Doping scandals often make headlines with a clear villain and a rule broken. But the story is often more complicated than that.

In this episode, I’m joined by Olympian and American record holder Emily Sisson, in the shadow of the recent news that world record holder Ruth Chepngetich tested positive for a banned substance. Instead of focusing on individual choices, we explore the deeper forces shaping athletes today: the blurred line between personal accountability and systemic expectation, the emotional toll of competing on uneven ground, and how to hold space for grief and frustration without losing love for the sport.