Babbage: Cloud of suspicion

<p>High stakes and big money lead some athletes <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/07/15/doping-is-still-too-common?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">to cheat</a> at the Olympic games. Tim Cross, The Economist’s Technology editor, investigates <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/07/14/sport-is-still-rife-with-doping?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the prevalence of doping in sport</a> and asks if testing can ever keep a lid on the use of performance enhancing drugs. He finds out the impact of the pandemic on testing at the Tokyo games, talks to Olympians about the pressures involved and imagines what if doping restrictions were removed.</p><p><br></p><p>For full access to <em>The Economist</em>’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at <a href="https://economist.com/podcastoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">economist.com/podcastoffer</a> and sign up for our new weekly science newsletter at <a href="https://economist.com/simplyscience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">economist.com/simplyscience</a>.</p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>