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The BALCO scandal that involved some prominent athletes including Marion Jones was the finishing touch to a decimation of the integrity of Track and field as a sport back in the 2000s.

Although the sport has gradually built up reputation over time especially with the rise of Usain Bolt, these drug cheats appeared so skilled at the time that I often wonder if there was ever a need for cheating in the first place.

It is a lot easier to convince an average athlete to use performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in other to become a superstar. The appeal in this case which is the lure of getting something otherwise out of reach may be tempting enough to sway those who have lesser value systems than others.

One of the things that get people suspicious of possible PED use is the antecedents of an athlete prior to incredible performances. Some athletes can announce themselves in the limelight suddenly, yet their feats won't be completely unexpected. A good example is Usain Bolt's arrival into the 100m Scene in 2016 despite being more renowned for being a 200m runner at Junior level. As a result of his Junior performances, expectations were already high regardless of the sprinting event he was to focus on.

Steve Millings was a Jamaican sprinter who had never broken the 10 second barrier prior to 2011. That year he got under the mark seven times and his PB of 9.80 Seconds made him Seventh fastest Man in history as at the time. Millings was banned for life from Athletics after failing a second drug test in 2011.

But Why do Top Athletes Cheat?

No amount of performance enhancing drugs can transform a bad athlete or even an average one to sudden dominance. For an athlete to have become as good as Marion Jones was to the extent that her 100m PB was considered a World record to some due to Flo-Jo's seemingly unbeatable 10.49 seconds, Marion no doubt possessed an extraordinary talent that Would have stood without the steroid boost. Why then did she and everyone involved in the BALCO scandal feel the need to cheat?

One of the biggest temptations is opportunity. The BALCO scandal was one of such for an exclusive list of top athletes who had access to a seemingly undetectable supply of PEDs. It was too tempting and promised a career of dominance for those who used it free from the repercussions of being caught. Many athletes wouldn't take PEDs simply because they are aware of the reputation damage it would do. However, if given an alternate route as BALCO showed, a lot more athletes will be willing to consider such an easy route to success.

There is no doubt in my mind that some athletes have gotten away with PED use undetected, going by the systemic way it was being administered in some places. Some of them might be athletes that we call legends today or sing their praises. This lure of an easy way to to stardom will always be there, and as long as there is incentive there would be willing participants who would cheat.

Conclusion

No matter how competitive an era is, exceptional talent laced with hardwork will always stand out. Athletes need to realize this rather than feel the need to look for easier routes to stardom. The use of PEDs taint the image and integrity of sports and should be discouraged to the point of disgust when the suggestion even pops up among potential users.