YOUR SAY
Bryony Potter, London
Email: jason.henderson@athleticsweekly.com or write to us at Athletics Weekly, The Great Run Company, 22 Long Acre, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9LY. (Please supply address and phone number)
SHAME RATHER THAN PRAISE FOR DOPERS
I REMEMBER the excitement and pride I felt when as a young athlete lining up in a race I heard my name and rather modest athletics achievements announced to the spectators.
Those small moments of recognition were really precious to me back then, providing extra motivation and a boost of support on the start line.
While we cannot ban drug cheats from the sport, I believe that we can do more to stigmatise doping. I propose that for athletes who have served a doping suspension we take away this precious moment of recognition and celebration on the start line, announcing the athletes’ doping violations rather than their achievements.