What are the chances?

[oftenrong69]

Given all the data that has come out about Russian doping makes me wonder about the Americans.
They have, for years, beaten doped up Russians in many of the sports in which the evidence suggests the Russians were "pumped up".
Our biggest embarrassment, Ben Johnson, maintained that his big US rival Carl Lewis was also using performance enhancers.
The American Tour de France phenomenon, Lance, had been cheating for years........
Just leads me to wonder......

 

[Calgacus]

I've always thought the US has a few advantages compared to other nations. First is the Black athlete. No other "Westernized" country has the same number of Blacks. I know there are other countries with more Blacks but I don't think any of them have the resources the States has for training. Second is their University athletics system. So many of America's Olympic athletes went through their colleges. A lot of International athletes are now going that route as well. Lastly just the population base they draw from is huge compared to almost any other nation. China only recently started to focus on athletics and India doesn't appear to give a shit. Hard to beat a country with the most money and nearly the most people.

They also are a very competitive country and they probably cheat as well. The Zika scare is a convenient excuse for a lot of athletes that don't want to face IOC drug testing

 

[oftenrong69]

I am not sure how there is a connection between skin colour and speed or strength.
Your other points are legit, that the competitive nature and infrastructure for grooming talent in the US is awesome. However, during the 'cold war' period the East Germans and the Russians had incredibly smart ways to identify, train and prepare their athletes (including chemical supplements) in many disciplines and the USA still used to come away winning.
As Lance Armstrong showed us, they developed very sophisticated ways to beat the testing. So, my cynical curiosity is still peaked.

 

[maurice93]

The initial US drug testing programs in the 80's were anonymous "tests" with no punishments. In retrospect most believe they were just ways to find a way to beat official drug testing.

F Carl Lewis

 

[SkyRider]

I am not sure how there is a connection between skin colour and speed

Probably just a coincidence?
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-14679657

Same coincidence in basketball?

 

[SkyRider]

the East Germans had incredibly smart ways to identify, train and prepare their athletes (including chemical supplements) in many disciplines

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.c...east-germanys-systematic-doping-of-olympians/

 

[basketcase]

Of course the US and the rest of the world has doping going on. It's not a government program like in Russia (China?) but it goes on. I read recently study on drug use that said the vast majority of athletes would do it if they knew they would get away with it and more than half said they would do it even if it meant shortening their life span.

The Ben Johnson race is well documented. There is an article/book called The Dirtiest Race in History and an ESPN 30 for 30 looked into it. Almost every one in that race has been implicated in doping at some time and the suggestion that Johnson's drink was spiked has some evidence behind it (not that he wasn't doping but rather his system was set up to get away with it like all the rest). Lots of evidence that Lewis was on HGH along with other things and even that he tested positive at the LA games but the records were 'lost'.

Part of me sees the Russians being unfairly targeted but they took things to such an extreme that they deserve it.


p.s. the Lance Armstrong stuff bothers me. He was a complete ass but he received far harsher treatment than anyone else in the sport. Two time winner Alberto Contador was caught, served a short ban, and has been in the last few tours with no one mentioning the doping. The Astana team was involved in doping in a massive way but they are still a major team in professional cycling. Several other Tour de France winners were convicted dopers but they are still officially in the record books.

 

[SkyRider]

Of course the US and the rest of the world has doping going on.

Just like in MLB, if the other guy is doing it then you are almost forced to do it to stay competitive.

 

[oftenrong69]

Thanks Skyrider. This article articulates very well what I have been thinking but could not put into words.