The problem with drugs in sports
It seems to permeate the sports news these days, Landis, Hamilton, Basso, Riis, Zabel and even Barry Bonds. All these names have made the news because of either admitting to or having been found in competition to have used performance enhancing drugs (Floyd Landis is still appealing). But the bigger question is why is this happening now and what implications does it have for sports in general and our society?
In an age where child hood obesity is on the rise, eight out of ten Americans are overweight, 78% of Americans are not meeting basic activity levels and there has been a 76% increase in Diabetes, Athletes who cheat are part of the problem why this has happened.
I am sure that there are those that disagree with me on this but let me explain why I have said this.
When an athlete cheats whether it is with EPO, HGH, Testosterone, or tweaking their equipment to give an unfair advantage it jades the way people look at athletes competing in that sport. As an elite level athlete in cycling, I believe that this sport is fighting for its survival and this is due in part to the cheaters who are caught and the continuing scandals that plague our sport.
Because sponsors don’t want to soil their names or reputations they decide not to continue sponsorship after the season has ended. Attracting new sponsors becomes increasingly difficult, the fan base shrinks, race promoters decide not to hold any more races and less people try the sport. Children who may have had an interest are encouraged to not do the sport because of the cheating and are instead told to try another sport or to do something that yet reduces their activity level.
Instead of admiring an athlete for a mind blowing performance we immediately suspect that athlete as having done something that was illegal. When that happens we lose faith, interest wanes and we decide not to watch, participate or even give up because we don’t want to be associated with the sport soiled with these problems
I want to see this sport grow, I want to see more people watch it and it covered on the TV more often. In my humble opinion there is no other sport that is as difficult and as challenging. Yeah sure I am biased but who wouldn’t be, I am passionate about this sport and am no different then the die hard baseball fanatic. The problem is that the cheaters that permeate cycling are causing the sport to shrink. For our sakes and the sake of our sport we all must do everything we can to promote the sport, stay clean and be ambassadors.
We all need to do outreach events, bike safety, get involved with development programs, put together programs to encourage kids to ride their bikes. Our sport needs us more then ever. Sadly I feel if we don’t then the sport will die in the US, flounder in Europe and American children will continue their fight with obesity.
I won’t let that happen, will you?