VOA慢速英语--Should Professional Card Players Be Punished for Using Drugs?

 

Last year, top-ranked Geir Helgemo received a one-year suspension from his sport: bridge, a kind of card game for four players in two teams.

Helgemo tested positive for banned substances that are more commonly used in active sports like cycling, weightlifting, and martial¹ arts. In fact, Helgemo had one of the same drugs in his body that Lance Armstrong used to cheat at the Tour de France.

But many observers saw Armstrong’s case as a good example of how the fight against doping in sports can work. In contrast, Helgemo's suspension has drawn² criticism. Critics say the suspension is evidence that anti-doping rules should not be used the same way across sports.

Why are bridge players being tested for drugs?

Even though bridge is a card game, the International Olympic Committee recognizes it as a sport. Officials from bridge’s governing body, the World Bridge Federation³, even hope to see bridge played in the Olympics one day. As a result, they follow the Olympic Committee rules for other sports. These rules include testing top players for drugs that are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA.

Helgemo's test took place last September at a World Bridge Series tournament in the U.S. city of Orlando, Florida. He tested positive for testosterone and clomifene. Testosterone makes muscles bigger, and clomifene is usually used to help women get pregnant. Both are banned substances under WADA rules.

The World Bridge Federation says in its anti-doping handbook for players that those drugs are “not expected to affect performance in bridge."

Boye Brogeland agrees. Brogeland is a bridge professional who won two world championships with Helgemo. When asked about Helgemo's drug test, Brogeland said, "Nobody thinks he took this [testosterone and clomifene] to get an edge at bridge."

Should bridge be part of the Olympics?

Helgemo's case has created a debate among bridge players and fans about whether bridge should be connected to the Olympics at all.

Supporters note that the connection to the Olympics helps secure funding for bridge. The financial benefits are especially important at a time when young people are more interested in playing video games than cards.

Critics question why bridge is agreeing to rules against drugs that do not make bridge players – or the game – better. “The integrity of the game is lost because we are trying to get into the Olympics,” player Boye Brogeland says.

David Harris is the lawyer for the World Bridge Federation who argued against Helgemo. Harris noted⁴ that as a top professional, Helgemo had been tested before. He added that Helgemo should have been aware of the anti-doping rules and should have been more careful.

“This was an unfortunate case, but it was a careless case in many ways,” Harris said. “This is a person who is earning a considerable amount of money out of playing bridge.”

Helgemo did not answer Associated Press requests to speak about his case himself. Lawyer David Harris said Helgemo is currently serving a six-month prison sentence for tax offenses⁵ in Norway. The sentence is unconnected to his doping ban.

I'm John Russell.

Words in This Story

recognition – n. the act of accepting that something is true or important or that it exists

edge – n. an advantage over others

adherence⁶ – n. the act of doing what is required by a rule, belief, etc. — usually + to

discipline – n. punishment for bad behavior

panel – n. a group of people with special knowledge, skill, or experience who give advice or make decisions

1 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 offenses   

n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势

参考例句：

• It's wrong of you to take the child to task for such trifling offenses. 因这类小毛病责备那孩子是你的不对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此，除非有可弹劾的行为，否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

6 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。