You Mean I Can't Get Abs Like Hers From Sit Ups?

So Marion Jones has finally copped to using steroids. And not just to using them, but that she lied to federal prosecutors when they asked her about her use. The same federal prosecutors who caused Barry Bonds to get the home run record with an asterisk. Ever since she she was questioned the first time, she has denied, denied, denied, that she used steroids, and now it turns out that she lied, lied, lied.

Raise your hand if you're surprised. No hands? These rumors have been following her for years, ever since she won all those medals at the 2000 Olympics. Granted, she did get two bronze medals, but those were in the 4X100 relay (where there are 3 others who may not be doped up to slow you down) and the long jump. I hope you took a lot of pictures with those medals, Marion, because they are going bye-bye.

First Floyd Landis and the Tour de France and now this. Not a good look for Americans in fringe sports.

I actually volunteered to help conduct random urine testing for athletes at an annual track and field event. No, I didn't actually do the test, I just tapped them on the shoulder and told them that they were being selected, then watched to make sure they didn't drink any "funny water" as I escorted them to the testing room. From what I recall, no one had any medals stripped away, and at this particular event, those running for Team Nike, Reebok, and Adidas (i.e., the famous runners) were just there for show so I don't know if they got tested.

One particular year, I met Marion Jones. She seemed nice enough. She and I are close to the same height, and I was playing sports at the time and considered myself to be in fairly decent shape but she was WAY bigger than me, and much more cut. I don't know if she was on performance enhancers then, but the timing seems to match up. She smoked everyone at that race, too.

Now they're saying she has tarnished her legacy, but I think that's a little harsh. While none of you raised a hand when I asked if you were surprised, I bet all of those hands would shoot up (no pun intended) if I asked you who believes that all sprinters use steroids. Flo Jo, may she rest in peace, died from mysterious causes at the age of 38 after being dogged by rumors of steroid use, but even Marion couldn't break the records she set.

Now, I'm sure a lot of Marion's competitors were doing the same thing. She just happened to be tremendously fast and on steroids.

I do think there is something wrong with taking performance enhancing drugs or medicaments if doing so can kill you or do serious damage to your body (like certain steroids - or all of them?). I just want to understand the source of the outrage. It appears that the people who come up with these things are always a step ahead of the regulators, and everyone is on some kind of enhancer, it just may not be illegal yet. Perhaps there's something to maintaining the sanctity of the sport, and being able to compare records across eras, but I believe athletes were doing something to enhance their performance from the days of the first Olympics, so it's all relative.

Maybe it's that everyone doesn't have access to the same drugs? But isn't that the case with all types of "enhancers" - from supplements, to great coaching, to plyometric devices, to particular diets? Raw talent and speed is only as good as it is harnessed.

Someone clue me in: if there is no damage done to the body, what's the real problem with taking something to enhance your performance?