For the first time, a news organization (The San Francisco Chronicle) is coming right out and saying that a number of high-profile athletes received steroids. It dances around a little, though, by declining to state whether they actually took the steroids because their unnamed source can't confirm that little detail, but it's an interesting development nonetheless.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/03/02/BALCO.TMP (no membership required)
Perhaps the most interesting aspect is the political one: the government refuses to prosecute the athletes themselves, having granted them immunity in exchange for testimony. Frankly, pro sports would rather turn a blind eye to steroid use than get serious about it because it wants to put forward the best product. And the best product isn't necessarily a fair or healthy product.
The Olympics, however, are screwed. The US Olympic Team allegedly helps American athletes beat the rap. And between steroid use and letting transgendered athletes in (no offense to our transgendered friends, but you might as well just abolish all gendered categories if you do this because it will be unfair now anyway), the Olympics is a disaster.
A level playing field is, I think, completely impossible to achieve anymore.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/03/02/BALCO.TMP (no membership required)
Perhaps the most interesting aspect is the political one: the government refuses to prosecute the athletes themselves, having granted them immunity in exchange for testimony. Frankly, pro sports would rather turn a blind eye to steroid use than get serious about it because it wants to put forward the best product. And the best product isn't necessarily a fair or healthy product.
The Olympics, however, are screwed. The US Olympic Team allegedly helps American athletes beat the rap. And between steroid use and letting transgendered athletes in (no offense to our transgendered friends, but you might as well just abolish all gendered categories if you do this because it will be unfair now anyway), the Olympics is a disaster.
A level playing field is, I think, completely impossible to achieve anymore.