Doping, nationalism, culture

[Dr. Maserati]

After reading that article twice, to me it boils down to this: You can't eliminate doping - the best you can hope for is making it less common.

Well, for me that's a given. You will never be able to eliminate doping.
But it's like in aviation - you cannot eliminate all accidents, but you can ensure theres a robust system that applies standards that actively seeks to reduce incidents by looking at all aspects involved.

First of all: Only because the Cold War is over, the nationalism is still there just as strong as before. We Germans have a unique insight into that. East Germany used doping to promote itself. A country of 16 Million people - there are cities with more than that - regularly popped up in the Top 5 in Olympics and other major competitions. The whole eastern bloc relied on east german research into doping. After the wall fell, the big cleanup started. The things that came to light back then makes Armstrong's system look like a kiddies birthday party. An former coaches were jailed and banned by the truckload.
Did that eliminate doping or the underlying nationalism? Phat chance. It is still there. Actually before the London Olympics each association of the different kinds of sports got mail from the NOC with detailed demands on how many medals they were supposed to bring home. Those that failed the quota will get less money from the state next year, those that exceeded it, will get more.

How is such a system supposed to discourage the use of performance enhancing drugs. It's good ol' G.D.R. - same dance, just a different tune and I don't believe that Germany is the only country where things work like that.

That's appears to be the way most countries now operate.
Certainly there is the obvious danger. A nation wants medals - and is also wanting (pretending?!) thats it is clean.
But in recognizing it, it also shows the solution. Most countries now have a separate anti-doping agency (USADA, UKAD etc) but this also needs to be done on a global basis, which is where WADA now have a role.

Anti-doping (just like doping) is an evolving process, which for the most part is going in the right direction.
Whi

 

[Lukenwolf]

Well, for me that's a given. You will never be able to eliminate doping.
But it's like in aviation - you cannot eliminate all accidents, but you can ensure theres a robust system that applies standards that actively seeks to reduce incidents by looking at all aspects involved.


That's appears to be the way most countries now operate.
Certainly there is the obvious danger. A nation wants medals - and is also wanting (pretending?!) thats it is clean.
But in recognizing it, it also shows the solution. Most countries now have a separate anti-doping agency (USADA, UKAD etc) but this also needs to be done on a global basis, which is where WADA now have a role.

Anti-doping (just like doping) is an evolving process, which for the most part is going in the right direction.
Whi

The German Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) celebrated their 10th anniversary this year. But that doesn't mean it is independent. It works as 'stakeholder model', meaning it is funded by the federal state, the regional states, the NOC and the economy. So basically the state has an influence on NADA and the federal Minister of Interior is sending out the Medal demands. So it's basically the same conflict of interest that UCI has

 

[Dr. Maserati]

The German Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) celebrated their 10th anniversary this year. But that doesn't mean it is independent. It works as 'stakeholder model', meaning it is funded by the federal state, the regional states, the NOC and the economy. So basically the state has an influence on NADA and the federal Minister of Interior is sending out the Medal demands. So it's basically the same conflict of interest that UCI has

State money is State money, that is not going to change - but it's the same as the FAA is funded by the State, which also funds various incentives to fly.
As is always the case it is whether these different agencies are run independently.

That is also why WADAs role as an overall watchdog is necessary.

 

[hiero2]

Interesting response,however I would have taken it more seriously if you had mentioned Tony Kaye and the Shef Wednesday betting scandal in futbol, (or even Bruce Grobelaar and the brown envelopes), Harlequins and their 'bloodgate', even WG Grace putting the bails back on and Bodyline. Thats without mentioning Saturday afternoon wrestling. But a Hollywood film where you get the details wrong (the organiser's didnt change the schedule, Liddell changed events), come on.

But to quote Oliver Cromwell as an example of corruption in the British political system!!! He's probably the only one who wasn't corrupt. You could pick any one from Tony Blair, Thatcher, Wilson, Lloyd George, Ramsay McDonald et al and every royal in history - but Cromwell, I'm off for a lie down with a cup of tea.

^^^ Was meant to be light-hearted.

But, Cromwell? Sheesh.

Dave.

You got ME laughing! Cromwell might have been an over-righteous prig, but at least he was an honest prig!

To the OP - great post, thanks for bringing the article to our attention.