What exactly is an artificial performance enhancement? Is there an objective line between consuming a nutritious vitamin filled Subway sandwich versus grits and oatmeal? What about drinking filtered water versus a Dr. Strangelove inspired concoction?
In addition to cracking down on illicit steroid use, according to Techdirt, the World Anti-Doping Agency is now targeting high-altitude tent’s and those that use them. For those unfamiliar with this technology, over the past decade some long-distance runners have used a novel approach to build up endurance. Through the combination of training at low altitudes and living in houses designed with air levels similar to the thin air in high-altitudes, these runners have built up a competitive edge to those who train in the natural “air zone.” And it is this natural “air zone” that the WADA considers sacrosanct.
Among other questions, one wonders if WADA will soon turn their attention to runners using synthetically molded shoes, which are arguably superior to scurrying around bare foot. In fact, is it a matter of time before WADA penalizes cyclists and swimmers for shaving and wearing “performance enhancing” equipment? What about LASIK or Tommy John surgery for pitchers? To this effect, could an argument against all Olympic and professional training be made due to the “unnatural” rigor and strain that the athlete continually places on their body?
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Banning the use of tents that simulate high-altitude conditions?
Well, in that case, I fully expect the USOC to shut down the National Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which has an average elevation of over 6,000 feet above sea level.
I see the point, while the incentive is to enforce the “purity”, away from artifacts, of the human competitors, clearly our civilization is going the other way. To ancient olympic greek times, they ran naked of course…
Cyclism is probably already there, they’ve banned all sorts of innovation, like one piece frame bicycle (only tubular frames are allowed), some types of wheels, but also positions (you aren’t allowed to sit on your bike in some ways that would give you an advantage).
Until they realize that winning is due to a certain spiritual attitude… then they will ban thinking while training sports! Just kidding.
This “no innovation” ambiguity is long present in “classical” music or Arts in general: either you go by the rules and play Mozart or whoever the way all specialists say you should… in all the big concert halls… waiting for the next young genius then to come and send you into oblivion, or you break all the rules and make your own way…and nobody will ever be “better” because you are Picasso, Kafka, Chaplin and the like.
The objections to standards in sports is silly, and the objection to The World Anti-Doping Agency even more so. Each sport makes its own rules in response market pressures for uniformity. WADA is a spin-off of the Olympic movement, is not a governmental institution itself and promulgates no regulations. It s mission is to promote, coordinate, and monitor at the international level the fight against doping in sports, but ultimate adoption and enforcement is made by others.
I would think that Misesans might understand and support WADA, but it seems there is a collective anarachistic element here.
TokyoTom.
Your support for WADA reveals two things. 1/ You agree with unannounced ANYTIME random drug testing for illicit recreational drugs such as cocaine and marijuana so you are probably a conformist and a socialist and 2/ You don’t understand what sport represents.
Sport is a display of a countries warriors, the winnability of its armies. All armies use drugs to get the best out of the troops. Pilots use amphetamines. Ground troops use steroids and amphetamines.
“The 2008 Beijing Olympics will probably be the first gene doping Olympics awash with undetectable IGF-1 and PPAR-delta proteins that possibly can make almost anyone into a super athlete.” (What is the PFR?)
And it will probably be the most exciting games ever as we all see what drug enhancement can produce.
I guess that everyone here in Boulder, CO should be worried. Sure, we’ve had doping allegations here in Boulder (Tyler Hamilton), but there are many other professional cyclists that live here who believe in clean sportsmanship. Since we live at an altitude of 5,300ft, I wonder if the athletes here will be forced to move or even be banned from practicing in the mountains above town. I think that there is something wrong with saying that the air someone is breathing could be banned. Especially when there are NO illegal substances in the air. I’m sure that the ahtletic world will be happier when this rediculous measure is thrown out.
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