On Wed, 15 Aug 2001, Geoff Pietsch wrote:
> T&FN is a great magazine, but it has a lousy record over-all where the
> drug issue is concerned.
<snip>
> out-of-competition testing) to pursue the cheats, we need powerful voices
> like T&FN to never let go on this issue.
So T&FNews should actively engage in negative marketing for the sport?
Acting as a "powerful voice" would mean creating greater publicity bout
drugs in track and field resulting in more fans and sponsors being driven
away.
Ideally I'd like a drug free sport, but I don't think it is realistic
anymore. In fact, I think that drug testing may serve only to create an
uneven playing field as some athletes have access to certain ways of
cheating that others do not. Furthermore, there is a lot of leeway for
cheating within the testing limits, for example, you can raise your
testosterone level to just under what becomes illegal and you pass the
tests.
In the last few years I've switched positions from being very anti-drug to
believing it's time for T&f to follow the lead of the major pro sports in
regards to drugs.
When drug use was widespread and open in the 1960's (at least as far as
steroids were concerened), the sport was popular and no one looks back on
the pre-testing era with disgust do they?
Paul
*******************************
Paul Talbot
Department of Geography/
Institute of Behavioral Science
University of Colorado, Boulder
Boulder CO 80309-0260
(303) 492-3248
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
