Russian Olympians and the Code

It appears that the entire Russian team may be barred from the Olympics, not just the track team, for using illegal drugs to gain a competitive advantage.  What does this have to do with the Code?  The Code says, “I will play within the letter and the spirit of the rules of my sport.”  Winning at all costs seems to have been the goal of the officials in Russia.  It is difficult to know whether individual athletes were encouraged to cheat, or required to cheat. But it is important to recognize the consequences of cheating.  The obvious consequence is that they have been banned and publicly embarrassed.  The more important consequence of cheating is the damage this does to the individual, whether exposed or not.  There is no real victory won by cheating.  The person who cheats knows they did, that they were not the best that day, and their own sense of integrity is damaged.  We recently talked to a young athlete whose soccer coach encouraged him to “flop” (as is also done in basketball) hoping to draw a whistle on the opposition.  This is a form of cheating.  Rules can be broken in every sport, but there can be no real victory, when we know our victory is hollow.  The greatest victory always comes when we play our best, whether we win or lose.  As a competitive tennis player, I always felt better when I played my best and lost, than when I played poorly and won.  The true measurement of our competition is the satisfaction that comes from within, from doing our best, and from the joy of playing a game we love, regardless of the score.  Do you agree with this?  In your sport, when are the times that you have felt your best?  When are the times you have felt the worst?  What would you say to someone who encourages you to break the rules to gain an advantage?