In 1920, the Americans enacted prohibition. Far from the anticipated effect, alcohol consumption increased, organised crime thrived, and there was corruption amongst government officials. For the politicians, athletic performance was a quick and cheap way to obtain international prestige. Following the games, the Canadian Government set up an official enquiry, headed by the Canadian Justice Minister, Charles Dubin. The use of performance enhancing drugs has increased, organised crime has thrived, and there is 'corruption' amongst government officials.
Performance enhancing drugs are nothing new.
Pushing the rules to the limit has long been part of sport but the influence of governments and the large financial rewards of sporting success are creating further temptations for athletes. As technology advances there can be no level playing field. Sports science is pushing the boundaries of physical performance and it is difficult to see where it will end. In the war against performance enhancing drugs, the lines of legality and fairness are increasingly blurred. Sponsorship, both commercial and governmental, has created tiers of support within sport that clearly give some athletes an advantage, as they are able to pursue a full time sporting career.