What do you think of athletes that take performance-enhancing drugs? 

Sera - "Athletes who take drugs are just plain stupid. They are risking their whole careers just to be slightly better."

Amy - "If you want to do good at something, you work hard and train, you don't take drugs."

Harriet - "They're meant to be our role models, showing us what we can do if we try. Using drugs simply defeats the whole competition - it's like they're cowards."

Sophie - "Sports stars who take drugs are stupid, because they know they're going to be tested, so what's the point?"

Alana - "Why do they take drugs anyway? It doesn't do them any good at all."

Tina - "Using drugs to enhance in sports is just WRONG. First of all, it screws up your body, secondly your cheating and it's not fair to the other athletes. And lastly, you will be taking credit for something you didn't earn. If I ever took drugs to enhance my performance in sports, I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that I didn't deserve it. It's better to earn things."

Nick - "I think sports people that take drugs are stupid, because they can kill you. They are not doing themselves any favours because they are not achieving their goals on their own."  

Steef - "I hate drug users. I think you just can't be happy winning knowing you've cheated."

Why do you think athletes take drugs? 

Elizabeth - "I don't see the point in taking drugs because if you do win in the sport you will have known that you cheated and you'll end up feeling guilty and you always get caught anyway."

Andy - "Well I think that people turn to steroids as they want to be the best in the world by any means necessary. I think it's a shame and the spirit of competitive sports is being lost."

Carolyn - "I don't see why people take them anyway because they get regular drug tests anyway so why do they think they can get away with it?? plus it doesn't do any good to their bodies."

What affect do you think it has on the athletes who don't take drugs? 

Jennika - "It certainly affects the athletes who don't take drugs and believe not to. I feel that the athletes that do take drugs get what they deserve."

Eun - "I think it is very unfair on sportsmen and women who are blamed for taking drugs when they haven't - but I think sports stars who do take drugs are being dishonest to themselves."

Jess - "It's not really fair on others that some sports people take drugs. It's not really fair on other sport stars as they have a disadvantage, and it's not fair on the fans and supporters as they will be disappointed."

Toby - "It's not fair on sport stars who don't take drugs because they have a disadvantage - but at least they will never get banned like those who take them."

Andy - "As for the effects on other athletes, they are understandably bitter about this. For example an early case of this kind was in the Seoul Olympics when Ben Johnson was tested positive for steroids. Apparently, Ben Johnson had beaten rival Carl Lewis on several occasions at major championships and so understandably Carl was annoyed as he felt robbed of his moments of glory."

Steef - "It's not fair too the other athletes who don't use the stuff."

Is it fair?

Injae - "It is really cheating, using drugs to win a sport?"

Olivia - "I think it is unfair when they take drugs just to get better and though it might improve how fast they are, you want to be good and it is just another way of cheating!"

Charley -  "Why not give them all performance enhancing drugs, then it would be fair!"

How are drugs affecting sport?

Daisy - "Sport is being ruined as nobody knows if competitors are really improving speed and technique because they could be taking performance enhancing drugs."

Simon - "I think drugs are ruining sport and everything must be done to stop those who take them."

Kristen - "It is ruining sports, because if a sports star takes some, it ruins his mind and image. Why build a star athlete image, then destroy it with drugs? "

Nick - "I think sports people that take drugs are ruining sport."

How can we stop drugs cheats? Should they be named and shamed? What should their punishments be?

Josh - "All we can do is hope that those who test for drugs will always be ahead of those that develop them. It's very sad to think that honest sports people could be accused of cheating due to others."

Ben - "I think when sport stars take drugs they should be banned for good and that's that."

David - "Those who take drugs should be banned for ages because they are cheats. They should let the true racers win."  

Ian - "Every athlete who tests positive should in my view be banned for life. I like to think when I line up on a start line the athlete besides me (whom may beat me) has done so legally and because he was a better runner on the day. One day he may off peak and I can score a scalp over him! (legally of course)."

Carolyn - "I think people who take them are giving the sport a bad name and deserve to be banned from the sport for life because it ruins the chances of others."

A test for a banned performance-enhancing drug called THG has been developed. THG is a anabolic steroid which helps to build muscle. It's catching lots of athletes in back-tests from before the World Athletics Championships. How do you think this will effect the Olympics in Athens next year? 

Charlie - "These drugs tests still aren't over. I mean, I'm a massive anti-doping supporter, but I'm still sceptical. I think they'll be others: I doubt he's the only person using THG in the UK. The question for Athens is who else was found using it. I mean, it's rumoured that there are 20 Americans who are unnamed. Who are they, and will they make a big difference to the games. I mean, I've heard rumours - that could make a massive difference to the medals at Athens."

Carolyn - "I reckon other athletes will be found out too. Oh well, we will have to wait and see what our Athens team will be like!"

Lori - "I also heard that the Norwegians want all previous world records to be abolished, because they suspect that the Americans have been taking THG for about 10 years!"

Charlotte - "It might seem hard now that so many athletes are being banned, but, as Paula Radcliffe said, Athens 2004 will be the cleanest Olympic Games for years."

Wilco - "Well, to me people who cheat should be banned for life. It may seem extreme but that is my opinion."

Dwain Chambers is one of the athletes who has tested positive for THG. Great Britain could be stripped of the World Championship 4x100m silver medals because he was part of the team. He denies taking it. So, did he take it on purpose, and if so, why? Or maybe you think he's innocent; do you think he was spiked? 

Charlie - "Well, they said at the World Championships that he's built up too much bulk, and that's what it does: it's a training drug that builds muscle."

Carolyn - "Yeah, I heard and read that he had built up too much bulk but didn't realise that was what the drug did!!"

Dave - "Dwain does seem like a decent bloke. Perhaps with the wrong crowd - naivety perhaps."

Hannah - "I'm really surprised about him taking drugs! That just makes him a cheat! But then he's one of my favourite male athletes."

Alistair - "When I read the article on Dwain Chambers I felt let down. Not only has he let down the other three team members of the relay but he has let down his country and admirers, young and old."

Holly - "It's such a disappointment to his fans!"

Natalie - "I think it is a bad idea that he is taking drugs. What I want to know is why he is taking them when he has got such a good future ahead of him?"

Launa - "For a scandal like this to erupt over such a well known athlete is disgusting but good. We need to track down the drug users in the sport and it is cases like this that show them that if they take drugs the IAAF take matters into their own hands."

Lottie - "It's terrible that some famous sports personalities are taking drugs, not only are they letting the fans down they are letting themselves down too."

Wilco - "I think Dwain Chambers DID cheat since he had been billed as the next big thing and wasn't delivering and turned to drugs to get him to the next level, Of course he will deny taking it, he won't admit it as long as he can fight against the ruling! He and athletes who cheat let a lot of people down!"

Andy - "I'm unsure if Dwain Chambers took drugs or he was spiked. As Wilco said he is supposed to be the fastest man in Europe but lately people were questioning his abilities (e.g. Commonwealth & World championships) so he may have turned to drugs to prove a point. I think it's unlikely that he was spiked as I don't think Dwain has any enemies (e.g. people who want him out of the way). I really would like to believe that he is innocent as it would be a shame as he is considered the greatest British sprinter since Linford Christie and a similar thing happened to him."

Steef - "About Dwain and the disqualification, It's ok to me because my country's 4x100 team will get the bronze."

Nasir - "Dwain Chambers RULES, whatever happens!"

Louise - "I didn't have a clue why Dwain Chambers took drugs. Personally I think that he looked nicer when he was younger and didn't have so much muscle. Yes, he might have got a slightly better time but I don't think taking drugs is the answer. I would be very disappointed for the Great Britain Team if they are stripped of their medals, because those medals will have meant a lot to those athletes. I don't know whether they should all get stripped of their medals, it could be an idea to just take Dwain Chamber's medal away from them! Taking drugs also did not help Dwain at all because he is possibly being banned from the sport for a while, a sport that he likes a lot!"

There has been lots of other news about drugs in sport too. Kelli White tested positive for a drug called Modafinil, which fights tiredness, and is used in the treatment of narcolepsy. She could face a two-year ban, and be stripped of her World Championship 100m and 200m medals which she won in Paris. She now claims to be narcoleptic. So, why didn't she say so straight away? Why didn't she declare the drug? Do you believe her? 

Lori - "It does seem a little suspicious."

Andy - "It could be an honest mistake; how many times have you forgot to mention a small matter that you thought was insignificant?"

Louise - "I also find it a bit strange that Kelli White, Dwain's training partner, has been found positive as well! They both deny it, which I find strange as well! I think that it is probably their coach who is telling them to take drugs, but they don't have to take them. If the coach told them to jump under a bus they wouldn't do it, that would change their whole life, and taking the drug has changed Dwain's life forever now. People will think less of him, and I don't blame them, I think I do!!"

Ian - "Finally we find that a number of US athletes had tested positive for Modafinil at their National Championships a full 2 months before the Worlds. Every athlete who took at the World Championships knew it would be baned and why on earth did they not declare they were taken it and what for."

It's not all doom and gloom though. There are plenty of athletes out there who are determined to abolish drugs in sport. One of these is Paula Radcliffe, who openly campaigned against the use of EPO at the Edmonton World Championships. She also helped to make blood tests routine for sports people, and always runs wearing a red ribbon, to symbolise that she is pro anti-doping. So, why don't all athletes follow her example? 

Dave - "We must remember that there are still hundreds of top athletes out there who are clean as a whistle."

Andy - "Good question and I'd be lying if I said I knew the answer. But I suppose it's really unclear what people can and can't use. Apparantly even drinking a can of Red-Bull before a race may be classed as cheating."

Steef - "I don't know why all athletes aren't following her example."

Louise - "I think that Paula Radcliffe is a very good athlete and I also think that it is good that she stands up for what she thinks is right! I agree with her and I think if I were her then I would do the same as her!!!!"

Alisha -  "I look up to people such as Paula Radcliffe and formaly Jonathan Edwards. I am disgusted that so may new drug cases have come to light, but at the same time I realise that it is a good thing. But the question for me that needs answering is "Will the sport ever be clean?" I fear the answer is no, some athletes will always slip through."

James - "I aint really in to athletics but Paula Radcliffe is a legend, She is a total credit to your sport, people like Paula hold your sport together. She is such a good role model for all ages. I see people like Dwain (Chambers) and think that your sport's messed up but then I see Paula Radcliffe on the TV and she is the greatest of all time. Paula Radcliffe is such a nice person too. She aint stuck up at all. Cause most woman are stuck up and Paula Radcliffe aint at all even though she is the legend. And she's cool."

Carolyn - "We need more athletes like Paula Radcliffe to campaign against the drugs and show that they are pro anti-doping so others realise!!"

What makes people want to win so bad that feel they have to cheat?

Ciara - "It's a big shame that some athletes can take something as enjoyable as sport so seriously that they feel the need to win so desperately that they have to cheat!"

Ian - "A PLEA TO ALL ATHLETES... ALWAYS DECLARE ANY DRUGS TAKEN EVEN IF THEY FEEL TRIVIAL. PLEASE CLEAN UP OUR SPORT AND BRING THE FUN OF COMPETITION BACK."