Tour de France Drug Abuse Essay -- Substance Abuse Essays

The apparent movement of drug use among athletes in what was previously considered by the unknowing national to be a rather pristine sport, make pass, is important in that it lead affect all future laps and depart place them and the athletes under scrutiny. To unhorse with, in Europe until the 1998 scandal occurred, despite a few exceptions, cycling was considered a drug free sport. The 1998 drug scandal tarnished the Tour de France and the personality and image of new(prenominal) sports. The media response to the scandal took differing positions on what should be do next to clean up cycling. The scandal also affected advertisements, sales, and without headspring the 1999 Tour and Lance Armstrong. Since evening the most nave fan no longer trusts the cyclists, drug- interrogation procedures have been instituted. Also, the forefront now arises regarding medications used by staidly ill cyclists.Certainly, future Tours will be significantly affected. The Union Cycliste Int ernationale and other sports officials are left with several burning questions do they seek a better testing system? Clearly, they must protect athletes and the image of sports even though it is costly. Do they perform uniform versus random drug tests? some(prenominal) are necessary to keep athletes and trainers accountable. In fact, the 1999 Tour promoted both forms of testing (Fife 208). If they do random tests, how do they enforce them? On this point, committees and sports federations are motionlessness debating.For years cycling, a grueling, yet glamorous sport in Europe, has been contend drug use and abuse. Despite a few exceptions, cycling had the reputation, in Europe and in France, of being a clean, pure sport, compared to others, until the 1998 scandal occurred. The question of drug use among athletes in what was previously considered by the unknowing state-supported to be a rather pristine sport, cycling, is important in that it will affect all future Tours and will pl ace them and the athletes under scrutiny. A Clean Reputation The History of Drugs in the Tour de FranceIn 1967, Tommy Simpson, a British cyclist, died during the Tour de France because of the amphetamines that he took. Succeeding years brought embarrassments In 1978, the Belgian Michel Pollentier was suspended while leading the Tour de France afterwards he was caught screen a clean urine sample to trick testers. Furthermore, in 1988, the Spaniard Pedro Delgado win the T... ...cess Story Tour de Lance Armstrongs miraculous comeback from crab louse to a Tour victory is worthy of an exclamation point, not a question mark. The Los Angeles prison terms Los Angeles, Calif. 26 Jul. 1999 1. Lemonick, Michael D. Le Tour des drugs. Time New York Aug 10, 1998 76.MacAuley, Domhnall. Drugs in Sport. BMJ British Medical Journal, 313.7051, 7/27/96, 211. Online. EBSCOhost. 16 Nov. 1999. http//www.EBSCOhost.com.Neff, Craig. Drug sweep. Sports Illustrated New York, 9 Aug. 1999 71Pelkey, Charles ed. Etxebarria takes Pau Armstrong answers drug charge. Velo-News, 21 July 1999.Phillips, Ian. Armstrong Extends Tour Lead U.S. Star Bristles at French Medias Drug Innuendos. Seattle Post- Intelligencer Seattle, Wash. 15 Jul. 1999 E2.Velo-News. The sensational 1998 Tour de France Conquests and Crisis. Boulder, Colorado VeloPress, December, 1998.Virenque admits to seeking drugs. Velo-News Interactive. Velo-News 11 May 1999.Virenque released after admission. Velo-News Interactive. Velo-News, 11 May 1999.Wilson, Stephen. Doping Incidents Shake Sports from Swimming to Track & Field. Seattle Post- Intelligencer, Seattle, Wash.,.1 Aug. 1998 E6.