@shadowen Said
Bolt again calling for a mandatory life ban for drug cheats.
A couple of years ago he is quoted as saying:
"The message should be: ‘If you cheat, you’re going to be kicked out of the sport.' You have to drive fear into athletes, to make them think about the consequences of their actions. If they’re getting an easy penalty why would they care?"
The science is mounting...
Scientists previously thought that the reacquisition of muscle mass - with or without steroids - after periods of inactivity was linked to motor learning.
However, a growing list of new studies reveal there is a celluar ‘memory mechanism’ within muscle of brief steroid users, which could have consequences for the two-year exclusion time of doping offenders as brief exposure to anabolic steroids might have long-lasting performance-enhancing effects that could last for decades.
Researchers at the University of Oslo for example investigated the effects of steroids on muscle reacquisition. They found greater muscle mass and more myonuclei – essential components for muscle fibre function - were apparent after returning to exercise.
The results of a number of international studies strongly suggest that the performance benefits of steroids may last for DECADES.
If there is ANY possibility (and several highly credentialed university studies conclude that there definitely is) that performance enhancing drugs can provide any sort of physical benefit AFTER the athlete last took them then this alone should be grounds for enforcing life bans.
The sad reality is that despite the health risks and despite the attempts by regulating bodies to eliminate drugs from sport, the use of illegal substances is widely acknowledged to be rife. So now when a famous athlete fails a doping test, very few regard it as a shocking revelation.
For years anti doping authorities etc have typically handed out 6-24 month bans for drug cheats, and yet the problem is as bad as ever.
Einstein once said that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again whilst expecting a different result". Well it's time to stop the insane approach to drug cheats that insists on giving them a second (and even third) chance. It's time to try something significantly different. It's time to look after the clean athletes and ban the cheats for life.
A typical attitude among those who see simplistic answers to complex problems. And to quote Einstein in relation to sport..?? Laughable.
Doping life bans are not legal. That is, they cannot be enforced in law. To permanently deprive an individual of the means to earn their living when they have not actually committed a criminal offence is not a legal position to take.
OK... let's look at "Legal" and "Criminal" with regard to doping.
The use of performance enhancing agents is an offence against sporting regulations, but may not necessarily be a criminal offence, ie: an offence against the law of the land. Many doping agents do not fall into the category of "Controlled Substances" and therefore are not necessarily illegal. To be in possession of and to self administer does not always constitute criminality. To establish this would take a legal judgement in each country in which it takes place.
For instance, it might be a crime to use (let's call it) Agent X in Britain where it might be a controlled substance, but not in, say, China where it might be legal. Therefore any athlete who trains in China would not be breaking the law if he used it while training there. He has therefore committed no criminal offence at the point of use.
However. Agent X may be considered a performance enhancing agent by WADA and therefore a positive test result would constitute an offence for which a ban is appropriate.
We then get into the realms of what constitutes a lawful ban. Is is legally justifiable to impose an immediate lifetime ban on first offence? Well, the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) says......... it isn't..!!
WADA Says Lifetime Bans For Doping Are Not Legal
Justice systems in most civilised countries have justice systems which recognise the fallibility of human beings. A sort of "Anybody Can Make A Mistake" thing. They allow for somebody to be given a second chance.
This is just, humane, civilised and satisfies the legal requirements of most just, humane and civilised societies.
To go for an immediate lifetime ban on first offence could be challenged in court and if brought before, say, a British, French, German, Italian, American, Canadian, New Zealand..... (I could go on) court stand a very high likelihood of being successful.
I have no idea what chance of success such an appeal might have in Australia.
It's easy to propose simplistic resolutions to complex problems as an instant cure-all for wrongdoing. But like most simplistic resolutions, it would fall apart when tested in court.
Doping in order to cheat in sport is wrong and it is entirely appropriate to punish those who offend.
But justice must be tempered with mercy and punishments must be appropriate and proportionate, not visceral, poorly thought out and excessive. Repeated offences should be treated accordingly.
Catch them, punish them and then give them another chance. I know some may not agree with that, but it's how it is, and should be.
It is in my country. I don't know about yours.