Cheaters Never Prosper
In the weeks leading up to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England I found myself getting so excited. Here we have the world’s finest athletes showcasing their talent for one unforgettable fortnight every 4 years. But with the calibre of ability so high, and the pressure on these athletes so intense to ‘bring home the gold’ to their homeland, has a sporting cancer suddenly metastasized? I am talking about cheating. It’s as old as time itself (hey, even Adam and Eve tried to pretend they didn’t eat Eden’s only forbidden fruit) but with the increased pressure of the world’s stage, is there an inordinate increase of this victory-tarnishing activity?
In addition to the rumours of blood doping amongst swimmers and cyclists, news also surfaced of women badminton players “tanking” their preliminary matches in round robin action in order to secure easier match-ups in the medal rounds. The Badminton World Federation disqualified 8 players (4 teams of women’s doubles) who clearly displayed unsportsmanlike conduct in their deliberately lackluster play. IOC (International Olympic Committee) Vice President Craig Reedie, who is the former head of the international badminton federation, applauds the decisive action by the BWF. Said Reedie, “Sport is competitive. If you lose the competitive element, then the whole thing becomes a nonsense.” All of the players involved were elite competitors, including the current world doubles champions. The fact that these world-class athletes were throwing their games was so obvious to the fans in the arena that it led to an incessant chorus of boos. Ironically, with opposing teams both trying to lose, the matches became more of a test of who could “lose best” rather than the other way around. One former Olympic champion, the men’s 2004 Olympic champion, Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, called the charade a “circus match.”
Nobody wins with cheating. It compromises the integrity and calibre of sport and cheapens the thrill of winning. The so-called winners who got there by cheating prove nothing of their worth since the end cannot justify the means. Those who benefit from cheaters who get caught can’t celebrate because they know they didn’t really “earn” their accomplishment. Fans are robbed of skilled competition and are left watching meaningless matches with no purpose or goal. No, cheaters never prosper and neither do those who play the sports cheaters compete in.
It’s very hard to imagine these world class badminton players, having trained hard for 4 years and coming to the Games with all sorts of hopes and expectations from their country, being willing to risk it all in order to get a prize they actually didn’t earn. The Bible lauds the one who “has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood” (Psalm 24:4). When 7-time Tour de France champion, Lance Armstrong, gets more headlines for blood doping than he does for the yellow jersey, we have a problem. When Barry Bonds gets more google results for steroids than he does for round trippers, the sport is in jeopardy.
Young people growing up playing sports have been done a great disservice by the cheating elite, both amateur and professional, whom they look up to. I agree with the severe decision handed down to these badminton players. Drastic times call for drastic measures. We have to keep taking the test until we pass it. Cheating our way along just won’t cut it.