The Ethics of Steroid Use - Essay Example

Firstly, about the underlying question of whether or not illegal steroid usage should be penalized to the same degree under the law that other forms of illegal drugs are penalized, this author believes that there must be a differential between the levels of punishment between these two types of drug users.  This is because the majority of illegal drugs target how the user integrates with reality.  What this implies is that the individual that takes mind-altering drugs is at a specific disadvantage in interpreting reality and acting accordingly.  As such, this means that the individual poses a risk to broader society in that they are oftentimes incapable of making rational decisions.  However, with regards to steroid user/performance-enhancing drug users, although they are damaging their health, they do not necessarily pose a risk to society at large because steroid/performance-enhancing drug usage does not impair one’s ability to make informed decisions.  In this way, it seems counterproductive for a society to criminalize all forms of drug usage regardless of the intent or means by which it works on the individual.

Similarly, about the second question that this analysis will seek to integrate an understanding of, i.e. the extent to which the players on sporting teams represent role models as opposed to financial instruments, this author believes that the idolization of sports players has reached something of preposterous proportions.  Although many young and impressionable minds seek to emulate the exploits and character traits of their favorite athletes, society at large has become enamored with how sportsmen, and sportswomen for that matter, represent the highest values that individuals can and should strive for.  Ultimately, the players should not be viewed in such light because they are merely investment tools utilized by corporations to increase profit (Murray, 2008).  As such, one can and should revere the sportsman to no greater degree than members of a public transportation union.  These members are merely performing a task and are receiving payment for doing so.  Although this may come across as something of a rather jaded opinion, the utility of the onlooker is not served to any greater extent by viewing these individuals as demigods; rather, such an enterprise is only promoted as a means of furthering the bottom line of the corporate interests that promote the consumption of such programming and sporting events. 

However, before the reader can take the preceding argument against the criminalization of illegal steroid/performance-enhancing drug usage too seriously, it should be stated that it is the solid belief of this author that the ethical breach that such an action portends should have a high professional, albeit not legal, penalty.  By breaking the public’s trust and cheating, the utility of the viewer is inherently reduced to near meaningless.  As such, it is the strong belief of this author that even though it should be outside of the court’s jurisdiction to punish these individuals, they should receive hefty fines and painful penalties from their sponsoring entities when and if it is found that they have engaged in such behavior.  However, one cannot and should not forget at any juncture that sports and its athletes are merely a money-making tool and as such are encouraged to operate beyond their peak levels of performance as a way to provide a more sensational viewing experience to the onlooker; thereby providing higher revenues for the owners and shareholders of these clubs.