Armstrong set to admit doping - allegedly

[BobF64]

Doesnt seem to be much of a point in an exclusive interview if everything has already been leaked well before its aired.

Seems more like a publicity stunt by Oprah to renew her flagging popularity.

[big_hairy_rob]

Lots has been leaked, but this is often to entice you to watch the actual thing. There is still a will he, or won't he element to this, and that is likely to attract advertisement, knowing just how many people will still tune in to watch it!

[TooNice]

Although I'm all for banning doping in sport, it would be interesting to see what would happen to the times if there was a superleague where anything goes, massive amounts of steroids, the lines on the running track made out of pure amphetamine, ostrich legs transplanted on etc.

I'd be up for seeing that, but I'd prefer such league to be for the 25+.

The reason I wouldn't mind seeing it is because things are not "equal" in the first place amongst athletes of different countries / clubs. And I wonder if the line between legal supplements and illegal performance enhancer is such a clear line. Furthermore, professional athletes are rarely, if ever on their own. At the very least, they already have a coach who can influence their performance. A team of chemists to make the body work "better" is a little bit like having a team of engineer make the a car run faster.

Now of course, performance enhancing drugs carry risks to the athlete, and that is why there should be a high age restrictions. For one, I wouldn't want to see minors compete all doped up. And I also see a risk an age limit of, say, 18, wouldn't discourage some countries from pumping drugs into old children. Though a higher age restriction won't completely stop that, I am kind of hoping that they'll find that abusing it too early will be detrimental to their goals (though having no knowledge on performance enhancing drugs, I wouldn't know - for all I know side effects won't show until much later).