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[Definitie:] "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance."
(Wilmore and Costill) 
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0 8 - 1 2 - 2 0 0 4 What's next big scandal? Genetic doping
December 08, 2004
If you think drug scandals in sports have peaked with the BALCO disaster, think again.
"If THG is only the fifth designer drug in 25 years to be identified, how many more are out there being used that we don't even know about?'' asked Dr. Charles Yesalis, Professor of Health Policy and Administration, and Exercise and Sport Science at Penn State. "It would be naive and negligent for us to think otherwise.
"There's still no effective test for the steroid creams, testosterone gels, growth factors and all the other blood doping agents. "And I'll tell you what's right over the horizon that no one's even spoken of yet: genetic doping. It's coming.'' That would involve changing an athlete's DNA in order to boost his/her competitive edge.
There aren't many people who know more about drugs in sports than Yesalis, who has been not only a source of expertise over the years but also someone to commiserate with when the sports world refused to examine the drug epidemic.
"Our job is to lift up the rock and show people what's underneath, but that's no guarantee that they're going to care,'' said Yesalis, who has been studying the nonmedical use of performance-enhancing drugs for 25 years.
"I point my finger at the sports journalists. They shamelessly celebrated and promoted the home runs and the players, no more so than in 1998 (Sammy Sosa-Mark McGwire) and in the years since.
"Some of them still don't care, or don't want to admit, that they were fooled. If the writers didn't know what was happening, they were unbelievably stupid or sycophants.
"Similarly, are you telling me all these brilliant owners, these rich businessmen, were suddenly absolute total morons when it comes to identifying players on steroids?
"My dad had an expression that applies here: 'The piano player in the (cathouse) always says he didn't know what was going on upstairs.' That's everyone in baseball now.
"And the fans don't really care. They want to be entertained. You hear 70 percent of the fans are upset, but so upset that they'd stay away from the games? That's the question.''
The scary part We won't know for years how many current middle school children will die young because of anabolic steroids, but Yesalis says the numbers are skyrocketing and that as many junior high girls are using as boys. "If you teach your kids to win at all costs, the use of drugs is exceedingly logical,'' Yesalis said. "Sports are a great part of life and can teach so much, but today it's potentially dangerous.
"Look, you don't put your kids on a bus at 11 p.m. alone with no supervision. Why not screen a coach as carefully as you select a pediatrician?
"You have to give them a clear, constant, consistent message that there is never an excuse for using drugs. You have to start that young - before it's too late.''
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