I didn't get into running until after college, but there seems to be a lot of discussion about drug testing. Why isn't it mandatory? Too expensive? Takes too much time? I don't get it. Someone please enlighten me.
I didn't get into running until after college, but there seems to be a lot of discussion about drug testing. Why isn't it mandatory? Too expensive? Takes too much time? I don't get it. Someone please enlighten me.
"Unfair" to drug-cheating scum who don't want the sport clean cos they know they can't compete and money follows the drugs and buys influence and you end up with the EPO Tour de France...
True Edith--only the Tour de France is a lot cleaner than track and field.
Slash wrote:
I didn't get into running until after college, but there seems to be a lot of discussion about drug testing. Why isn't it mandatory? Too expensive? Takes too much time? I don't get it. Someone please enlighten me.
I'll make this my first post of '03 and note that I've decided to tighten my user name from scott hubbard to the above.
Drugs...the most direct answer to your question would be: yes, it's expensive. I've followed the travails of the drug testing world via the excellent pub, Track Newsletter by Janet Heinonen for many years and what you'd think would be a cut and dry situation seems to become more clear and muddier at the same time. You'd think there'd be a universally accepted protocol for testing and agreement as to what constitutes a banned drug. Think again.
At worst, there is still disagreement as to how much is too much, what should be banned, what's the best way to test for something, how long should somebody be banned, positive testers not being reported, athletes figuring out how to take drugs and not get caught, etc.
At best, there are people that are being tested, athletes getting caught, agreement on many drugs for banning, better info on banned drugs getting to athletes, protocol for testing seems fair and smart minds are working to close the gaps I mention and more above. The maddening thing is how slowly these minds are at reaching consensus and providing a fair, rapid, accurate means to test for drugs.
Hope this answer helps. It's a VERY good question that hangs around sport like a bad penny.
Oops, make the name of J Heinonen's newsletter the appropriately named Keeping Track.
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