Performance Enhancing Drugs Argumentative Essay

Should the use of performance enhancing substances be accepted for athletic use? While the opposition will argue for the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) by athletes, the use of these substances must be banned from competition because it damages the honesty of athletic competition, provides an unfair advantage to athletes who train clean, and can have numerous detrimental effects to the user. Ultimately, it is crucial that stricter limits are put on athletes, which will ban the use of performance enhancing substances by any athlete regardless of sport.

The use of performance enhancing drugs is ruining the integrity of athletics nationwide and must be forbidden. The use of PEDs is becoming an epidemic around the world. From track and

This is something that must be dealt with or all hope will be lost. Not only will the credibility of competition be ruined, but it poses a threat to recruitment. Arne Ljungqvist, vice chairman of the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) says, “The biggest danger is that recruitment to elite sport will be damaged. That one must be a drug abuser and put ones health in danger to compete is not possible to accept. The risk is that elite sport itself will die” (O’Connor). While the opposition is for PED use, the debate whether PEDs should be allowed for use by athletes is summarized into one simple solution: make steroids legal. According to University Wire, “If any of us were offered a chance to make $50 million, we would be guzzling a bottle of HGH before

Teen experimentation with performance enhancing drugs has doubled within the past year. Teens are turning to PEDs to improve their athletic capabilities. Specifically, human growth hormone has been reported to have been tried in 9% of teen girls and 12% of teen boys. Steve Pasierb, President of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids says, “It’s not about illegality, or whether you’re a good parent or bad parent, it’s a health issue. These substances literally alter your body” (Crary). This is an imperative reason which is why the use of these substances is a huge health concern. Famous athletes who have used PEDs are urging kids to stay away from the drugs and resist the temptation to experiment with them because the health effects are so catastrophic. Use of PEDs comes with liver problems, halted growth, and acne (Crary). On the other side, the use of PEDs should be allowed for numerous reasons. Explained is that some of the PEDs themselves are not as dangerous as the sport itself (Tannsjo). As said by Torbjorn Tannsjo, “Doping would be healthier and more efficient, the medical ethics around it standardized. If hemoglobin, for example, could be openly monitored and measured, athletes would not be allowed to reach unhealthy levels. Limits could be set and enforced” (Tannsjo). Regardless of the negative