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DRUGS IN SPORT

DRUGS IN SPORT

WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

Timothy Mottram

rugs have cast a shadow over sport for decades, but their continued proliferation shows
Dthat the governing bodies’ reaction has been inadequate. Since the IOC introduced a
Medical Commission in 1967, authorities have been chasing the drug cheats in something of
an arms race. With the IAAF World Championship coming up on 5 August, it would seem that
we are no closer to fixing this mess.
The IAAF is conscious of the need to be both retroactive and proactive as they seek to
scour drugs from athletics. In the first case, a radical new plan is being introduced that will
expunge any world record from before 2005. In the second, notorious doping country, Russia,
has been given a global ban for systematic drug use thought to be used throughout the sport.

RADICAL OPERATION Gers said “I definitely share Seb’s reported as the most vocal in her
The European Athletic plan is enthusiasm for the project. I want condemnation of the plan. Still a
seen as a means to clear the taint to stress that it’s a proposal for the prominent sporting celebrity, she
of drugs from athletics. The idea, council on July 31. It is definitely released a statement in which
which has been welcomed by many very interesting.” she eviscerated the plan. In it she
at the higher levels of athletics, is Some athletes also support the stated that “We had to compete
to expunge all records pre-2005. move. Jamaican sprinter Elaine against cheats, they could not
This year marks the first time that Thompson, with Florence Griffith- provide us a level playing field, we
blood and urine samples were Joyner’s records for the 100 and lost out on medals, moments and
kept for a longer period of time, 200 metres in mind, said “Those earnings due to cheats, saw our
thus ensuring that they could be records were set before I was born. sport dragged through the mud due
tested whenever the governing It’s unfair for us as the time is a long to cheats and now, thanks to those
body was inclined to check on stretch. I don’t know if we can work who chose to cheat we potentially
them. Before 2005, most samples towards that.” lose our world and area records….
were discarded: therefore we will Naturally, the plan has caused I am hurt and do feel this damages
never know for sure whether the uproar within the ranks of the my reputation and dignity. It is a
East German teams of the 70s were record holders. Many were clean heavy-handed way to wipe out
using human growth hormone, throughout their careers, and some really suspicious records in a
as was the complaint at the time. through no fault of their own, will cowardly way”.
Their records still stand, but given see their records removed from the Indeed, it is hard to disagree with
the probably use of drugs, this history books. Mike Powell’s record her. Her record has stood for over
creates an unbreachable level for long jump of 8.95m, Hichem El 20 years and for that mere fact she
modern day –and supposedly clean- Guerrouj’s 1500m time of 3.26.00s will see it crossed out: not only that,
athletes. and Paula Radcliffe’s mighty but because this is a procedure
Speaking after IAAF Chairman marathon record of 2:15:25s will all that is designed to counter drug
Sebastian Coe supported the disappear. use, she will forever be tainted by
move, IAAF chief executive Olivier Radcliffe has been widely the faint whiff of corruption.

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