Only a few days remain before the commencement of the Rio Games, but one of the biggest mega events of the world of sports has been in the grip of scandals. Two governing bodies have banned seven Russian swimmers and five canoeists from the Rio Olympics because of doping violations. Whereas two Indian athletes, wrestler Narsingh Yadiv, and shot putter Inderjeet Singh, have failed a doping test. Both players are likely to miss the Rio Olympics beginning August 5. Athletes from Kenya, who have dominated the field of long-distance running for years, are also at risk of being banned from the Rio Games after 40 Kenyan athletes failed drug tests in the last five years. Mainly, it is the Russian athletes that are in the dock for their failure to pass the doping test. Earlier, Russia had announced a team of 387 athletes for the Games, but already that number has been reduced after the court of arbitration for sport ruled against allowing 68 Russian track and field athletes to compete. On July 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made a ruling that “all Russian athletes seeking entry to the Olympic Games Rio 2016 are considered to be affected by a system subverting and manipulating the anti-doping system.” That means all Russian athletes are considered tainted by the country’s anti-doping system, and that they would not be allowed to compete in the Rio Olympics unless they could convince their individual sports federations that they were innocent. Russian sports officials are terming it a political attack on the country, and a move to unfairly single out their players. Russian athletes are already in the news for their alleged involvement in using banned steroids to enhance their competency. The reason behind the increasing trend of using steroids is that sports are becoming more and more competitive. In this scenario, natural talent is losing its worth and players are looking for unfair means to excel. There is only one goal now: win on nay price. It highlights the unfortunate truth that sports take inspiration from negative trends prevailing in society. Greed, commercialism and an urge to make quick bucks have not spared the world of sports. Players are no more immune to the negative effects of a decline in moral standards. It not only disheartens fans but also lead to the downfall of the credibility of sports. The sports bodies have failed to check this trend that shows the problem is deeper and needs concrete steps for its rectification. Amid all these scandals, Pakistanis feel dejected for a different reason. It is alarming and indeed unfortunate that not a single Pakistani player qualified for this year’s Rio Olympics. Pakistanis are a sports loving nation and there is no dearth of talent. The participation of not a single Pakistani player in this major sports event is a cause for concern for the state as well as sports bodies in the country. Notwithstanding the outcome of the bans on the Russian and Indian athletes, it is important to look at the bigger picture, and the steps that can be taken for prevention of factors that may enhance the physical performance but inhibits the emotional growth of sportspersons. The lifelong hard work becomes ineffective when short cuts re taken to win a gold. The use of artificial enhancers affects the very essence of sporting events: love for sport, hard work, fair play, determination to win giving the game one’s best, healthy competition, and sportsman spirit. *