Top steeplechase runner from Kenya, now Kazakhstan, fails "biological passport" testing for blood cells and iron levels. So what we have is that because the lure of gold medals and the like is so powerful, this runner was risking death by blood clots and changing her citizenship.
Now part of this is unavoidable; the lure of glory is such that, like Achilles, athletes will indeed risk an early death for a laurel wreath, but at the same time, it would be healthy for athletes if we did not provide such incentives for them to give up so much of their ordinary lives for that sake.
And as a "superannuated" distance runner who tried the steeplechase once, and who greatly respects the East African distance runners, it saddens me to see more evidence that these wonderful athletes are succumbing to this temptation.
No comments:
Post a Comment