"It really isn't about drugs--it's about the lies…Federations at every level are covering up drugs and covering up for people. ... It's a joke... The commitment to find drugs is not there. There are much better ways to test than they are doing, but ... they don't want to catch anyone in the first place." (Carl Lewis quoted in With Drug Tests, Answers Are Few)
Drug testing in sport is a worthwhile ideal but the process needs to be refined if it is to be considered a worthwhile endeavour. Ever since the introduction of drug testing, a self-defeating cycle of events has occurred: athletes take performance-enhancing drugs, so organizations develop tests to combat this intake, the athletes then figure out how to beat the tests, new tests are developed and the cycle begins again. "Testing is becoming ever more sophisticated, yet athletes seem to be at least one step ahead", (Why doctors should worry about doping in sport, The Lancet, July 4, 1998 v 351 p42) Athletes are beating the system and finding the loopholes in the testing procedure, so there are only a small number of athletes testing positive to banned substances. Officials, organizations and society are fooling themselves into thinking that drug use is declining. To overco

However, drug testing is not enough by itself- preventative measures must also be implemented. Early education of young athletes is vital, to provide information about long term effects of drugs in sport; raise the profile of testing, provide essential information about banned substances and ensure that young athletes grow up accepting and adhering to international standards. This can be achieved through education and promotional campaigns. Drug testing in sport is a worthwhile ideal but it needs to be conducted with international collaboration, education and promotion for it to be considered a worthwhile endeavour.

Drug testing is necessary but it is equally important to take preventative measures, so education of young athletes is vital. ‘A broad range of educational anti-doping programs is an essential part of the national anti-drugs in sport strategy? (Tough on Drugs 1999 ?2000) Education programs can serve a range of purposes, including deterrence through raising the profile of testing, provision of essential information, and longer-term prevention of drug use. To maximise their effectiveness, education programs must work in harmony with a range of other anti-doping initiatives. ‘Effective education and promotional programs, which are targeted appropriately, can greatly increase the impact of policy and testing initiatives.? (Drugs in sport summit, Discussion Papers, 1999)

Current policy in drug testing needs immediate review and reconstruction because the inconsistencies and overall lack of clarity create ‘grey areas? decreasing the effectiveness of drug testing. The review and reconstruction should be done by looking at the role of those involved, what they need to do and the process that must be mandated to improve the effectiveness of drug testing. “Recent years have shown the problems that can arise when policies are not consistent and can undermine the credibility of anti-doping policies?(Drugs in Sport- Summit, Sydney 1999) This cannot be achieved by one country working in isolation.

“New performance enhancing drugs, as well as masking agents used to hide the presence of these drugs, provide a constant challenge for drug detection. Therefore, our ability to detect and identify the presence of banned drugs in athletes is fundamental to tackling drugs in sport.?(Tough on Drugs 1999 ?2000) The issue of detection is vital to reduce and eventually get rid of the use of drugs in sport. If the regulations and testing imposed by sporting bodies are impossible to police, we can expect that some athletes will ignore them. Alternatively, if drug testing is quick, easy and reliable, we stand a much better chance of catching drug cheats.

“A credible and effective drug testing program is vital to a nation committed to ensuring that excellence in sport is the result of ability and achievement ~ not chemical enhancement.? (Tough on Drugs, 1999-2000) The program must be reviewed and revised constantly to ensure drug testing is reliable, consistent and beyond criticism. Governments and sports governing bodies play a vital role