This summer is the end of another Olympic quadrennial. The culmination
of this event that most athletes have worked towards for their entire lives will
have led them to London. With the passion to succeed there may also exist the
temptation to cheat or cut corners? The news story that I watched explains the methods of testing used.
Because of this temptation, and the
advancements in performance enhancing drugs it is appropriate that the body in
charge of running the Olympics should also put in place a screening process
that would act as a deterrent and identify athletes that may decide to cut
corners. Because of the high stakes and integrity of a competition as renowned
as the Olympics, the officials of London have set up the most high tech doping
lab in Olympic history. Thousands of blood and urine samples will pass through
this lab north of London during the Olympic and Paralympic games.
Throughout the London Olympics, medal winners and over half
of competitors will be randomly tested. A big question is whether this lab is
having a deterrent effect. I believe the
existence of the lab is a strong deterrent effect. If athletes anticipate thorough
testing, they will be less likely to take drugs and enable athletes to compete
fairly at the games.
A positive test result will see medals canceled and a
lengthy ban from competition. The lab is also keeping samples for up to 8 years
for retesting, so that if a new method for detection is invented for substances
that were not previously detectable then the lab can go back and re-examine the
old samples.
What are your thoughts? Should athletes that are found to
have been doping be completely banned? Or should they be allowed to return to
their sport after a suspension?
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