitors and the American and world public"
The drug in question is known as THG and though no athletes were named, it appears that several prominent athletes are a party to this.
I also know for a FACT, that some elite swimmers know of the drug, and believe it is undetectable.
*** This is in no way intimating that any specific athlete has or is using the substance.
Parents
Former Member
While I don't agree with it, I think I understand the use of performance enhancing drugs. It's not the win that's being sought, but the edge, and the feeling you get when you approach it.
You know that feeling. It's the same one you get when you ride a motorcycle the first time. It's the same one you get when you ride a faster motorcycle. It's the same feeling that compels teenagers to see exactly how fast their cars or motorcycles will go out on the freeway, to push right up against the edge and look over. It's in the blood of base jumpers. It's the same thing that makes those guys on the MTV show Jackass do the whacked things they do, and the same thing that makes that show a hit.
For that matter, it's the same thing that drives serious recreational drug users to see how far they can push it. For the athletes, speed is the drug. Power is the drug. Knowing that you just went faster or lifted more than human beings are supposed to be able is the drug.
The gold medal is only a reminder that you went right up to that edge. You're not really competing with the other athletes to see who is better. The only reason you don't want to lose is because losing proves you didn't find the edge, that there's further you can go. It's the absolute limit of human endurance that's being sought, even if it takes a drug to get there.
And morality is not an issue in that mindset. You don't think of it as cheating. You think of it as doing what you have to do to find the limit. Never mind that you and your competitors are working toward slightly different goals.
I also think the reason people get so bent out of shape about it is that at some level they understand the motivations behind it. Even when the first place finisher gets disqualified and the second finisher is declared the winner, the win is tainted. That winner always knows that there was somebody faster, that somebody pushed that edge even further out there. It hurts to have to qualify your world record as the fastest person on earth "without steroids."
While I don't agree with it, I think I understand the use of performance enhancing drugs. It's not the win that's being sought, but the edge, and the feeling you get when you approach it.
You know that feeling. It's the same one you get when you ride a motorcycle the first time. It's the same one you get when you ride a faster motorcycle. It's the same feeling that compels teenagers to see exactly how fast their cars or motorcycles will go out on the freeway, to push right up against the edge and look over. It's in the blood of base jumpers. It's the same thing that makes those guys on the MTV show Jackass do the whacked things they do, and the same thing that makes that show a hit.
For that matter, it's the same thing that drives serious recreational drug users to see how far they can push it. For the athletes, speed is the drug. Power is the drug. Knowing that you just went faster or lifted more than human beings are supposed to be able is the drug.
The gold medal is only a reminder that you went right up to that edge. You're not really competing with the other athletes to see who is better. The only reason you don't want to lose is because losing proves you didn't find the edge, that there's further you can go. It's the absolute limit of human endurance that's being sought, even if it takes a drug to get there.
And morality is not an issue in that mindset. You don't think of it as cheating. You think of it as doing what you have to do to find the limit. Never mind that you and your competitors are working toward slightly different goals.
I also think the reason people get so bent out of shape about it is that at some level they understand the motivations behind it. Even when the first place finisher gets disqualified and the second finisher is declared the winner, the win is tainted. That winner always knows that there was somebody faster, that somebody pushed that edge even further out there. It hurts to have to qualify your world record as the fastest person on earth "without steroids."
