I don't have the energy to condemn fighters who piss dirty anymore. Whatever I might think of the situation (and I don't agree with it in any way) if everyone is doing it then the only clean fighters become those smart enough or well connected enough to bypass the testing procedures. What does the term even mean in that case? The whole thing becomes a mockery.
For instance you have fans (understandably) condemning Povetkin and Fury for PED use yet still backing Joshua and Wilder, two men who are obviously chemically enhanced but are 'clean' only in the sense that they've never failed a test. That's fair enough from a sporting rules POV. But it also supposes you consider the drug testing orgs to be infallible and/or uncorruptible, which of course they aren't.
Ultimately, of course, the only way to truly control the situation is to ensure the very strictest quality control measures and punish those who fail tests with lengthy bans and fines in the hope that their situation deters others (which it likely won't). In that respect moral outrage still has a place, in ensuring that cheaters face real lasting repercussions both socially and monetarily. But if history has shown anything it's that athletes would rather take the risk and deal with the consequences later than think twice now and compromise their chances at fame, money and glory.
For instance you have fans (understandably) condemning Povetkin and Fury for PED use yet still backing Joshua and Wilder, two men who are obviously chemically enhanced but are 'clean' only in the sense that they've never failed a test. That's fair enough from a sporting rules POV. But it also supposes you consider the drug testing orgs to be infallible and/or uncorruptible, which of course they aren't.
Ultimately, of course, the only way to truly control the situation is to ensure the very strictest quality control measures and punish those who fail tests with lengthy bans and fines in the hope that their situation deters others (which it likely won't). In that respect moral outrage still has a place, in ensuring that cheaters face real lasting repercussions both socially and monetarily. But if history has shown anything it's that athletes would rather take the risk and deal with the consequences later than think twice now and compromise their chances at fame, money and glory.
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