The Olympic Games are upon us once again. Every four years the absolute pinnacle of human athletic ability gathers together while the eyes of the world focus on the most widely anticipated competition of all -- the struggle to get past the drug tests.
You don't hear a lot about actual athletic events anymore unless one happens to be going on during the press conference announcing the latest athlete banned for artificially enhanced levels of spunkiness. So far, the roll call this year includes U.S. sprinter Torri Edwards, Irish distance runner Cathal Lombard, U.S. shot-putter Kevin Toth, Greek baseball players A.J. Brack and Derek Nicholson, Swiss cyclist Oscar Camenzind, British cyclist David Millar, U.S. sprinter Kelli White, U.S. middle-distance runner Regina Jacobs, U.S. sprinter Michelle Collins, U.S. hammer thrower John McEwen, British sprinter Dwain Chambers, U.S. sprinter Jerome Young, Mel the pizza guy at the Olympic Village commissary, and Athens 2004 Olympics mascot Phevos, who tested positive for hydrochloro-thiazide. At this point I'm just hoping there's someone left to compete.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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There were quite a few more, especially if you include the ones caught during the trials and tarred by the Balco controversy, but if I kept listing them I wouldn't have had room for my column...
Hmm. Just noticed my editor changed "Low Earth Orbit" to "low Earth orbit." Fortunately I know the webmaster.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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1) The Balco debacle 2) The dopping of Maureen Maggi, brazilian sprinter and jumper, who was one of our best hopes of a medal in athletism (remember. While americans count their medals by the ton, we count them one by one).
Now I am an unbeliever in most individual olympic sports. I'm always wondering: "This guy won. Was he 'juiced'"? Posts: 1785 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Sorry, but I have to disagree with your collumn.
If the effects of drugs on athletes is condoned in society, who knows what our money hungry bosses may do.
They may sneak drugs into to candy sitting on their desk, or the donuts on the kitchen table. Just imagine the horror of working at increased proficiency.
Next thing you'll know, they'll start putting caffeine in the morning coffee.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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