The sporting world of athletics has seen it all with drug doping. Some of the biggest top-name athletes have broken the rules, including Canadian Ben Johnson, who was banned from competing for two years and stripped off his records back in 1988.
USA’s Justin Gatlin tested positive for testosterone and was due to be banned for eight years back in 2006 but got his ban eventually lowered to four years after cooperating with the doping authorities.
The examples are almost endless and seeing news that portray track and field athletes in such a light is a very concerning thing for myself and others taking this sport really seriously with the goal of one day becoming an Olympic champion.
It has come to a point where young athletes have to accept this as reality of athletics. It may never change, as some feel doping is the best way to enhance their performance and to become a ‘champion’.
Is the sport ruined?
In my opinion as a track and field athlete, drug doping has tarnished the athletics sport. This has affected me mentally as I know the focus and the end goal is to fun fast.
However, I do have moments where I ask myself ‘Would people also think I take drugs due to the stereotyping that is based in athletics?’
I have found myself having many conversations on this topic with my coach and my fellow training partners discussing this as it is such a big topic and we do feel like we can relate to each other on this topic.
Before I started the sport, I remember being just 11 years old and not even considering the fact that some of my biggest influences in athletics might be doping.
Achievable
However, as you get older you start to notice the news that surrounds athletics and as a woman, you wonder if the women’s hundred-metre record of 10.49 seconds, is even achievable and whether it will require doping to break it.
It was a proud and emotional moment for young athletes when Elaine Thompson-Herah was able to run 10.54, which just goes to show that it is possible.
I do think there is hope, there are better days ahead where athletics gains its respect back, the doping incidents become something of the past and athletes perform at the highest levels without the need for drugs to help and enhance their performance.
