The history of sports is really the history of drugs in sports. From Roman gladiators hopped up on herbal stimulants to distance runners downing brandy-and-strychnine cocktails (a combination that helped American Tom Hicks win the 1904 Olympic marathon), athletes have always found ways to augment their bodies.
Steroids and human growth hormone are yesterday’s headlines. The future of performance enhancement belongs to a dizzying array of medical wizardry, including manipulating stem cells and inducing euphoric mental states, that could make the cheaters stronger and faster than ever—and catching them nearly impossible. Launch the gallery for a look at what’s coming.
