Not fair to asthma sufferers

Published 9:00 pm Monday, November 20, 2000

I am writing to you in regards to the drug testing in the Olympics. As a high school athlete with asthma, the new standards of the drug testing may have a drastic effect on my training if inhalers are included in the list of prohibited steroids. I myself, believe that all athletes deserve a chance to compete in a fair competition. Unfortunately, there are other athletes who will do whatever it takes to have any kind of advantage over their competition. As a varsity rower, my training regime requires top level stamina and strength. If I want to achieve my goal of making the Junior National Team, it is imperative that I train at an extreme level. I am for mandatory drug testing, but how will the athletes who suffer with asthma be able to compete if their only leverage of equality is taken from them?

Everett