Over the past couple of years, the number of athletes getting caught for doping has been on the rise and has been a main headline in the news. Previous drug scandals, those involving, Ben Johnson and Lance Armstrong have hampered their sports respectively. This has undermined sporting achievements on a local scale such as, Wilmslow high schools rugby team success over the years to a global scale, Usain Bolt winning numerous Olympic gold medals. As this happens, it is less and less the athletes' natural ability and motivation that gives them the edge and more their equipment and expenditure. You wonder, is it actually worth the risk to take performance enhancing drugs?
A huge sum of money is normally offered if you win a competition which may entice athletes to dope as if it all goes to plan, you can be financially assured for life. Some greedy athletes desperate for “a quick fix” are willing to do this. For example, winning a gold medal in the Olympics can earn you an exceedingly good amount of money from your country, additional sponsorships which can be very lucrative and increased publicity broadens the amount of TV appearances likely to happen. It’s a win, win situation.
Another reason is the pressure being put on athletes by fellow teammates, governments and national authorities. In the 1960s and 70s, eastern European countries like Russia put a lot of pressure on their athletes to perform to improve the national image. Athletes not good enough turned to performance enhancing drugs to meet the government demand and not get a pay cut. There is still evidence to suggest that behind the scenes, Russia is giving bribes to athletes to take performance enhancing drugs. The athletes involved have health risks and repetition on th...
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When researching the topic drugs in sport, one thing was particularly surprising. Some athletes can easily get away with doping without any risks. The reason for it is the most startling. It can be because their gene makeup masks the use of drugs. I found this particularly strange as this could mean other athletes have doped without knowing. Maybe Bolt has? Some people have the impunity gene which masks the use of drug use without attempting to. This means many athletes could have used drugs without anyone knowing and won competitions. This is a major flaw in the drug prevention system.
With a lot of athletes taking performance enhancing drugs, despite the bans in question, I decided to find out what sport organisations are pushing for legalisation of drugs in sport. In Australia, the Australian Crime Commission is pushing to legalize performance enhancing
In “The Real Scandal,” Sharon Begley and Martha Brant develop an argument against the tacit allowance of the use of “banned” performance-enhancing drugs among Olympic athletes. The 1999 Newsweek cover story details incidents involving individual athletes caught using banned substances, the continuous race between the discovery and detection of new performance-enhancing drugs, and examples of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) complacency. In particular, the authors question the validity of the IOC’s current drug testing policies and protocols within the context of their self-defined role to “lead the fight against doping in sport” and “encourage and support measures protecting the health of athletes” (Organization). In order to better argue against doping in sport and advocate for more efficient and rigorous drug testing, Begley and Brant employ emotional appeals, logic, and a kairotic stance within their writing to persuade their audience of the necessity of firm action by the IOC and the worldwide community on the subject of performance-enhancing drug abuse.
“It 's important that athletes can compete on a level playing field. And youngsters coming into the sport can know that if they are working hard and training hard, they 'll see a true reflection of where they stand and what they can achieve worldwide and not be swayed by people who are cheating.” This was said by Paula Jane Radcliffe, a long-distance runner and Olympian. Cheating in sports is considered to be immoral. In sports there are many different forms of cheating. Whether it is illegal taping, bribes, or foul play, it is never the way to go. Undoubtedly the most extreme and controversial form of cheating is through the use of PEDs, better known as Performance Enhancing Drugs. There are many different types of Performance Enhancing Drugs. The two most popular being anabolic steroids and
Human beings have always had a strong competitive nature, and many people have a inclination towards achieving fame and glory. Professional sporting events measure the great spirit, unique natural talents, and competitive nature of humans as they attempt to heroically represent the entire race. Often times humans search for the ultimate advantage in sports to put themselves above and beyond the other athletes. Unfortunately, some athletes turn to unnatural agents to supplement their own natural talents. They often ignore the side effects of the drugs and more importantly ignore the damage they do to how they are perceived and how people view the game. Athletes who use performance enhancing drugs, also known as PEDs, create a monstrous persona,
The use of illegal substances in sports is a trendy topic in today’s society. In the last few years a copious amount of players have been under the spotlight of substance abuse, which led to a punishment for their actions. Andrew Sullivan wrote an article in the year 2004 called “In a Drugged-up Nation, the Steroid Sports Star is King”, in which he illustrates how these “pharmaceuticals” have revolutionized sports around the world but mostly in America. These drugs have had a large influence in the overall performance of the players, even if it the use of drugs is “often denied or simply overlooked”(Sullivan 1), it will lead to a lack of judgment in what is right and what is wrong.
Athletes put their lives in danger by using performance enhancement drugs. They use these drugs to gain physical advantages for their sporting events. These methods have been around for thousands of years. According to research, “In ancient Greece, Olympic athletes would ingest huge portions of meat that contained testosterone and creatine before they competed. They would also consume large quantities of alcoholic beverages and lamb testicles” (“Steroids”). Today, sportspersons have a drug policy due to health hazards, violence and incapability’s of normal performances. From lamb chops to steroids, many athletes are willing to destroy their bodies to become “popular” legends.
Each day, professional and amateur athletes and body builders thrive to achieve their goals and dreams of winning gold medals or representing their country worldwide. The sports or games in which they participate require physical strength, athleticism and stamina, and due to the tough competition they face, some of these athletes decide to take performance enhancing drugs, an act called doping.
Will we be able to barricade ‘Doping’ from intoxicating the world of sports? The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) states that the term doping comes from the Africans word ‘dop,’ a concoction made from grape leaves that Zulu warriors drank before going into battle (as sited in Maxwell, & Melham, 2005, p.1). Today, many athletes worldwide have been found guilty of breaching the Anti Doping Act. Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of drug offenders in sports, as the need to win becomes priority and dope is relayed from athlete to athlete, directly and indirectly. Though not used by all, it is imperative for sports personnel to be educated and be made aware of the health issues such as cardiovascular disease and legal ramifications associated with the use of Performance Enhancement Drugs.
Drug use in the Olympics is not a new idea. Dating back to the runners and javelin throwers of ancient Greece and Rome, athletes have been looking for supposedly magic potions (Corelli, par. 1). With competition growing stronger and stronger throughout the years, athletes have tried to beat their opponents by any means necessary.
Athletes are always searching for ways to enhance their performance. Recently, beginning in the 1950s, that search has included the use of illegal substances like steroids and growth hormones. Illegal substances have been used widely by athletes in hopes of achieving the desired Olympic gold medal or multi-million dollar contract. Some nations, for example the late East Germany in the 1970s and 1980s, have mandated the use of steroids by their athletes. The downside of using those illegal substances is that because they are illegal, getting caught using them can lead to losing that coveted gold medal, a lifetime ban from sports, and a total loss of honor and dignity.
Kayser, Bengt, Alexandre Mauron, and Andy Miah. Viewpoint Legalisation of Performance-enhancing Drugs. The Lancet. The Lancet, Dec. 2005. Web.
Drug use has led to an increased number of deaths and suspensions of athletes. Also, if this continues, all athletes someday will have to choose whether to compete at a world-class level and take drugs, or compete at a club level and be clean. In sports, athletes, coaches and trainers will try their best to find a way to reach the top level. They not only search for a way to enhance performance, but most of them have aspiring Olympians to train.... ...
Doping is a practice that has been going on since the time of "ancient Greek athletes, who supposedly ate herbs, sesame seeds, dried figs, and mushrooms for this purpose" (Hoberman, 1992, 104). Likewise, athletes have readily consumed such drugs as caffeine and alcohol to improve performa...
Drug use in sports is considered cheating. Doping has many historical backgrounds, but now it is on a larger scale in order to maximiz...
First, when athletes cheat, they are not pushing themselves to achieve success. Cheating also affects the culprit physically, mentally, and emotionally. Doctor Yesalis, a prominent Professor of Health at Pennsylvania State University, states, "You do not need drugs to have a sense of fulfillment, to feel that you've left it all on the field," Yesalis says. "[Drugs have] taken something that God has given us—love of game and sport—and perverted us" (par. 3). Allowing drugs in sports will not prove who is better at the sport we will just see who is the biggest drug user. This is a great integrity check for the individual because it proves who is true to their profession. This also tests their intestinal fortitude to see if they will be man or women enough to do the correct thing.
Doping in sports dates back to the ancient Greek times (need ref here). There are anti-doping agencies worldwide in virtually every country. In Switzerland its anti-doping Switzerland, in Nigeria it’s the Nigerian national anti-doping committee and in the UK its UK anti-doping. The increase in in anti-doping industries worldwide indicates the measures they’re willing to take to completely eradicate doping and to bring back positive spirits as well as trust. So, knowing the measure the authorities are willing to take, why are athletes still choosing to risk their careers and health? The answer to that is that an athletic career doesn’t last very long , age is everythi...