The recommended policy for controlling substance use includes

The recommended policy for controlling substance use includes

• A. Preventing athletes from competing unless they are certified as healthy
• B. Banning all athletes from competition
• C. Encouraging self-report only
• D. Leaving decisions to team doctors

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to safeguard athlete health and fairness by requiring an objective health standard before competing. Preventing athletes from participating unless they are certified as healthy provides a clear, consistent threshold that protects riders’ safety and keeps competition fair. It avoids relying on self-report, which can be biased or incomplete, and it doesn’t hinge on the discretion of individual teams, which could vary and raise concerns about conflicts of interest. Why the other ideas don’t fit as well: banning all athletes is impractical and unfair, leaving no room for actual health or performance needs; encouraging self-report alone is unreliable because athletes may underreport issues; leaving decisions to team doctors can create conflicts of interest and inconsistent standards across programs. A verified health certification before competition best ensures safety, integrity, and consistency in sport.

The main idea is to safeguard athlete health and fairness by requiring an objective health standard before competing. Preventing athletes from participating unless they are certified as healthy provides a clear, consistent threshold that protects riders’ safety and keeps competition fair. It avoids relying on self-report, which can be biased or incomplete, and it doesn’t hinge on the discretion of individual teams, which could vary and raise concerns about conflicts of interest.

Why the other ideas don’t fit as well: banning all athletes is impractical and unfair, leaving no room for actual health or performance needs; encouraging self-report alone is unreliable because athletes may underreport issues; leaving decisions to team doctors can create conflicts of interest and inconsistent standards across programs. A verified health certification before competition best ensures safety, integrity, and consistency in sport.