Inhumanly fast? (Image courtesy CBC)
As we watch the current Olympic games, we see the utmost in human potential set record after record. But are we really seeing what we think we are? Are the 8 best sprinters in the world on the track, or just the 8 people who responded to the drug treatment the best? Whether or not you think it’s a problem, the fact remains that, at the highest levels, sport follows the adage “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying!” More often than not, this means chemical enhancement. How did it get this way? Testosterone Nation gives us a good run down here (before you click, a note on T-Nation: while they often have good articles and info, their site isn’t what I’d call classy). What’s to be done? Some people say nothing, but most would like those goosebumps they feel when someone crosses the finish line in record time to be doubt-free. Was it just him? Did he have unfair competitive advantage? What is unfair competitive advantage anyway? Malcom Gladwell, brilliant thinker and writer, blogs on the that tricky question, among other things, in this post. If something must be done, surely the solution will originate in the same place as the problem: the lab. Unfortunately, disqualifying athletes based on extremely difficult to interpret blood tests are equally murky waters. Often, these illegal performance enhancers are indistinguishable from the natural compounds in your body. Our old friends at Mark’s Daily Apple go over the difficulties of testing athletes who’s drugs are outrunning the tests by a significant margin.
Given all of this, what’s to be done? Anything at all? Is this like laws against underage drinking, which we have no illusion will actually prevent it, but at least the kids need to go through the trouble of being quiet about it? Is there a line to be drawn? If so, where could that line possibly be, and who gets to decide where it is and who’s over it? Unfortunately, we here at South Baltimore CrossFit don’t have many answers for you, just questions. Let us know what you think.
Now let me just say that here we’re referring to adults who make the decision to take banned substances at the peril of retribution from their sport’s governing body, or damage to their health. Coercively or deceptively giving potentially life altering drugs to kids is not a tricky issue, it’s ridiculous and disgusting.
Post thoughts to comments.
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Workout:
3-3-3-3-3 Hang power clean
Jenn – 85-95-105-115(f3)-115(f3)
