Drug Games - The International Olympic Committee and the Politics of Doping, 1960-2008 (Paperback)

On August 26, 1960, twenty-three-year-old Danish cyclist Knud Jensen, competing in that year's Rome Olympic Games, suddenly fell from his bike and fractured his skull. His death hours later led to rumors that performance-enhancing drugs were in his system. Though certainly not the first instance of doping in the Olympic Games, Jensen's death serves as the starting point for Thomas M. Hunt's thoroughly researched, chronological history of the modern relationship of doping to the Olympics. Utilizing concepts derived from international relations theory, diplomatic history, and administrative law, this work connects the issue to global political relations. During the Cold War, national governments had little reason to support effective anti-doping controls in the Olympics. Both the United States and the Soviet Union conceptualized power in sport as a means of impressing both friends and rivals abroad. The resulting medals race motivated nations on both sides of the Iron Curtain to allow drug regulatory powers to remain with private sport authorities. Given the costs involved in testing and the repercussions of drug scandals, these authorities tried to avoid the issue whenever possible. But toward the end of the Cold War, governments became more involved in the issue of testing. Having historically been a combined scientific, ethical, and political dilemma, obstacles to the elimination of doping in the Olympics are becoming less restrained by political inertia.

General

Imprint:	University Of Texas Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	Terry and Jan Todd Series on Physical Culture and Sports
Release date:	2011
First published:	November 2011
Authors:	Thomas M Hunt
Introduction by:	John Hoberman
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 18mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade / Trade
Pages:	231
ISBN-13:	978-0-292-73749-5
Categories:	Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Sporting events, tours & organisations > Olympic games Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Sporting events, tours & organisations > Sports governing bodies Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues > Illness & addiction: social aspects > Drug addiction & substance abuse Books > Medicine > General issues > Public health & preventive medicine > Personal & public health > General
LSN:	0-292-73749-1
Barcode:	9780292737495

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!