In 1982, Chicago physician Bob Goldman began conducting surveys every two years of sprinters, swimmers, powerlifters and other athletes—most of them US Olympians or aspiring Olympians. As reported in a Sports Illustrated cover story, the 1995 poll of 198 such athletes produced this chilling result:

“Scenario I. You are offered a banned performance-enhancing substance, with two guarantees: 1) You will not be caught; 2) You will win. Would you take the substance? One hundred and ninety-five athletes said yes: three said no.

“Scenario II. You are offered a banned performance-enhancing substance that comes with two guarantees: 1) You will not be caught. 2) You will win every competition you enter for the next five years, and then you will die from the side effects of the substance. Would you take it? More than half the athletes said yes.”[1]