‘There Is No Test For Honesty’

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Sonia O’Sullivan celebrates after winning a silver medal in the Sydney Olympics in 2000

 

“Was I cheated out of medals? Earlier in my career I tolerated a lot and just got on with training. Sometimes to such an extent that injury and illness were almost inevitable, and too often were. But I didn’t know any better. As an athlete I never wanted to let what others were up to bother or distract me. This wasn’t me being naive. It wasn’t something I could control. And I didn’t want to let it become an excuse.”

“… So I never said anything or questioned anyone because I felt this would only take energy away from me. And I knew I was doing the right thing. Some athletes were getting away with doing the wrong thing, over and over again, so that they believed that is what it took to be the best.”

Only the athletes who never cheat truly know what they have achieved. There is no test for honesty, integrity, hard work.”

Sonia O’Sullivan

Sonia O’Sullivan: many countries have sub-standard drug-testing (Irish Times)

Pic: RTÉ

 

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14 thoughts on “‘There Is No Test For Honesty’

  1. Mr. T.

    I don’t know how some people can respect themselves after cheating in competition, whether it’s sport or business or anything else in life. Ultimately they know they don’t deserve what they get through cheating and that undermines happiness and self respect. It’s destructive and eats away.

    The biggest lies are the ones you tell yourself.

  2. Bonkers

    The whole doping thing in athletics leaves a sick feeling in my stomach. I thoroughly enjoyed the 2012 Olympics but come the 2016 version next year I feel apathetic. Likes whats the point of watching sport if you have a well founded suspicion that some competitors are cheating?

  3. sǝɯǝɯʇɐpɐq

    At it’s top level ALL sports are about money nowadays.
    It’s corrupted beyond comprehension, and totally meaningless.

    Oh look…Drugs..?
    How did that happen?

    I don’t care too much meself for any of it, but I’d like to see a two-tier system:
    A totally drug-free competition, and a more entertaining one where you can do whatever you like.

    1. bertie blenkinsop

      I wouldn’t say hurling is all about money.
      Skill, local pride and locking referees in the boots of cars perhaps but money, no.

  4. f_lawless

    “Russia may have grabbed the headlines, but it is not alone as many other countries are known to have sub-standard or compromised drug-testing procedures.”
    This constant “Russia bashing” in the western media is getting really weary. It’s becoming really obvious that there’s been a campaign in recent times to paint Russia and Putin as a malevolent force in the world in order to justify various sanctions against them but in my view it just stems from the fact that they’ve been standing in the way of the US and its allies’ geopolitical aspirations.

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