Nutella1 wrote:I think everyone here can agree that the total distance covered in China was probably around 2850m, not 3000.
Is track size the only variable, however?
Most doping is long-term doping - EPO, testosterone, steroids, etc. - so that performances over time would probably be in the same range.
But if you assume a complete absence of testing or ethics and compliant runners, what if you took already fit runners doped up on EPO, etc. and right before the race pumped the runners full of amphetamines and/or other short-acting stimulants/ painkillers/ tranquilizers/ bronchiodilators, etc., just like race horses have been doped? Couldn't that give you a single incredible performance based on short-term doping that would be a large outlier to other races without the short-term doping?
Obviously I don't know the true answer, but it seems plausible if you had very compliant athletes who could be intimidated into virtually any sort of doping and were afraid to go to the authorities.