LOSING THE OLYMPIC GOLD

Record-setting Jamaican runner Usain Bolt had to give up one of his nine Olympic gold medals because of his teammate’s fault. The International Olympic Committee disqualified the Jamaican team after one of the team members, Nesta Carter, was found guilty of doping. According to the Olympic rules, the entire team (1)... and might have to give up medals if one runner fails a doping test.

The International Olympic Committee stores blood and urine samples and routinely retests them. (2)... , new and more improved testing methods become available. The samples can be saved and used in ten years and any trace of banned substances may lead to teams being disqualified. The Committee found a banned substance in Carter’s samples after the 2008 Olympics. Carter said that in 2008 he was taking supplements on the advice of his coach and did not know that they were banned substances. He also added that during the competitions, he was tested several times, but he never received a positive result.

Carter is not the only athlete who has been found using doping. Many athletes still use drugs and steroids for strength, durability and also muscle gain even though they are (3)... . Use of steroids can cause heart and liver damage. They can also cause insomnia and or other psychological illnesses such as tantrums or depression.

Doping in sports is not new. Even the ancient Greek Olympians athletes used different substances for extra strength. (4)... after a Danish cyclist died in 1960 at the Rome Games. The athlete fell off his bike and hit his head, which was a result of substance use. While doping rules were made to protect the competitors’ health, their purpose today is largely to prevent cheating and keep the games fair.

After giving his gold medal back Bolt said that (5)... . “But in life, things happen…. I’m not sad. I’m waiting to see what is going to happen to Nesta,” he added.