In late August, news broke that number one ranked tennis star, Jannik Sinner, failed drug tests in March of this year. Authorities found low levels of Clostebol in his system, yet Sinner continued competing throughout the year.
Recently, the drug in question was found in the system of San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr.. As a result, he received an 80-game ban. The amount found in Sinner’s system was reportedly less than a billionth of a gram.
Despite the miniscule amount, Sinner came under fire. Tennis fans questioned the integrity of his performances this year, which include notable tournament wins in Miami and Cincinnati.
The point of this article isn’t to judge Sinner. It is to address the stigma that doping has considering the modern-day advancements readily available to athletes.
It is perfectly reasonable that strict substance limits are set since different bodies react to these substances in different ways. The use of illegal substances, specifically in combat sports, could even be fatal for the competitors caught on the receiving end.
But it seems like every week somewhere in the world, an athlete is breaking some long-standing record. If doping brings up questions on the integrity of sport, shouldn’t other areas of innovation (technology, nutrition, etc.) be considered in the same way?
The world of sports analysis has become obsessed with tracking data to the finest detail and making advancements in technology and nutrition. Teams and athletes utilize these data points and innovations to look for areas of leverage wherever they can.
For example, runners have shoes that are designed to make them faster, boxers use natural supplements to drop weight and regain it overnight, and statistics can build baseball teams to make strong championship runs.
Across all sports, performance and results are constantly amplified by technological, nutritional, and statistical breakthroughs. If fans are worried about preserving the purity of sport, it’s a bit too late for that.
But what about cases like Sinner’s? Failed drug tests trigger assumptions that can unfairly leave a stain on an athlete’s successes in the past. Regardless of results being discredited by banned substance use, doubt can linger, which can greatly affect an athlete’s mentality.
It’s easy to be cynical as advancements push into gray areas raising concern. But like most things, knowing the facts often provides clarity. Sports may not present the raw athleticism they once did, but it doesn’t devalue them. The truth is that the baseline has changed.
Fans need to keep in mind what ultimately draws them to sports. It’s not just the controversy and scandal, it’s about your favorite team ending a title drought, or your favorite athlete breaking a record.
We come to sports for entertainment and to marvel at the peak in performance and strategy. So, next time a headline comes out, take time to dig deeper. The more you know about the sport you follow, the more you’ll enjoy the game.