Lie detectors to be used to stop the use of performance enhancing drugs

I always, repeat ALWAYS, go to The Scotsman for all my news. That aside, they had one really interesting article from late last week.

In an effort to put a dent into the performance enhancing drugs that dominate the sport of pro bodybuilding, a team of lie detecting specialists are being flown out to Edinburgh later this month to quiz 75 bodybuilders.

Former FBI expert Al Lombardo will lead a group testing competitors in the British Natural Bodybuilding Championships to ensure they are drug-free.

The New York-based polygraph consultant, who runs a professional lie detecting company, was invited by officials to screen entrants on computerized lie-detecting kits.

Vicky McCann, who is the current Natural Miss Universe titleholder and the federation's co-founder, said "Some bodybuilders try to use growth hormones that don't even show up on normal drugs tests, so the polygraph machines will help find out if anyone has been trying to gain an unfair advantage."

All entrants will be quizzed prior to the competition.

I find this absolutely fascinating. The idea of quizzing NFL and MLB players, along with guys like Lance Armstrong, about whether they've ever used performance enhancing drugs is incredibly intriguing. Even though lie-detectors are far from perfect, they're pretty tough to beat. And my cynical nature tells me that a lot of guys would fail the test.

I don't think we're ever going to see this happen for any of the major sports leagues here in the states, but you never know. Stranger things have happened.

-WCK