DOPING IN FRANCE (1960-2000) : AMERICAN AND EASTERN BLOC INFLUENCES

In the beginning of the 20th century, sports consisted in a minimum amount of physical activity. It was generally considered as dangerous and unhealthy because it encouraged people to push their limits too far. The medical profession used to advise teenagers against doing any sport, for fear that they would become too tired and, as a result, their bodies would not develop properly (Arnaud, 1980; Defrance, 2003). Nevertheless, during this period, some doctors became interested in sports. Some were former sportsmen, others had worked for the army (Pociello, 1999) which was involved in research to improve the physical skills of their soldiers. They observed that the body was a wonderful product of nature.