Director General David Howman continues to hurt the credibility of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) with his persistent claim that the illegal distribution of anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) is more profitable than the heroin trade. In February, Howman had incredulously claimed that criminals found steroids to be more profitable because they were legal in many countries.
Howman’s statements regarding the profitability of PED distribution were dismissed by many observers. Rather than distance himself from his incredulous statements on the topic, Howman defensively reasserted his claim during the keynote address at UK Anti-Doping’s conference. This time, Howman cited Interpol as the source of his claim.
He added there was more money made in trafficking performance-enhancing drugs than in dealing heroin.
“It’s not just my impression, it’s my opinion based on fact,” said Howman.
Howman said those facts had come from his sources at Interpol and law enforcement agencies, “some of whom are actively engaged in projects that are trying to address the issue”.
Interpol has not released any statistics or other documentation to support Howman’s assertions.
WADA has moved far beyond the simple goal of drug-testing to remove PEDs from sports; they have made their political intentions clear. Howman wants to establish that criminal organizations traffic both steroids and heroin. If steroids are more profitable to criminal organizations than heroin, then steroids must be a great threat to society at large. If steroids are such a dangerous threat to society, then governments are compelled to continued giving money to WADA.
Will the public fall for it?
About Millard Baker