Hilter's Cold Shoulder

Our class is called "Historical & Ethical Issues in Physical Culture & Sport," and we've learned a lot about the history of sport and how far equipment has come to support those who want to keep their body in good shape and be healthy. However, before this semester I was never able to discern how greatly sport can affect political issues. First off, let me just say after reading the article by Thomas Hunt, the IOC as well as the USOC were out of their minds and really disorganized when it came down to the wire. The disqualification of Rick DeMont was heartbreaking because it shouldn't have happened in the first place only if the USOC was on top of things. The athlete did everything right and yet he still got disqualified. Even if the these International Olympic Committees were newly created, they should do everything in their power to make sure their nation's athletes are following all of the protocols. But it just goes back to how things are corrupt, researchers are created all of these new kinds of drugs and athletes are being forced to take them with no say in the matter. I guess in the nation's mind, a little goes a long way, and what I mean by that is- If countries are able to claim international prestige by winning the majority of gold medals at the Olympic Games than they would be seen as the more powerful nation politically. So by using sport and the manufacturing the best athletes, it would be a sacrifice in the name of becoming a more powerful nation. I guess during these times it really didn't matter if people were being sacrificed because the world saw how millions of Jewish people were killed by Nazis.

 Personally, I think it's amazing how far technology has come to test DNA for illegal substances. Either in forensics where it can really help catch a murderer or the fact that a lot of athletes that were drug tested and passed, however, years later it was shown that they actually failed but because the technology then didn't allow that specimen to be flagged. It's crazy how far athletes can extend their reach to stay ahead of the detection methods. In my opinion, I don't want to compete with the burden on my shoulders knowing that I wasn't able to accomplish it on my own without the help of drugs. But it seems as if all other athletes don't have that kind of mindset, they live by the "in it to win it" ideology.