That kind of environment tells young athletes they MUST destroy their bodies with drugs to succeed. It is hard to sympathize much with Armstrongs "heroic" struggle against testicular cancer knowing steroids probablly caused it. I am far more concerned about millions of school kids already taking the same (or worse) drugs, and facing the same (or worse) results, because they want to match his "achievements," or Canseco, Alzedos, etc. If we tell them destroying both the game and their own bodies with drugs is the only way, because those caught doing so face no more than token penalties (if that,) that is the (not so) new normal we create.

Season ban for the first offense, life time ban for the next, and forfeiture of any victories or awards unfairly gained through drugs. I do not care if Michael Phelps mounts the Olympic podium with a bong in hand, because that does not contribute to his performance, and thus does not encourage kids to emulate the same behavior in pursuit of the same results. Performance enhancing drugs are a whole other ball game, one no legitimate sports body can condone in good conscience.

To be clear, I am not disagreeing, only stating another reason I emphatically agree with you.