No Gold medals without Enhancement?: The Evolution of Doping in Sports From Ancient Olympia to the Enhanced Games

Click here to watch the trailer of "Icarus" by Bryan Fogel.

PARIS- With the final throw by France for 2 instead of 3 points in the last second of the last competition of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the United States clinched the final gold medal, securing victory over China in the overall gold medal race. This outcome marked a significant moment, with a western country that actively combats doping through state regulation taking the lead over a nation where doping is integrated into the state system, even going as far as administering growth hormones to children. The effectiveness of such practices was evident when an 18-year-old Chinese swimmer shattered the 50m freestyle world record. Before the 2021 Olympics 23 Chinese swimmers had been caught for doping, proving a systematic state programme of illegal enhancement, which has shattered all Chinese and Asian records over the last 20 years as if a new race with superpowers had emerged. 

Gold medals give a country huge prestige and governments are often orchestrating illegal enhancement instead of combating it. The Russian doping scandal, as exposed in the documentary "Icarus," is a prime example. During the Sochi Winter Olympics, the FSB (Federal Security Service) broke into laboratories at night to tamper with the samples of Russian athletes, effectively cleaning them of any banned substances.

The pattern of world records being linked to doping is not limited to Russia and China. West and East Germany won before the fall of the Berlin Wall more medals than any other nation, even more than the Soviet Union and USA. Today even Dutch managers, drawing from their extensive experience in cycling, have been pivotal in guiding both Dutch and African athletes to Olympic gold. This trend began at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics with many new world records, after enhancement drugs developed during World War II made their way into sports. 

The challenge of controlling doping is immense, especially when considering the widespread use of steroids in everyday settings like gyms. Today, any random bodybuilders uses steroids, achieving muscle mass far beyond that of the strongest men from a century ago, such as Johnny Weissmuller, the famous Tarzan actor of the 1930s. Remarkably, even modern female sprinters at the Olympics show more muscle mass than the strongest men from a hundred years ago. 

Football, often viewed as a sport free from extensive doping issues, also has its share of controversies. Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players ever, has received growth hormone treatments as a teenager to address his small stature. While his treatment was medically justified, it challenges the notion that football is free from performance enhancement. Diego Maradona, another football legend, has also been famously caught using performance-enhancing drugs. Moreover, the alarming trend of former Italian football professionals developing ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) has raised suspicions about the long-term effects of doping in the sport.

The author got for medical reasons for 3 weeks 3 shots of steroids, and suddenly scored in 2 football games 3 goals each instead of the usual 0 or 1 goal - being the one half step quicker and stronger to make the difference as a striker - eventhough the dose was insignificant compared to what professional athletes and bodybuilders consume every day. 

The fastest man on earth won the 1924 Paris Olympics in 10.60 seconds, ten percent slower than the current world record. Shoes, track, blocks and training methods would probably allow for half of such improvement without drugs. 

As genetic doping becomes more prevalent, the chances of detection diminish. Biochemists can alter just a few molecules in a formula to evade current testing methods. In response to these evolving challenges, entrepreneurs such as Christian Angermayer and the Trump supporter and tech oligarch Peter Thiel are supporting the idea of "Enhanced Games," where doping controls are eliminated altogether. While this concept pushes the boundaries of human performance, it also raises concerns about the health risks, as participants may suffer fatal consequences due to overdosing.

In contrast, ancient Olympia had a different approach. Athletes were required to live together before the competition, ensuring that everyone received the same treatment and support, thus maintaining fairness. This historical perspective reminds us that while the methods of enhancing performance have evolved, the struggle to balance fairness and achievement remains a constant challenge in sports.

As we confront the reality of doping, the question arises: how do we get it under control? Some suggest that implementing the same enhancement rules for all athletes might level the playing field. This approach would acknowledge the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs and seek to regulate it, rather than banning it outright. The idea is controversial, but it reflects the challenges of enforcing a zero-tolerance policy in a world where doping is pervasive.

Ultimately, the battle against doping is about preserving the integrity of sports while recognizing the evolving nature of competition. As science and technology continue to advance, regulators must find ways to keep up. This is crucial to ensure that the pursuit of excellence does not come at the cost of fairness, health, and the essence of sportsmanship.

The film "Icarus" highlights the inherent risks of doping, not just for the athletes who use these substances but for the integrity of sports as a whole. The documentary provides a harrowing look at how the pursuit of advantage can corrupt systems and compromise competition fairness. The title "Icarus" refers to the Greek myth of Icarus, who fell when his wax wings melted after flying too close to the sun, symbolising the dangers of pushing ethical and legal boundaries in the quest for success.