The 2016 Rio Olympic Games are now underway. It’s has been four years since we saw the world’s most gifted athletes battle each other in their respective sports. Now we get to see veterans and newbies alike compete on the world’s biggest sporting stage, again.
Like most people, we always hope that this time around, there will be less doping. In fact, we’re hoping there will be no more doping during Rio 2016. That, however, may that may sound like a bit of wishful thinking.
Many athletes already banned from Rio 2016 due to doping
Apologies if that last statement sounded a bit too cynical. Doping, after all, has been around for as long as anyone can remember. From steroids to performance enhancing compounds in harmless-looking medications and supplements, the world of sports has seen its fair share of drug cheats. And it doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon.
The last one, London 2012, saw dozens of athletes caught doping, and their results wiped out from the Games. The Rio Olympics has yet to open, but already, at least 119 Russian athletes have already been banned from the Games. The ban included the country’s entire weightlifting team, and all members of its track and field team save for one.
Russia’s ongoing and high-profile doping scandal does not bode well for Rio 2016. The way things are going, there will be more and more doping scandals as the Games progress. It is also guaranteed that more doping issues will arise long after the 2016 Games’ Closing Ceremonies.
Still, despite the rather bleak scenario with regards to doping, there is still hope that doping will gradually decrease over the next few Olympics, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to tighten its anti-doping measures. A few rotten eggs may pop up every now and then, but we believe the IOC will eventually succeed in its campaign against doping.
