It’s impossible to have a coherent debate about drugs in sport. The two tribes have set-up camp and run their respective flags up the pole for all to see.
The only problem is that life is full of shades of grey.
Situations would be simple if every problem could be classified as black or white, but that isn’t the case.
The Australian Crime Commission’s report into drugs in sport is either the biggest beat-up in many years or a document that places the spotlight on the darker side of professional sport.
The debate has unfortunately fallen along those two lines.
Those preaching patience have duelled with others outraged at the mud-slinging.
The issue is far more complex. Grey exists in abundance, but has been sitting quietly in the background.
Several key figures haven’t helped the search for clarity and it should be a lesson for everyone involved moving forward.
The sporting world looked like it was going to unravel a week and a half ago.
Kate Lundy and Jason Clare made us all believe that the heartbeat of our nation had a defect.
We had drugs, some that weren’t fit for human use, organised crime and match fixing.
The utterly hysterical fall-out was predictable and in many ways justified.
Claims weren’t backed up by names.
That news conference should never have happened until someone was about to be nabbed for a doping violation.
Who knows, no-one may be sanctioned following all of this.
That one exercise has made this whole process needlessly difficult.
The search for solid evidence was on.
Information was withheld and valid questions weren’t able to be answered.
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority picked up the hand-grenade.
More silence.
The ACC and ASADA are painted as the villains.
Their every word is scrutinised and examined for meaning when their work should’ve been allowed to take place in secret.
They are the good guys in this saga, but it’s hard to see that through all of the rage.
This mess has meant the real issue has been sidetracked.
Drugs in sport is a major issue.
To argue against it is extremely naive.
You only have to look at the long line of fallen heroes around the world to realise chemical temptation and the financial rewards that follow for being the best create a deadly cocktail.
Every single person who has been privy to the full report has come away knowing why action is needed.
Their access has given them clarity on a cloudy issue.
NSW sports minister Graham Annesley was briefed on Thursday and said what he was told was “scary in some ways.”
The truth is we all need to have patience about an issue we shouldn’t even be aware of yet.
It forces us all to exist in the grey and not in the comfortable surrounds of black and white.
Is it annoying and uncomfortable? Yes, but it’s reality.
DavisCup229
Roar Rookie
Luke, I definitely agree, but I don't see how, for starters, you can get rid of the "grey" area in sport. Even if the ACC, ASADA or whoever eventually find conclusive evidence and lay charges, there's still going to be a public outcry over this area. So many players and athletes will still be able to find loopholes.
Malo
Guest
Yeah it was a calculated Gillard govt political stunt to appear to be doing something, but again like most of their investigations and reviews nothing will happen and come out of it and the status quo will continue as usual. There is a lot of grey but the first rule should be no injections. If you have to have an injection to play sport then you are cheating and should not be on the paddock.
TC
Guest
Luke even if you are right that the grey justifies some sort of action, regardless of what happens from here on in, the initial handling of the matter was atrocious, was undertaken for selfish political purposes and many sportsmen and sportswomen have had their reputations besmirched on the basis of zero evidence. On top of that, there willl probably be commercial ramifications for some clubs in our two top professional football leagues, all because the Government went down the route of political grandstanding. Honestly, everytime Lundy opens her mouth on this issue, she demonstrates zero credibility and only succeeds in underlining that she has taken her course of action based on minimal evidence. Just another botched job from the most incompetent government in Australian history.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Hi Luke, Sorry but I really didn't get past the first paragraph. I started to yawn and dozed off. Until there is actually something to see on this matter it is all just wasted column space.