Sport Opinion • February 1 2004

Bush joins circus in fight against cheats in sport

The problem of athletes taking performance-enhancing, illegal substances in sport seems too big to control. Despite the efforts put in by associations, federations, agencies and governments, scandals continue to come out on weekly basis. Winning is the name of the game and obviously professional performers are even more tempted by rewards that follow their triumphs. Champions are regarded as effective promotional material for sponsors, and let's admit, there is hardly any ethics shown, in their unscrupulous efforts to conquer the markets.
Doping in sport has been regarded as an enormous problem for many long years
Most governments and federations support the World Anti Doping Agency, which was created in 1999 to eradicate performance-enhancing drugs in sport, but despite all the big talk nothing concrete seems to happen. The occasional bans for relatively short periods, certainly give little hope that the situation is being tackled effectively. Only two days ago a WADA spokesman hit out at governments because they are not backing up their promises, when he stated that "if these governments really mean what they say, they have to pay their dues."
It is terrible to think that the fight against a racket which involves billions is being fought by a body crying out loud for promised funds!

DOPING CRACK DOWN
The crusade against the misuse of drugs in sport is really impressive when one considers the names of world leaders and role models who have spoken on health dangers and moral ethics. The latest to join the list is US President George W Bush who called for US team owners, players and coaches to banish performance-enhancing drugs from sport, saying success through steroids sends a dangerous message to American youth.
Delivering the annual State of the Union speech, before US lawmakers, the former part owner of Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers noted the recent rash of doping positives in such sports as athletics and baseball.
"To help children make the right choices, they need good examples. Athletics play such an important role in our society," Bush said. "But unfortunately, some in professional sports are not sending much of an example."
"The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, (American) football and other sports is dangerous and it sends the wrong message - that there are shortcuts to accomplishment and that performance is more important than character. I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches and players to take the lead to send the right signal, to get tough and to get rid of steroids NOW."
A few sentences on a special occasion, prove the alarming situation
As Bush mentioned baseball, the reaction from the Major League Baseball was immediate as it announced plans to toughen steroid testing in the wake of more than 5 percent of the players testing positive, but the sport's punishments are wrist slaps compared to other global sports. Meanwhile, last month, the USA Track and Field passed a lifetime ban for first-time steroid offences.

Bush’s stand hailed
Anti-doping authorities worldwide hailed President Bush's attack on steroids as a key step in the fight against performance-enhancing drugs, but disagreed whether his appeal will have much of an immediate - or even long-term - impact. Dick Pound, chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency called Bush's one-minute reference in front of a 70 million TV audience, a speech which was interrupted seventy-one times because of applause, "as close to a home-run as you can get on this issue. He is saying this is a real issue, a national issue. I think it is great to have US leadership on this."
But International Olympic Committee member, Mario Pescante, Italy's Undersecretary for sports and head of Europe's Olympic Committees, said Bush's words must be followed by concrete action." It's great for such a message to come from the President of the United States, but we are now waiting for something to happen in American professional sports. The push against doping started in Europe, but until now the United States has responded poorly. We had expected more rigorous testing."
Criticism is cheap. But facts can hardly be ignored.
There is a certain apathy from different quarters which hardly allow those who believe in clean sport to breathe freely and comfortably. Certain governments fail to take concrete action and legislate; the attitude of a number of federations is hardly commendable.
It was only during the week that FIFA decided to adopt World Anti-Doping code as from May. FIFA's decision means that cycling is now the only major Olympic sport outside the WADA agreement. The situation in professional cycling is diabolical. Only last week French Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamous presided over a special meeting of the country's cycling chiefs as their sport is engulfed in another doping scandal, which centres around the Confidis team, after police questioned riders about alleged trafficking of banned substances. One of these, Philippe Gaumont was placed under official investigation and admitted that 90 percent of the professional riders are victims of dope, because of undue pressure.
One hardly knows what is happening in non-olympic sport. Details are never forthcoming from motor sports, horse-racing, billiards and similar disciplines.
Who is to blame? The atheletes? Federations? Governments?

Fans to blame
An in-depth study of the sad situation may bring other serious reasons for the present state of affairs. The fans' demands, for example!
According to Charles Yesalis, an expert on steroid use in sports, "nothing will change until the fans demand an end to doping. The professional leagues in the states and the Olympics are just giving the fans what they want. When the US President says there is a problem, it gives a lot of credibility. The sponsors spend a lot of money and want results, the athletes are ambitious and will do anything to step on a podium, but one would err badly to ignore the fans and their demands."
Most fans are willing to ignore unnaturally bulging biceps in order to see tape-measure home runs, world records and other amazing athletes' feats."
"If the fans rebel directly as a result of their perception of drug use, you would see the problem change so quickly, because there are billions of dollars at stake" he said. "If the customers don't want a bunch of juiced-up athletes, that's when it will change."

Dope violates the spirit of sport.
But what about recreational drugs? And legal drugs, like tobacco and alcohol?
More on that some other time.