Sports letter: Hypocrisy of `health risks'

Wednesday 13 January 1999 00:02 GMT

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Sir: Your Leader "Can it be right to risk your life for sport?" (31 December) would seem to accept that the core reason for banning drugs in sport - "health of the sportsman" - is not valid. I have found it strange that we should praise the courage of yachtsmen, yet heap ignominy on athletes, for taking risks with their health.

I would welcome some debate on this dilemma. Let this not get side-tracked by references to "cheating". Change the rules and you have no cheating, exactly in the same way the rules on amateurism were changed.

BARRY WILLIAMS

Holmes Chapel,

Cheshire

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