Friday, February 10, 2006
Athletes vs. Dopes
The start of the 2006 Winter Olympics has been accompanied by a sleigh full of stories about the new danger of gene-doping, suspensions of more cheaters for old-fashioned doping, and the behind-the-scenes battle between those who are battling this poison and those who are creating loopholes, excuses, and cover-ups for the dopes.
One of these stories which shouldn't be overlooked indicates just how fed up the honest, dope-free athletes are with the widespread cheating in many sports.
Egyptian swimmer Rania Elwani, a member of the Athletic Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), is quoted as saying, "Everybody clean wants a stronger ban."
The article states that these athletes are proposing "dope cheats to be banned for four years for a first drugs offence instead of two."
Such a doubling of the present ban may be unlikely to be adopted, especially since so many, including the international football (soccer) federation FIFA and almost all American sports organizations and those politicians who have addressed this issue have been arguing for reducing it or making it more "flexible."
Nonetheless, it is a good sign that such prominent clean athletes are speaking out against the dope cheats and those who aid them.
One of these stories which shouldn't be overlooked indicates just how fed up the honest, dope-free athletes are with the widespread cheating in many sports.
Egyptian swimmer Rania Elwani, a member of the Athletic Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), is quoted as saying, "Everybody clean wants a stronger ban."
The article states that these athletes are proposing "dope cheats to be banned for four years for a first drugs offence instead of two."
Such a doubling of the present ban may be unlikely to be adopted, especially since so many, including the international football (soccer) federation FIFA and almost all American sports organizations and those politicians who have addressed this issue have been arguing for reducing it or making it more "flexible."
Nonetheless, it is a good sign that such prominent clean athletes are speaking out against the dope cheats and those who aid them.
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