The failures of drug testing

Re “Presumed guilty,” two-part series, Dec 11-12

After reading your series on drug testing, I can only think that somewhere, former International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage is smiling. He had zero tolerance for professionalism, and I’m sure he would have the same attitude toward drugs.

To me, zero tolerance equals a gross lack of common sense. Do we expect all athletes to be chemists and know a skin cream will result in a positive drug test? I know the United States is a member of this World Anti-Doping Agency outfit, but I think we ought to give a long, hard look at what the organization is doing and give deep consideration about continuing our association with it.

DAVID TURNER

Apple Valley, Calif.

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The BALCO and Operation Puerto scandals indicate that doping is widespread among elite athletes. The vast majority of athletes routinely tested and implicated in those scandals have never tested positive for any banned substance. Even the harshest punishment regime doesn’t deter those who know their chances of getting caught are slim-to-none.

WADA could afford to be more lenient to inadvertent and technical violations if it were more competent at identifying real dopers.

CHRIS PLOURDE

Venice