OLYMPICS GIVE LEAD ON ALL ILLICIT DRUGS

NOW, AND just before the next ACT elections, are the most relevant
times for Canberrans to ask the question: Why do we as a society
expect and demand that Olympic athletes uphold their dignity as human
beings and Olympians in relation to outlawed drug use, but drastically
reduce that demand/expectation to ineffectual harm-minimisation when
it comes to outlawed drugs in our Australian society?

The Olympics standard is zero tolerance to such drug use although they
know they won't achieve a 100 per cent drug-free Games. (The
tough-on-drugs policy is zero tolerance to illegal drugs not the user
and the difference should be well noted).

Individual human dignity is obviously regarded as vital by the IOC and
SOCOG, both for the individual, the Games, and the giving of good
example to budding Olympians, their countries, and the world.

Why the double standards on drugs and drug use as between the Olympics
and our society generally?

If achievement in sport is one of the highest aspirations of national
communities and the world, and it is, then why don't our politicians
have the higher policy aim of a drug-free society for the even nobler
cause of the life-long integrity of our youth, Australia and its
citizens generally? Or must we all first become Olympic aspirants?

COL PARRETT
Kingston