Tour de France Drug Abuse Essay -- Substance Abuse Essays

The question of drug use among athletes in what was previously considered by the unknowing public to be a rather pristine playing period, cycling, is important in that it leave alone affect all future spells and will place them and the athletes nether scrutiny. To begin with, in Europe until the 1998 shit occurred, despite a few exceptions, cycling was considered a drug free sport. The 1998 drug scandal tarnished the Tour de France and the reputation and image of other sports. The media response to the scandal took differing positions on what should be done next to brisk up cycling. The scandal also affected advertisements, sales, and without question the 1999 Tour and Lance Armstrong. Since even the most nave fan no longer trusts the cyclists, drug-testing procedures have been instituted. Also, the question now arises regarding medications used by seriously ill cyclists.Certainly, future Tours will be significantly affected. The Union Cycliste Internationale and other sports officials are left with several burning questions do they seek a better testing agreement? Clearly, they must protect athletes and the image of sports even though it is costly. Do they perform uniform versus random drug tests? Both 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 still debating.For years cycling, a grueling, yet glamorous sport in Europe, has been fighting 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 public to be a rather pristine sport, cycling, is important in that it will affect all future Tours and will place them and the athletes under scrutiny. A Clean Reputati on 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 after he was caught concealing a clean urine sample to trick testers. Furthermore, in 1988, the Spaniard Pedro Delgado won the T... ...cess Story Tour de Lance Armstrongs miraculous comeback from cancer to a Tour advantage is worthy of an exclamation point, not a question mark. The Los Angeles Times 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 checkup 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-N ews, 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.