Louise Galvin: Here’s hoping Olympic dreams don’t end with a contrite admission in an LA hotel with ugly carpets

“Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport. The spirit of sport is the intrinsic value of sport. The spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind, and is the pursuit of human excellence through the dedicated perfection of each person’s natural talents. The spirit of sport is characterised, amongst other values, by ethics, fair play, honesty, health, teamwork, dedication and commitment, respect for rules and laws, respect for self and other participants, courage, community and solidarity.”

Unfortunately much of the discussion surrounding sport and its integrity in recent times is doping-related. Maria Sharapova’s failed drug test only serves to highlight what is fast becoming a common occurrence, and it’s only the high-profile cases that are cast into the public domain. The Olympic Games, aka the greatest show on earth, looms at the end of the summer, and many punters already have a sense of foreboding about the honesty, or otherwise, of the games due to this ugly underbelly.

A look back at the history books reveals multiple races where a significant number of the participants, usually the higher-placed athletes, have subsequently tested positive for banned substances. Half of the finalists in the Women’s 1,500m final in London 2012 have had positive tests (four out of the top five placed). Just to let that sink in, think back to the night you watched that race in London. Twelve females at the peak of their powers, carrying the weight of expectation from their home fans tuning in across the world, idols in their native country. Just as I was, you were admiring them, for their dedication and talent in getting to the pinnacle point of their career, an Olympic final.