BMJ 2007;335:618 (22 September).
Doping in sport—a warning from history.
East German athletes who were doped to win gold medals in 1976 Olympics now struggle with chronic health problems.
Sport is tough, mean, and uncompromising.
The German Democratic Republic looked coldly at what was required and did it. Potential medal winners were selected at an early age for sports school, trained, and prepared systematically.
Athletes were given oral anabolic steroids until the time of competition but were injected with testosterone during competition as it was then undetectable.
It is the involuntary and systematic abuse of underage athletes that hits hardest. These athletes, recruited from as young as 10 years old, did not know what medication they were taking and were discouraged from asking.
The sports doctors had signed a confidentiality agreement, monitored by the East German secret police, the Stasi. They made no protest, and 70 of them were later convicted of illegal doping.
We were left wondering where those doctors are now and how they feel about their role.
Perhaps it is a little unfair to judge history by current standards. But doping remains a part of sport.
Doping creates an unfair advantage, however, most all professional athletes dope. Especially in cycling.
I don’t know, but certainly a lot. Don’t forget athletics, swimming, and Mr Bond and others in US sports.
But everwhere some people will be tempted.
You are absolutely right.