We will never know who the best cyclist in the world was this year. The field of this summer’s Tour de France has been decimated, losing its leader, pre-race favourite and several entire teams after riders failed drug tests. Even the suspicion of drug-taking destroys the joy of sport. Big-hitting Barry Bonds of baseball’s San Francisco Giants is closing in on a 30-year-old record for career home runs, but because he is caught up in the BALCO steroids scandal, few are inspired.

There are only two solutions. The first – find a way to detect and disqualify all those who cheat using drugs – just will not work. New compounds, for which there are no tests, are regularly invented, and because the incentives and desire for glory are so great, some athletes will always take them.