Juice...how far will you go to get it?

This week has been the fun part of the Games for me because of the track and field events. My love for these events goes back to my high school and college days in my previous life as an athlete. This was before I changed my major to partying.

I just enjoyed the circus like atmosphere, from the 100yd dash to the shot put (my "specialty") to the long jump. Today's athletes have taken these events to another level with their record breaking performances. Some think that these records are not possible without help.

 

Once again, the 'juice' factor rears it's ugly head. Usain Bolt (gotta love that name for a sprinter) became only the second runner in history to win back-to-back 100m dashes. When I watched this event, he actually made it look easy, overcoming a slow start to 'walk down' his countryman Yohan Blake for the win. Was it really legit?

 

To begin, understand that this is not the first time that this has been suggested. This goes all the way back to the first athlete who was expelled in 1968. The first back-to-back 100m winner, Carl Lewis, won his second race when the winner at the time, Ben Johnson, tested positive. Fast forwarding to more recent times, various athletes such as US judo athlete Nicholas Delpopolo, were kicked out after testing positive for smoking weed in this year's games.

 

Victor Conte, who was one the "godfathers" of the juicing craze, says that up to 65% of today's athletes are still using some form of enhancements. That's more than three out of every five athletes. Strangely enough, he volunteered to provide insight to the World Anti-Doping Agency as to possible methods being used by athletes, but was turned down.

 

Let's look at this year's race. For the first time in history, the top four finishers in this year's race had a time of less than 9.9 seconds (9.63, 9.75, 9.79 and 9.80) with Bolt setting an Olympic record. All of these times are in the top eight fastest times in track history. Critics could say that if one is juicing, they are all drinking from the same vial. Others could attribute it to new technology and training regimens. In either case, we won't know for a couple of years. Until then, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

Remember, it's only illegal if they get caught.