The CAS has finally ruled this last week that the British Olympic Association (BOA) lifetime ban on dopers was in violation of the World Anti-Doping Association Code (WADA), and thus invalid. WADA brought this case to arbitration after they found the BOA in violation of code and as being not in line with other signatories. As I followed this case, I was very surprised to read many statements by British athletes who supported the lifetime ban. What was more surprising was their misguided ideas behind why the ban was good for the effort to eradicate doping from sports and the notion that it actually served as a true deterrent to doping.
WADA is the world’s anti-doping enforcement body who set the standard for the fight against doping, and more importantly, set the rules for the athletes those who police the athletes to follow. With a law enforcement background, my experience and education in the field helps me form opinions on the subject of doping, particularly because I see many similarities between my work and the anti-doping cause. As much as anyone, I want to be rid of doping from sports, but there are times when I also take a moment to think about whether justice is really being served. In those instances, I wonder not only if the system is fair for everyone involved, but more importantly, whether the current system working. As I looked more closely at the BOA lifetime ban and others around the world I thought to myself, “Is this really having an effect on riders and athletes?” And I think the answer is no.
Sir Chris Hoy has been clear with his views regarding Millar on the GB team
Recently, Sir Chris Hoy was quoted as saying “If you are caught for taking drugs, then you will not be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. That to me is a good incentive not to take drugs.” Geraint Thomas has also said something to a similar extent, and while I respect their opinions, I am almost at a loss as to why they would believe it given how long they’ve been in the sport.
I view their beliefs and reasoning in this case to be similar to those held by many in my field of criminology and law enforcement – that stronger penalties will deter criminals from committing crimes, or that the death penalty is an effective deterrent against murders. It isn’t. We live in a society that morally and ethically supports and believes in retribution and rehabilitation, not revenge.
After reading many articles on the subject, as well as David Millar’s book which speaks intimately about his experiences doping, I seriously doubt that athletes who contemplate doping or have actually done it are thinking “Wow, maybe I shouldn’t do this because I may not be able to participate in the Olympics, or I’ll be banned for life.” I highly doubt that when a rider dopes they believe they will be caught.
It’s widely known in the criminology field that people will still commit crimes while fully knowing the penalties, because they don’t believe they will be caught. I feel comfortable in saying that dopers will still push the limit even with lifetime bans in place, and that they’ll do nothing to stop doping. Many dopers have the infrastructure and system around them to facilitate their doping practices in the dark, and feel their risk of detection is extremely minimal and worth the risk.
Sports can have the strictest of penalties against cheating athletes, just as countries can have the strictest penalties against criminals, but it will not eradicate either from existence. Sending someone to prison for the remainder of their life for a first-offense crime will not prevent that crime from ever being committed again, only from having that person from ever commit it again. Banning a doper for life will only keep that convicted doper out of the sport, but will not prevent another athlete from following in their path. I would like to see a doping-free athletic world much like I would like a crime-free world, but in looking at past practices it may never happen. The best we can do is to continually study the causes and methods of doping. Only through their rehabilitation and redemption can these cheating athletes serve a higher purpose – rather than being viewed as merely a symptom of the problem and banished disgracefully, without any hope of being part of the solution fans so desperately want.
The decision by the CAS was the correct one and the disappointment by many in the British athletic system is unwarranted, underserving and unproductive. It is unproductive in the sense that it does nothing to solve the problem of doping in sports. WADA is the acknowledged anti-doping body and like our civilized society we are a society of rules and laws which must be followed by everyone involved.
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