DRIVEN TO DISHONESTY

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THEY FOUND AGNEW HAD NOT BEEN CLOCKING IN AT A CHECKPOINT HALFWAY AROUND THE MILE-LONG LAP. INSTEAD, HE’D BEEN SITTING IN A PORTALOO FOR SEVEN MINUTES BEFORE JUMPING OUT TO CROSS THE MAT AT THE START/FINISH AT THE RIGHT TIME TO KEEP HIS MILE PACE CONSISTENT.

While having often thought about cheating during a training session – maybe doing one fewer repeat or not going as far as I should – carrying out the dishonest act is more challenging than doing the actual deed.

There is the overriding guilt factor. Not only are you letting down your supporters in life who believe you are a moral human being, but you lose out at the end of the day.

To cheat – to act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage – may be understandable, if not justifiable, when large sums of money and high-profile reputations are at stake.

In recent years, there has been a rise in athletes testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs in the once-innocent grassroots sport of trail and ultrarunning, as more money is up for grabs (via sponsorship rather than prize purses, we are still years behind large road marathons) and