Examining the political and economic transformation of the Olympic Movement during the twentieth century, the authors argue that the realities of modern sport require a serious reassessment of current policies, in particular the ban on the use of certain substances and practices. The book includes detailed discussion of: The historical importance of World War II and the Cold War in the development of a high-performance culture in sport. ; The changing Olympic project: from amateurism to a fully professionalized approach ; The changing meaning of "sport." ; The role of sport science, technology and drugs in pursuing ever-better performance ; The major ethical and philosophical arguments used to support the ban on performance-enhancing substances in sport.