THAT many elite sports people are culpable on the matter of
doping is demoralising enough. Perhaps more depressing is that
many key administrators don't seem to recognise the urgency of
the situation.  Throw in the various medical and coaching
enablers, the odd media commentator who would rather
propagandise than discuss inconvenient truths, and a politician
or two, and the outlook is bleak.  The notion that the Lance
Armstrong affair will purge sport of its drug problem is, one
suspects, pure fantasy. What we are currently experiencing is
another round of the serial hand-wringing that began with the
Ben Johnson scandal at the Seoul Olympics nearly a quarter of a
century ago.  Which means those admirable athletes who continue
to fight with one hand tied behind their backs will continue to
be disadvantaged. And on occasions when, through a particular
combination of skill and hard work, they do happen to achieve
notable performances, they'll be doubted because we've all been
made sceptical.  This is the stain c