In a better world, they'd be expelled. In a perfect world, they'd be allowed. That's just me being honest.
I'm with you, though. I object to the cheating itself more than I do to PEDs. When people intentionally break rules, it pisses me off. If someone gets popped for using Flonase or tainted antacids, I won't be calling for his head. But when someone is caught intending to both cheat and deceive, I want his head on a spike.
Harsh penalties = strong deterrents.
And I've heard the other side of the argument: "....such strict penalties for first/second time offenders really could affect _______'s livelihood."
That "livelihood" card can be utilized much more effectively by clean fighters. Imagine an articulate, reasonable Mark Hunt.
But as for the cheater's livelihood, he should've thought of that himself before cheating. No sympathy. No slack. "You just had to cheat, huh? Well, fuck off. Now, you can find something else to do for the next 5 years. And don't start complaining about your poor little kids NOW."
Over time, the sport would change. When lives are ruined in public, word will get around. "No more fuckin around. It's simply not worth it."
And there's always some spinning when there's an admission: He was using them for "a quicker recovery." How is that not cheating? On an even playing field with no PEDs, everybody's recovery time will suffer.
Many even dismiss the distinction of this being a violent combat sport, as if its PEDs standards shouldn't be the highest of all sports. PEd use is indirectly affecting all of the clean athletes financially, but only in combat sports is it potentially affecting them physically.
TL ;DR: Rod Serling killed JFK.
