Massive Global Cheating in Athletics

[Huntr]

Shocking nearly no one, Leaked IAAF doping files reveal 'extraordinary extent of cheating'

According to the experts, the database reveals:
A third of medals (146, including 55 golds) in endurance events at the Olympics and World Championships between 2001 and 2012 were won by athletes who have recorded suspicious tests. It is claimed none of these athletes have been stripped of their medals.
More than 800 athletes - one in seven of those named in the files - have recorded blood tests described by one of the experts as "highly suggestive of doping or at the very least abnormal".
A top UK athlete is among seven Britons with suspicious blood scores.
British athletes - including Olympic champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill - have lost out in major events to competitors who were under suspicion.
Ten medals at London 2012 were won by athletes who have dubious test results.
In some finals, every athlete in the three medal positions had recorded a suspicious blood test.
Russia emerges as "the blood testing epicentre of the world" with more than 80% of the country's medals won by suspicious athletes, while Kenya had 18 medals won by suspicious athletes.
Stars such as Britain's Mo Farah and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt recorded no abnormal results.
Athletes are increasingly using blood transfusions and EPO micro-doses to boost the red cell count.

Holy hell, that's crazy.

 

[NDRock]

Seems like it is almost impossible to compete at the highest level and not do some "suspicious" things. Hard to be clean and beat those that aren't.

 

[Huntr]

I remember folks talking about that in regards to the baseball cheating and Lance Armstrong and I always that was an interesting point.

When does it cease to be a competitive advantage? If so many are doing it, the playing field is really fairly level. Of course, the answer is, not everyone is doing it.

Mostly just the winners.

 

[NDohio]

I remember folks talking about that in regards to the baseball cheating and Lance Armstrong and I always that was an interesting point.

When does it cease to be a competitive advantage? If so many are doing it, the playing field is really fairly level. Of course, the answer is, not everyone is doing it.

Mostly just the winners.

The athlete with the best doctor wins?

 

[Old Man Mike]

Can't get sloppy with our thinking here. If we just say "who the he!l cares just let it sift itself out," then there is NO LIMIT to what science/biomedical tech can ultimately do to enhance "cyborg abilities" in a sort-of natural human. That's not science fiction. If we want to go "anything goes", then just strap on the rocketshoes and jumping springs right now --- goodbye actual human athletes.

They said that the gun made all men equal in the wild west --- the most cowardly and unmanly twerp could gun down Paul Bunyan. This is, in any sane way of viewing it, the same approach. I just barely tolerate things like pole-vaulting as fair athletic challenges, or ski-jumping, or anything technological which gives unnatural advantage, particularly if all can't equally use it. Even golf polices the balls. The hi-tech behind-the-scenes and in-the-blood artificial enhancements are one step more insidious.

Bring on the drone robots!!! I'll watch pick-up streetcorner basketball instead.