, Columnist
Shaming Could Be the Best Fix for Olympic Doping
The enforcement of social norms isn't pretty. But it usually works.
Some penalties hurt more than others.
Photographer: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
At the Olympics, we’re witnessing some serious cases of public shaming. Victorious competitors are publicly ostracizing those who once used performance-enhancing drugs. To take just one example, Australian Mack Horton, gold medalist in the 400-meter freestyle, pointedly refused even to acknowledge China’s silver medalist Sun Yang, who had been suspended for doping. “I don’t have time or respect for drug cheats,” Horton said later.