The start of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada created a buzz because of steroid issues. When the torch relay started in Greece, an Olympian with steroid case was allowed to participate in the torch relay. Fani Halkia, who is still serving her 2 year suspension for taking steroids in Beijing Olympics, completed one leg in the torch relay. The IOC was not happy with that incident but they have another stand on the case of Actor Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who also admitted that he used steroids when he was still active in bodybuilding competitions.

The IOC’s effort to clean the Olympics with performance enhancing drugs and its firm stand against steroid use could be questioned for allowing Governor Schwarzenegger to participate in the final leg of the torch relay. There was an earlier report that the governor asked to carry the torch because he wanted to highlight his contribution in the environment. However, this was cleared by his spokesperson. They said that its was British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell who asked the former bodybuilder to be part of the activity. John Furlong, the head of Vanoc, defended their decision to include the governor in the event. “He has taken an extraordinary position on the environment and has developed a great relationship with the province of British Columbia,” Furlong said.

The 106-day, 28,000-mile relay ends Friday by handing down the Olympic Torch to the chairman of the 2012 London Olympics. The 62-year-old actor governor of California jogs through Vancouver’s Stanley Park where he gave the torch to Olympian and head of London Olympics Sebastian Coe. Other personalities who participated in the event were songwriter Michael Buble and Walter Gretzky. Sebastian Coe, who is considered by some people as the future head of the International Olympic Committee was happy to recieve the torch from the governor. Coe was asked by the media about the things that they talked about during the meeting with the former bodybuilder. “I invited him to come to the London Games,” Coe said. He added that they haven’t quite got as far as working out who the torch bearers will be yet when asked about their torch bearers in the London 2012 Olympics.

People would be asking why the governor? The IOC has an explanation to the issue. According to the spokesperson of the International Olympic Committee, Governor Schwarzenegger’s role in the torch relay will not compromise the IOC’s stance against drug cheats. “we accept all people have served time, and they’ve talked about what they’ve done. We will accept some concept of rehabilitation,” said Mark Adams, IOC spokesman. “He’s now a very respectable governor of the largest state in the United States,” Adams added. “So I imagine under that set of circumstances, we would be happy to have him,” said Adams in an interview.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was a competitive bodybuilder and a famous actor before he entered into politics. Some of his top grossing movies include Terminator. In in interview with Barbara Walters, Schwarzenegger talked about his steroid use. “I take steroids because they help me an extra 5 percent. Women take the pill. They are somewhat similar. I do it under a doctor’s supervision,” he said. In another interview in 2005 Schwarzenegger said that he did take steroids during the peak of his career as a champion bodybuilder. He has no regrets since they were legal at that time.

A comment by a reader of LA Times said that the Olympian Torch is an honor that should be reserved for the best of the best. “The ones that worked hard, played by the rules, succeeded without illegal substances and have since stayed the course. It should not be used as a photo opportunity to further a political career,” said Margo.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS