The Fraudulent Olympics

Victor Conte, the founder of BALCO which is at the centre of a major sports doping scandal, has said what many have long suspected; namely that the Olympics are a fraud.

He has given an interview to ABC News for their "20/20" show, just as he began his 4 month jail term, in the interview he said "the Olympic Games are a fraud".

He exposed the custom made regimens of performance enhancing drugs for top athletes, including Olympic track and field superstar Marion Jones.

Jones has never failed a drug test and, in a statement by her lawyers, has denied using any banned substances. However, Conte claims that he has shown her how to use drugs that would not be detected by testing.

Conte said in the interview that he believes that over half of the top athletes are using anabolic steroids, and 80% are taking some kind of stimulant before every game.

He believes that the way to "level the playing field" is to legalise these drugs.

Quote:

"It's not cheating if everybody is doing it. And if you've got the knowledge that that's what everyone is doing, and those are the real rules of the game, then you're not cheating."

However, were the drugs to be legalised then the "athletic" competition would become a research and development competition between competing drugs companies; who would use the athletes as their guinea pigs.

Now we know why the IOC are so keen to make Italy relax its criminal legislation, in respect of drugs; there is a very real danger that, during the forthcoming Winter Olympics, half of the competitors (if Conte is right) would end up in jail.

Now that would really damage the Olympic cash cow.

Dopes

It seems that the possible crisis over Italy's tough doping laws may be averted, in time for the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Valentino Castellani, chief of the Turin organising committee, said that he believed a tentative accord had been reached.

Quote:

"I don't know the details, it's not my business."

The Italian law states that athletes can face criminal sanctions for doping violations.

Quite rightly so!

However, this was too much to stomach for the IOC, who are aware that more than a few athletes take drugs to enhance their performance. They were well aware that this law would mean the unedifying spectacle of police raids in the Olympic Village during the games, February 10-26.

Which of course is very bad for their sponsorship deals!

The International Olympic Committee rules state that athletes face disqualification for any doping offense, but no legal penalties.

Athletes, apparently, are above the law.

Government supervisor Mario Pescante said that he would meet with IOC president, Jacques Rogge, at a European Olympic meeting in Dublin this weekend.

Quote:

"I will speak with him about doping. We are optimistic."

Pescante had tried to temporarily suspend Italy's laws for the Olympics. However, the Senate rounded on him; quite right!

Rogge said that he expects "intelligent solutions" will be found within "full respect" of the law.

Why should athletes be treated differently to everyone else?

Oh, silly me, it's the money!

Mosque Planned For 2012 Olympics

An enormous mosque, designed to hold 40,000 worshippers, is being proposed to be built next to the Olympic complex in London.

The design, featuring wind turbines and a translucent latticed roof, will be opened in time for the 2012 Games.

The complex is designed to become the "Muslim quarter" for the Games, and will be a hub for Islamic competitors and spectators.