London 2012 will be the most aggressive Olympic year in the effort to weed out drug users. The policy will include 150 scientists and 6,000 samples. More than 1,000 people will staff the anti-doping laboratory, with up to 400 samples tested every day for more than 240 prohibited substances. Approximately half of all participants in this years 2012 Olympics will be tested.
Quite a number of Olympic athletes have had their medals stripped from them in the past due to drug use. Some of the more memorable instances of black athletes banned from the Olympics include Marion Jones and Ben Johnson.
Having medals stripped because of drug use takes away from the glory of the win for the individual as well as the team.
Graham Edwards, Paralympic team, told BBC UK “Winning medals is like an addiction,” he said. “Once you have one, you want another.
“It’s my biggest motivation. And knowing you’ve reached the podium because of all the hard work you’ve put in – nine sessions a week, two hours each session, three gym sessions a week for four years – is the greatest feeling.
“I’m confident that everything possible is being done to catch drug cheats at London 2012 and that makes these Games really special.”
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