I would be surprised to learn that USOC isn't doing the same thing.
The stakes are so high now and the training is so thorough, the temptation to cheat must be immense.
The stakes are so high now and the training is so thorough, the temptation to cheat must be immense.
Perhaps I'm naive - but other than bragging rights (and corruption potential for hosting nations) what is really at stake?
Nationalism makes people do some stupid things.
Funnies aside though, people's jobs depend on wins. So why not encourage athletes to dope if you can protect them.
Does the US government care enough about its Olympic performance to coordinate systematic cheating like this?
Winning at sports is cool, but my impression is that authoritarian governments care much more about it (as a matter of national prestige) than non-authoritarian governments do.