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Wanna Argument?

World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada): Wada Happening with Drugs in Sport?

In 2004, with the Athens Olympic Games looming, there seems to be more controversy surrounding drugs in sport than ever before. Rows within sports, between sports and even between national sports associations seem commonplace. Careers rise and fall, some in spectacular fashion, as the mud is slung from all quarters. Meanwhile, inconsistency, ignorance and incompetence seem to dog the efforts of sport's regulators.

In this 'Wanna Argument' we look at the development of the global effort to rid sport of illegal performance enhancement; in the process we find that drugs have been associated with sport for longer than we may have thought. We investigate some of the more 'celebrated' cases of doping and take a cautionary view of the impacts of some of the most commonly used substances.

Keep sport clean

Face it, they're all doing it

	You heard of Wada?
			Is he that new centre forward City have signed?
	No, they're the people in charge of getting rid of drugs cheats in sport.
			Ah! You've been reading about our hero's failed drug test then.
	Exactly. Greg Rusedski.
			He's been a naughty boy, I gather.
	Well, he's protesting his innocence.
			Remind me about what he's supposed to have done.
	He tested positive for nandrolone.
			Still none the wiser, I'm afraid.

First things first, what is Wada?

	Right. If you could just explain which drugs are used in sport, we can move on.
			Yeah! What's the dope on the dope! And why should dope be used in sport, anyway? People on dope wouldn't be able even to get off their floor cushions, you'd think. Let alone play any sport.
	Umm, think you may be getting your drugs mixed up.
			That was Rusedki's problem wasn't it?
	Steady!

Dope in sport

	That's a bit risky, isn't it?
			Unless you think of strychnine poisoning as being safe.
	OK, so what's with the new drugs they're using then?
			Are they all taking cannabis?

Ignorance on drugs

	OK, so why is our Greg the only one you hear about in trouble?
			Yeah, what have they got against Canadian/British tennis players anyway?

Is this a one-off case or just the tip of the iceberg?

	Hang on a mo! Tennis players' own trainers doped them?
			And these trainers are employed by the players' own professional association?
	How come?!

How can nandrolone be 'given' to athletes by accident?

	Only themselves to blame then.
			Well, perhaps there's not enough information available to sportspeople.

What are sportspeople told about dietary and other supplements?

	How does this all fit in with the Rio Ferdinand case?
			How do you mean? Surely his is an altogether different situation. He just forgot to turn up for a drugs test, rather than failing one.
	Yeah, handy to have such a bad memory sometimes isn't it?
			Be fair, he was off shopping at the time. He's got an awful lot of dosh to spend each month, you know!
	Oh yes, must be terrible for the poor thing!

Is football a different case?

	Seems a bit inconsistent, doesn't it? Why can't all sports have the same rules on how they treat drugs cheats?
			They couldn't do that could they?
	Why not?
			'Cos we wouldn't have anything to talk about, would we?
	I don't know, there seems a lot more to this than just the Rio case.

What more could there possibly be?

			Wow! Is there anyone clean out there?
	From what I hear about the effects of anabolic steroid use, I hope so.
			How do you mean?

What are the effects of steroid use?

	Well, if there's one thing to get you to give up the weight training, that's it!
			Just because I go to the gym, doesn't mean I take steroids.
	But if you did, you'd be a bit worried. I mean, if they're so dangerous, you'd think they'd be banned.

Why are nutritional supplements that contain performance enhancing substances not banned?

	You could quite easily get paranoid about who's putting what in your food and drinks couldn't you?
			I only get worried if there isn't any food and drink!
	Unless it's your turn to buy it, you mean.
			Don't know about you, but I'm thoroughly confused now. Can someone please clarify which drugs are being taken, deliberately or otherwise?

Which drugs are we talking about?

			Looks like pretty soon there won't be any drugs that can't be detected; then all sports will be clean.
	You reckon? There are probably new drugs being developed that even Wada doesn't know about. Next Olympics there'll be talk of a new designer drug and then high profile test failures...
			...then the usual denials and appeals. Oh, what's the point?! Why don't we just say "Go ahead and take what you like"?
	Some people say exactly that. Let's see how far we can push technology to set new records and make competition better.
			But then everyone would have to take these drugs. And then what about the health effects?
	Quite. Careful what you're offered at the gym!
			I've warned you!

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