Steroids in Sports

The spectre of British superiority has emerged as the British Olympic Association attempts to justify its violation of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules. The WADA code specifies that penalties for the use of anabolic steroids and peformance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) should be uniform. The maximum penalty for a first-time doping violation is two-years under existing rules. [Read more…]

ESPN has revisited the Ben Johnson steroid scandal in its coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. While ESPN didn’t mention sprinter Usain Bolt by name, it compared the “sprinting sensation” seeking to repeat as Olympic champion to the Canadian who “brought shame” to track and field in 1988. There has been no evidence to suggest Usain Bolt has used anabolic steroids but this doesn’t stop people from suggesting his performance might be tainted. After all if Ben Johnson had to use steroids to run a then-world record 9.79, then how is it possible that Bolt has run as fast as 9.58 in the 100 meters? [Read more…]

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games, believes that sprinter Usain “Lightning” Bolt can set another world record without the use of anabolic steroids or other prohibited substances. In what has become a modern-day witch-hunt, every amazing and/or record-breaking performance has launched speculation about the involvement of steroids. But Coe maintains that most competitive athletes who work hard and continually make progress rarely use performance-enhancing drugs. [Read more…]