As summer rapidly approaches, we anticipate the Summer Olympic Games in Brazil to be a hotly contested competition. Various world class athletes competing together at the Olympics bring about rivalries and battles for gold. We know what the Olympics are all about, and sometimes hear of scandals or failed drug testing gone wrong in athletes. Many of these incidents are swiftly swept under the carpet when it comes to media outlets informing the public. Knowing about what occurs behind the scenes as well as through corrupted officials will open your eyes when the games begin.
Recently, over 30 athletes failed a drug test for doping and may be forbidden from competing in the Olympics this summer. USA Today writes of the athletes who were tested, yet does not provide names or countries of the athletes. Those who have been doping or illegally enhancing their performances will not be permitted to go to the games. The International Olympic Committee speaks out about this situation through offering insight into stopping “drug cheats [from] coming to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro” and intends to investigate further into the allegations on the 30 athletes.
A scandal that is connected to this doping incident are the accusations against Russian athletes in the Sochi Olympics. The athletes were accused of doping and enhancing their performances for the games. Blood tests and samples are currently being analyzed to identify if they were cheating or if they are completely clean.
The samples and tests from the International Olympic Committee are to make sure athletes are not cheating in the games or enhancing their performance in a way that will give them a leg up over opponents. These tests confirm that no one can get away with doing this and that it is never allowed, especially on the level of the Olympics. President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, states the measures taken against those who cheat is to “protect the clean athletes irrespective of any sport or any nation…[and] show once more our determination to protect the integrity of the Olympic competitions."
Additionally, it is noted that samples from tests that athletes have taken are kept and stored for approximately 10 years. This is done so that more advanced tests can identify illegal enhancement drugs or doping in an athlete's urine or blood. Often times athletes may lose medals or be disqualified if an illegal substance is found in the samples that were saved. From each Olympic games, many athletes are caught from doping and enhancing their performances. This summer in Rio, Olympic officials are attempting to protect the honor of the Olympics through testing and holding athletes accountable for their actions.
Athletes who participate in doping face worldwide scrutiny as a result, and recognize the impact of their behavior in those competing in the Olympics this summer. The Olympics are about the natural talent within individuals who train years upon years in advance for one event. Performance enhancing drug testing is becoming more in depth and recognizing athletes in the past who have participated in this illegal act. Hopefully in the future, there will not be any athletes doping resulting in an honest Olympic games.
