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Dope: How the cheats stay one step ahead, and what's being done to stop them
'Absolutely loved it' - Damian Hughes, High Performance podcast
Inside the murky world of doping in sport, uncovering how the cheats keep one step ahead of the authorities and what drives them to do so.
Some of the most iconic and revered athletes in history have been handed bans when at the pinnacle of their sports - from Lance Armstrong, Ben Johnson, and Marion Jones to Diego Maradona, Shane Warne and Jannick Sinner. And now with the emergence of the Enhanced Games, where steroids and peptides are not only allowed but encouraged, an athlete's performance is questioned more than ever.
Dope examines the landscape of sport and doping in the modern era, from micro-dosing blood boosters to the rise of drug taking in amateur sport and AI's ability to create undetectable - and potentially dangerous - performance-enhancers. Author James Witts immerses himself in the underbelly of sport, interviewing doping athletes, anti-doping experts, scientists, ethicists, psychiatrists and psychologists to
- What products do the dopers use to boost performance?
- What methods do the authorities use to catch the cheats?
- How does WADA determine what's legal and illegal?
- How does politics impact WADA's work?
- What's the evidence these illegal performance-enhancers actually work?
- Why are football's indiscretions glossed over while cycling and athletics are lambasted?
- What products are used to mask their illegal actions?
- Can we really trust that peak sporting performance is down to determination and talent?
This is an eye-opening and enthralling account of modern-day sport - one which will change the way you view it forever.
Inside the murky world of doping in sport, uncovering how the cheats keep one step ahead of the authorities and what drives them to do so.
Some of the most iconic and revered athletes in history have been handed bans when at the pinnacle of their sports - from Lance Armstrong, Ben Johnson, and Marion Jones to Diego Maradona, Shane Warne and Jannick Sinner. And now with the emergence of the Enhanced Games, where steroids and peptides are not only allowed but encouraged, an athlete's performance is questioned more than ever.
Dope examines the landscape of sport and doping in the modern era, from micro-dosing blood boosters to the rise of drug taking in amateur sport and AI's ability to create undetectable - and potentially dangerous - performance-enhancers. Author James Witts immerses himself in the underbelly of sport, interviewing doping athletes, anti-doping experts, scientists, ethicists, psychiatrists and psychologists to
- What products do the dopers use to boost performance?
- What methods do the authorities use to catch the cheats?
- How does WADA determine what's legal and illegal?
- How does politics impact WADA's work?
- What's the evidence these illegal performance-enhancers actually work?
- Why are football's indiscretions glossed over while cycling and athletics are lambasted?
- What products are used to mask their illegal actions?
- Can we really trust that peak sporting performance is down to determination and talent?
This is an eye-opening and enthralling account of modern-day sport - one which will change the way you view it forever.
Audible Audio
Published May 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 22, 2026
Dope is a decent overview of the recent history and current landscape of doping in sports. The chapter about the psychology and mindset of a doping athlete is particularly interesting.
Unfortunately, the writing is workmanlike, and James Witts makes little effort to dig into the stories behind the doping (even though many of those stories are genuinely fascinating). The result, weighed down by statistics, is a bit of a yawn.
If you're just interested in doping, or just looking for a good read, I'd recommend Tyler Hamilton's firsthand account of doping, The Secret Race , instead (you don't need to care about road cycling to enjoy it).
Unfortunately, the writing is workmanlike, and James Witts makes little effort to dig into the stories behind the doping (even though many of those stories are genuinely fascinating). The result, weighed down by statistics, is a bit of a yawn.
If you're just interested in doping, or just looking for a good read, I'd recommend Tyler Hamilton's firsthand account of doping, The Secret Race , instead (you don't need to care about road cycling to enjoy it).
August 13, 2026
A good overview of a topic that I've always found fascinating. Human nature, eh, the want for drama and excitement and salaciousness.
It's not a very long book and it covers a relatively broad range of athletes/sports, but it still felt somewhat too long and stuffy to me.
Honestly, if, like me, you're mostly interested in cycling: I'd recommend listening to the Roadman podcast's two-part interview with the author instead, you'll get most of the interesting bits and some good additional discussion.
It's not a very long book and it covers a relatively broad range of athletes/sports, but it still felt somewhat too long and stuffy to me.
Honestly, if, like me, you're mostly interested in cycling: I'd recommend listening to the Roadman podcast's two-part interview with the author instead, you'll get most of the interesting bits and some good additional discussion.
Did Not Finish
July 3, 2026Too technical for my liking
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews