Is the WADA Necessary?

Great Debates
1

The World Anti-Doping Agency sets standards for performance-enhancing drug testing, ostensibly. In reality, it seems that their primary function is carping about how inadequate every sanctioning body’s testing program is while accusing major athletes of using performance-enhancing drugs.

The latest instance is the WADA dismissing a report from the International Cycling Union that clears Lance Armstrong of accusations regarding the use of EPO, with WADA chairman Dick Pound threatening sanctions against any organization that accepts the reports findings (cite: http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=2468116 ).

Why do we need a WADA? Virtually every sport has an international sanctioning body capable of setting standards for its member organizations, and not all performance-enhancing drugs are effective in all sports. In addition, the WADA has started expanding the definition of performance-enhancing drugs to include training equipment and techniques, which defies all description.

Is there an argument to be made for the continued existence of the WADA?

2

You can not stop athletes from doping. The chemists are busy developing and athletes will use it.
Does any one have a right to tell you what to do with your own body. When you compete with others some of them are using what do you do. If there were 2 olympics.One clean and one with drugs,which one would be watched.
The policing is expensive and reactive. Balco labs was found out through luck. A guilty runner turned them out.If she didnt they would still be spreading. Blood doping ,steroids ,its a never ending cycle .
I am not convinced any organization is capable of keeping a sport clean.I think a clean athlete is at a hige disadvantage.

3

I’m not arguing that we don’t need drug testing of athletes. I just don’t think that the WADA is the right way to go about setting standards.

4

I was being flip but I still think it is a race between crooks and sanctioneers. But you do need some body to establish universal standards. Ifv every country picks their own then we go back to the East German swimmers of a few years ago.

5

Each country doesn’t have to. The international sanctioning body for each sport can set the guidelines. Instead of the WADA choosing a huge list, FIFA, FIBA, IBAF and other organizations can set their own prohibited lists.