Doping Journal 2, 1 (12 April 2005) find out how to cite this article

Anthony P Millar

Anthony P. Millar, MB, FRACP, FACRM, Lewisham Sports Medicine Institute, 1 West St, Petersham NSW 2049, Australia
email: tmillar@itlite.com.au

Published online: 12 April, 2005  | Article readership

Copyright © 2005 by Anthony P Millar, licensee The Doping Journal

Article view and respond options:

EMAIL2COLLEAGUE

FULL TEXT

ACROBAT .PDF

XML (NIH DTD 2.0)

PUBLISHED E-LETTERS

SUBMIT E-LETTER

AUTHORPUBMED

ABSTRACT ARTICLE TEXT

PROSPECT REFERENCES

At present there is a total lack of any moral or philosophical basis for the public attitudes towards the use of drugs in sport. In the WADA manifesto there is no definition of a drug ­ only examples. How can there be an example of something that cannot be defined? This leads to total confusion in the use of prohibited substances and the permitted use of other similar preparations producing almost identical effects. The whole area needs to be reviewed by an outside body with no vested interest in the outcome. Probably the Doping Journal, as it is totally independent of the vested interests responsible for the present confusion, would be an ideal vehicle for such a review.

At present there is a total lack of any moral or philosophical basis for the public attitudes towards the use of drugs in sport. In the WADA manifesto there is no definition of a drug ­ only examples. How can there be an example of something that cannot be defined? This leads to total confusion in the use of prohibited substances and the permitted use of other similar preparations producing almost identical effects.

Pseudo-ephedrine is no longer a banned substance in sport [ 1 ]. The original ban was to protect athletes from overuse and its dangers. Has it become harmless or are athletes more intelligent? Diabetics are permitted to use insulin for therapy but hypertensives are not allowed to take Betablockers. Both drugs are popularly believed to improve performance in athletic circles and both are banned. What is to stop a diabetic taking extra insulin for performance enhancement? Why do we discriminate against hypertensives?

There is a ban on oxygen transport drugs and on physical environment enhancers such as hypobaric chambers. Both are alleged to produce the same result but only the drug can be tested for. The penalty for the drug user is disqualification and for the hypobaric enthusiast, a rousing cheer for a drug free effort. The crime is the same, so why vary the penalty?

A level playing field is never likely to occur under the present system where one reads of positive tests being swept under the table. How will drug testing eliminate the genetic inequalities between athletes? How will testing improve the availability of top level coaches and training facilities to all? How can it eliminate the inequality in financial incentives allowing some athletes to train 6 hours daily while others have to work to enable them to train even 2 hours daily? We have swimming costumes that decrease drag in the water resulting in faster times. These are not universally available, giving the owners an advantage. A level playing field will never exist in our present system. It is incongruous that in all this mess, only drugs are available to all.

The current frenzy to test blood has ethical problems which have not been addressed [ 2 ]. What is to happen to an athlete who develops an infection from a dirty needle? Who is responsible for the tester who has a needle prick injury from a HIV positive athlete? It is worth remembering that this diagnosis will only be made 3 months after the Games when all have dispersed.

The whole area needs to be reviewed by an outside body with no vested interest in the outcome. Probably the Doping Journal, as it is totally independent of the vested interests responsible for the present confusion, would be an ideal vehicle for such a review.

1. The World Anti-Doping Code. WADA Web Site (accessed Aug 2004) [ FullText ][ Back2Text ].

2. Browne A, Lachance V, Pipe A. The ethics of blood testing as an element of doping control in sport. Med Sci Sports Exerc 31(4) 497-501 (1999) [ PubMed ][ Correspondence ][ Back2Text ].
 

CLICK HERE OR PRESS <CTRL><D> TO BOOKMARK THIS ARTICLE

This article should be cited in the following way: Millar AP. Gold Medals for Ineptitude and Unfairness: Drugs, Sport and the Olympics Future. The Doping Journal  Vol.  2, 1 (2005) Available at: http://dopingjournal.org/content/2/1/ ( Please make sure you included article web address in your citation! )