Are Performance Enhancing Drugs the Answer? "The overwhelming majority of athletes I know would do anything, and take anything, short of killing themselves to improve athletic performance" (Donohoe, Johnson 1). This statement is made by a once Olympic hammer-throw champion in 1973. It hardly portrays the importance that substance abuse has with regard to athletes and sports. If you are one of the many athletes in the United States, you have no doubt in your mind that this is an ongoing problem in the wide world of sports. If you live breathe, and bleed sports, than you know the importance of winning. You, in your mind, know that losing is not an option. You will not stand for it and for that, go to great lengths to be the best, even if chemicals and drugs are the answer. People have gotten banned from the spot, seriously hurt and even died due to drugs that they have used to enhance their performance. Although people may not realize it, there are many consequences to using performance enhancing drugs. "In some sports, it has been suggested that it may be impossible to 'get to the top' without the use of these illegal substances, but many think that they can come close without being affected by side effects and long-term effects on health, they are wrong. (Donohoe, Johnson 1). Performance enhancing drugs are not the answer and it is not worth loosing your life or career over a sport. "Doping" is now a common term that people use to describe the use of a substance of the purpose of enhancing performance. (Donohoe, Johnson 2) "Doping has been defined as the administration to, or the use by, a competing athlete of any substance foreign to the body or of any physiological sub... ... middle of paper ... ...s have been around for a long time 2. Definition of "doping" 3. Types of drugs I will be talking about C. Painkillers- 1. Boxers using cocaine 2. Reason for painkillers 3. Football- Effects on athletes: being banned, side effects, death D. Stimulants- 1. Use in W.W.II 2. Cycling 3. History of death and injury caused by stimulants E. Steroids- 1. Well-known drug in use today 2. Used for strength 3. Side Effects. F. Conclusion- 1. Wrap it up 2. Restate thesis 3. End with a quote Bibliography: Works Cited Edelson, Edward. Sports Medicine. NY: Chelsea House, 1988. Donohoe, Tom, and Niel Johnson. Foul Play: Drug Abuse in Sports. NY: Basil Blackwell, 1987. Nardo, Don. Drugs and Sports. San Diego, CA: Lucent Overview, 1990. Nelson, Elizabeth. Coping with Drugs and Sports. NY: Rosen, 1995.
One of the opening points of the article acknowledges the health and safety repercussions of taking performance-enhancing drugs. The authors include this information to inform readers of the severity of the drugs involved and the situation as a whole. For example, in 1997 cyclist Erwan Mentheour tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), which, “increases the number of red cells in the blood and thus an athlete’s endurance” (Begley and Brant 1). This initially sounds fairly harmless until the authors later explain that the drug “can turn blood the consistency of yogurt” and that “EPO has apparently killed at least 18 Dutch and Belgian cyclists since 1987” (4). Th...
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.
...mful effects, these effects can end somone’s life. These drugs are really bad, and hope that people do not use them. Therefore do not ever use performance-enhancing drugs.
Doping is the use of illegal substances that is harmful to athlete's health and is capable of enhancing performance. Doping also refers to the presence of drugs in the athlete's blood or urine. So, doping in other words is cheating and can be detrimental to the individual reputation and the sport. There are two types of doping blood and chemical. Blood doping is when drugs are placed into red blood cells, oxygen carriers, and related blood products to enhance an athlete's performance (1 Anonymous). Effects of blood doping include kidney damage, allergic reactions, and blood clots (1Anonymous). Chemical doping refers to attempts to change samples used in drug testing (1Anonymous). Despite the many risks the use of drugs among athletes is still prevalent.
MacAuley, D. (1996, July 27). Drugs in sports. British Medical Journal. Downloaded January 7, 2005 from Western International University online library, Info Trac, http://www.apollolibrary.com/Library/databases.aspx?db=0
Look at it this way, athletes work extremely hard to get their bodies in shape and improve
enhancing drugs are the health risks. There are many more downs than ups with the use
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.
Many wonder how drugs can influence an athlete's performance in sports. Over the past few years, it has become more known and more common for athletes to use drugs to enhance their performance abilities. It has been becoming more common for athletes to overdose on drugs whether it being intentional or accidental. Many athletes who use performance enhancing drugs do not know the consequences or the damage the drugs can do to their body. Most athletes that use performance enhancing drugs are high school students. They believe that because their favorite professional athletes is using the enhancers that they are able to also. Athletes should be drug tested before every game to help reduce the use of drugs.
Did you know that a professional Ballet dancer is more physically fit than an Olympic
Many people believe that drug use in professional athletics is not a serious problem, however it is more widespread and serious than people think. In professional athletics the use of drugs is looked upon as somewhat of a serious problem, but is also very discrete and low key. Every once in a while one might see a prominent figure in a certain sport being reprimanded for the use of some outlawed drug, however this is just one of the many who happened to get caught. Athletes today seem to find no moral problem with using performance-enhancing drugs, or in other words cheating. Also many of them feel that because they are "stars" there should be no repercussions for their illegal activity.
Doping can be strictly defined as the consumption of any substance (whether food or drug) to improve one's performance. This definition can be applied in a variety of situations, from college students drinking coffee in order to stay awake to athletes who take steroids to make them stronger. The problem with doping is where one draws the line. The drugs used in doping often have detrimental effects to one's health, both mental and physical. In the short run these drugs improve one's performance, but in the long run they can kill.
Society loves sports and as a result, the fans idolize the athletes, almost as celebrities. Along with this new “celebrity” standing, comes major pressures to always be “perfect” or in the “right”. If the athletes make one mistake or have a bad game, their standing with the fans and their popularity changes negatively, lowering their self-esteem and confidence. In the short story, “The Silent Season of a Hero”, Gay Talese talks of how the former baseball star, Joe DiMaggio felt pressured to always uphold the myth of the “perfect” player with patience (444-445). In the essay, “Kill ‘Em! Crush ‘Em! Eat ‘Em Raw!”, John McMurty, a former professional football player, talks about his experience and injuries during his personal career. He endured many injuries such as broken nose, fingers, jaw, and toes, a dislocated shoulder, pinched nerves, etc. Acquiring injuries such as these tore him and other athletes apart, especially since they felt pressured to continue to play with these injuries because the spectators. The author talks of how people love to see the players “blindsided, clotheslined, or decapitated.” which leads to those injuries that they obtain. The viewers love violence and pain, so “Either you, too, do your very utmost to efficiently smash and be smashed, or you admit incompetence or cowardice and quit.”(Find page
Drug use in sports is considered cheating. Doping has many historical backgrounds, but now it is on a larger scale in order to maximiz...
Illegal drugs are used by people as a way out when feeling down about themselves. As the effects of the drugs may stay the same throughout, causes show that there are a large number of reasons for use. Being lonely, isolated, and frustrated in life help start off the drive to escape. In many cases, using drugs is a coping mechanism, especially in teens. Emotions become numb as people try to escape the pain of reality. This is seen in the youth of today as they deal with everyday pressures.. Drug abuse can make people think they are re-creating their former negative self image. This rebellious action gives the attention that is desired. From trying to fit in to hiding from problems, people will always have a choice. In the end, the reality of drug use is damaging to the user's body, mind and relationships.