An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 2 Timothy 2:5

Being Canadian, I’ll never forget rushing home on the evening of September 24th, 1988. I got home in plenty of time and then waited up until after midnight to watch the big race. I remember the pride we, (my father, my cousin and I), felt when the hoped for result became reality. Yes, Ben Johnson crossed the finish line first and in record speed. The next day all of Canada was celebrating with Big Ben, small time entrepreneurs already began selling the shirts they had been busy printing all night. It was a big moment in Canadian Track and Field history... GOLD in men’s Olympic 100-metre dash. Ahhh…good times.

But good times don’t always last and I remember September 26th, 1988 very well also. This was the day I was driving along listening to the radio when I heard, "Ben Johnson has been stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for anabolic steroids." What followed was maybe the biggest fall from stardom the world may have ever witnessed. I think because we all were living part of the win with Ben, we just couldn’t forgive him for taking away our glory. Sure we weren’t getting up at 5:00 am, training all day, taking muscle growth supplements that would no doubt harm our future health, but it was our win none the less, and how dare Ben cheat us out of it.

Even after the longest sports inquiry in Canadian history I’m still not sure where it all went wrong, who did what to whom. Was Ben Johnson a victim of his coaching staff or did he willingly cheat to gain an advantage? As I said, I’m not sure, but I do know this Ben Johnson lost more than that gold medal, he lost his lifestyle. He lost the commercials. He lost the respect and admiration of a nation. He lost it all. Why? Because "An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules."

Does this verse pertain to only athletes? What do you think? Can you think of a legitimate profession where a cheaterwins out in the end? Don’t kid yourself, ill gotten quick gains are always erased in the end with humiliating consequences. Play it safe and just do the right thing.

Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them. -Aristotle