Theories of Performance-Enhancing Drugs Use in Sports - Coursework Example

N ЕTHIСАL АNАLYSIS ОF THЕ USЕ ОF РЕRFОRMАNСЕ ЕNHАNСING DRUGS IN SРОRT Student’s Name University Affiliation Introduction This paper explores the five theories that explains both the wrong and right on research made on the ethical analysis of the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport. These theories vary in the way they depict its definition and the correct response toward drug enhancing performance in sport. According to research, ethical theories are grouped into four categories of moral standards including justice, rights, duty and utility. This brings clear to the development of ethical considerations in sport activities athletes are using. Articles on utilitarianism differentiate it to utility as the correct policy in decision making in order for individuals not to violate human rights of minority. These theories and also the ethical relativism which depicts wrong or right depending on the nature of the society or the religion athletes hold. Discrepancies arriving from the use of general theoretical view of ethics rather than on the performance enhancement drug use are also encountered. In order to understand them well, I have explained the theories in regard to the ethical consideration and analysis of performance enhancement drug use. This paper therefore examines all the theories that are relying to the study of the ethical analysis of the use of performance enhancing drugs in sports so as to understand its absolute effects. An Ethical Analysis of the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sport A lot of research studies have been conducted on various groups of athletes in the world today in order to show if it’s possible that these athletes are using enhancement drugs in sports activities. However many sports group and personnel are contradicting these research activities in regard to the research done on their clients and them. According to research, the developments to detect the drug use among the athletes and to offer corrective and punishment measures for positive drug use have been on rise, many athletes still choose to use enhancement drugs in sport (Angell et al., 2012). This work entails research on the theories athletes are subjected to while on the use of enhancement drugs in sport activities. In Richards (1979) article describing the ethical theories, he based his theories upon two categories: - Deontology theories which are based by the notion of choosing ones duties not for consequences but basing on actions and motives. The second theory is of Teleological theories which are looked upon by the consideration of one’s actions to see the values expected on certain consequences. These theories depict the ethical concerns an individual is brought into by the environmental concerns that intercept and contribute to the decision making. Decision are arrived are always based upon the ethical nature of a human being. In Richards (1979) article, he subjected his work on finding the ethical theories that affect one’s life. His research contradicted certain research that claimed ethical conduct on enhancement performance of drug usage in the field of sport. There basing on the principled theories, i have come up with explanation and discussion to solve these discrepancies. In Richards (1979) study of utilitarian theory it showed that it is concerned with three parts of a situation, the value of the theory, the principle utility and the crucial part which is the decision making process. The values of theories are subject to the nature of the ethical situation where many may either classify as bad or good from happiness and evil attitudes respectively. The use of performance enhancement drugs therefore may be seen by the users mostly the athletes in the field of sport since they carry a positive impact in their life and more so to the sports activities they undertake. The utility nature of the theory brings to the consequences of the best alternative they cope up with the use of these drugs. It is a consequential nature where the athletes may enjoy the benefits they will accrue from the use of these drugs or also suffer from them too as the evil nature take its course. The last part of the utilitarian theory is the decision phase. In this phase the user has to determine after a reconsideration and study of the drugs whether to adopt their usage. This decision is therefore critical since it is the measure of the utility judgments. In sport, member staffs provide rules and regulation that abides all members participating in the various field of sports. It is therefore concluding that, athletes do not have a right to make decision as to either use drugs that enhance performance or not. The decision had been finally made by the staff and subordinate members. The role of athletes is to abide with the regulation set alongside their participation in any competition. There Richards’s theory on Utilitarian may not be accepted since athletes cannot make any decisions in regard to use of drugs that enhance performance since they are restricted. When taking into consideration of Richards (1979) article about Kantian Deontology, it displays this theory as an action that is moral correct and acceptable in the essence of provision of an obligation or guided by duty. Deontologist theory always foresee that a situation may be accepted in a certain field will not necessarily mean that it is also accepted in other fields of which it will be unaccepted (Richard, 1979). Kantian deontology therefore shows a classification of ethical values that are accepted in a field yet they are unaccepted in another field. Enhancing performance drugs are sometimes preferred to be used by prescribed doctors while in the field of sports are not encouraged at all. The use of these drugs enables athletes to gain extra energy at an expense of their own. They will not race or compete with their artificial or talented energy hence they are not encouraged at all. Therefore, deontology theory provides a distinctive role in classifying where it is needed and where it is not. Using this theory it is correct that some of the ethical concerns are restricted in some certain field while they are mostly encouraged in other field. The application of this theory is depicted in the use of drug enhancement performance. In the sport field they are not encouraged as they provide false energy for the participants in that field. Some other fields like in the gym section these kinds of drugs are highly used to provide strong energy in body building. These drugs increases muscle capacity in individual hence becoming more strong and reliable in carrying heavy weights. According to Richard (1979) articles, Kantian deontology theory involves ethical consideration that are accepted in one field and using the same not to be accepted to other available fields. This theory is much applicable to those in sport field as the use of performance enhancement drugs is prohibited. Rawls theory of justice provides an individual with their equal dues of their activities they have to perform (George, 2005). Justice should be observed at all level in order to control all activities. Laws are to be set to provide a guideline so that when one breaches them will have to face the consequences through justice. Laws are already set in the sport field and the athletes are not supposed to use performance enhancement drugs while in participation. Failure in observing these laws, athletes will breach the regulation therefore they will be subjected to face justice. The Rawls theory of justice therefore provides clear guidelines upon the laws and regulations governing a field. Justice is supposed to be observed as a major remedy for breach of rules and regulations that one is subjected to. According to George (2005), justice is done equal basing on the attitude of the breach of rules. In sport it is applicable in certain events; members found to be using drugs that are essential in enhancing their performance are entitled to face the crucial law for justice to be served around all corners of the world. These measures for justice ranges from suspension to full ban of individual found to be using these drugs. This theory therefore is a clear subject to understand the process of justice served in these fields. Members will earn their equal justice measure in response to the nature they breach the rules and regulation set for them globally to abide. A right has been defined as a morally obligation that an individual is entitled to. In any that this process is breached the individual is entitled compensation (Henry, 2014). Due to the complexity nature of life, right are stipulated from the lowest level of society to the top level of a government. All athletes in sport activities are entitled to use any kind of drug performance enhancement. It is only that these drugs usage are restricted in the sport field as they provide false energy during participation for the arranged competitions. Rights are fundamental guidelines that are entitled to individuals (Henry, 2014). In the sport field, athletes have essential rights that are entitled to but they are denied the right to use drugs that will enhance performance for all their activities they will be participating. If this was their right then will largely be using the performance enhancement drugs to have a lot of energy and strength to participate in many competitions as possible. Their rights subjected to consideration by the sports fraternity. The sports fraternity applies the use of this right theory to control and implement new ideas that are likely to affect the participants. Given much right to freedom, abuse of the fundamental rights will occur. This is why it leads to limit the right of individuals even if they are subject to. The use of these drugs will enable them win as many sports events as possible. Therefore the denial of this right improves the showing of artificial and nurtured talents in the sport field by athletes in the whole world which is a negative impact to the participant while the sport management enjoys many benefits in controlling these rights. Ethical relativism is the process where whether right or wrong is determined by the either a group of individual, religion background or also societal beliefs (Gilbert, 1996). The society poses and attributes certain ethics that an individual ought to follow them. It is a guideline toward following the correct path in respect to societal rights. Groups also determine the growth of ethics consideration in one’s life. In regard to these, enhancing performance drugs will be highly used in a congregation of age mates since they encourage each other to do so. This will be wrong at another field like of sport. This has been the most sophisticated challenge the world is facing up. Cultural and societal beliefs tend to produce a lot of ethical concern among the sports participants in a way to apply this theory. They use of some drugs that are prohibited globally by the bodies that control sports. These drugs which have been used at the lowest level of governance have a certain value toward ethical consideration and theories. Ethical relativism displays where ethical concepts are made from, and they are found in different levels (Gilbert, 1996). Ethical theories have been formulated from individual groups, society and cultural beliefs. They allow moral diversity hence drugs are likely to be used among individual groupings who share a common knowledge and understanding. When it comes to international ethical consideration, bodies have difficult roles in establishing new ethical view. International sport bodies therefore have to implement new rules and regulation some basing on the society norms. Individual who have participated in using drugs that enhance performance at a local level will undergo screening process to reveal whether their drug level are allowed based on internationally standards. Those who are found with traces are abashed from participating it the sports. Conclusion and Future Study Limiting the use of drugs that enhance performance has born a lot of fruits since measures curbing this were generated in the sport field. It is therefore these measures to be put in place at all level and moments of sports activities being participated in the world today. In order to understand accurately of the ethical analysis of the use of performance enhancement drugs in sport, it is necessary to conduct a good and clear research that will examine how well athletes take into account the ethical theories in regard to sporting activities. This research will include visiting sports club to gather information on athletes, research on journals, newspaper and diaries. Online website protocol will provide global and up to-date materials on the use of drugs that enhance performance. As each mode of research is relevant in obtaining and gathering information, it is important to oversee all the activities of ethical concept basing upon the theories available for ethics relating them to the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport. References Angell, P. J., Chester, N. J., Sculthorpe, N. Y., Whyte, G. L., George, K. S., Somauroo, J. V. (2012). Athletic Academic Performance: British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012-091186. Aristotle (2001) The Basic Works of Aristotle: Nichomachean Ethics. New York: Modern Library. Duncan, G. J., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (Eds.). (1997). Consequences of using performance enhancement drugs. New York, NY: Russell: Sage Foundation. George H. K., (2005). The Hastings Center Bibliography of Society, Ethics and the Life Sciences: Journal on Ethics and the Life Sciences. Vol. 13(2), 12-18. Gilbert, H. L., & Judith J. T., (1996). Moral Relativism and Moral Objectivity: Blackwell Publishing. Henry, W. A., III. (2014, march 1). The use of Enhancement Drugs in Athletes. Time, 135, 28-31. Kant, I., (1993) Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals: On a Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company. King, Iain (2008). How to Make Good Decisions and Be Right All the Time. Continuum. p. 225. ISBN 978-1847063472. Mill, J. S., (1979) Utilitarianism. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company. Richard B. B., (1979). A Theory of the Good and the Right. Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-824550-5 Richard T. H., (1979, March 27). The Varieties of Ethical Theories. Buffalo Psychiatric Center: 35, 8-31. Smart, R.N., (1958, October 9), 'Negative Utilitarianism' in Mind, New Series, Vol. 67, No. 268. 542-54   Read More

In Richards (1979) article, he subjected his work on finding the ethical theories that affect one’s life. His research contradicted certain research that claimed ethical conduct on enhancement performance of drug usage in the field of sport. There basing on the principled theories, i have come up with explanation and discussion to solve these discrepancies. In Richards (1979) study of utilitarian theory it showed that it is concerned with three parts of a situation, the value of the theory, the principle utility and the crucial part which is the decision making process.

The values of theories are subject to the nature of the ethical situation where many may either classify as bad or good from happiness and evil attitudes respectively. The use of performance enhancement drugs therefore may be seen by the users mostly the athletes in the field of sport since they carry a positive impact in their life and more so to the sports activities they undertake. The utility nature of the theory brings to the consequences of the best alternative they cope up with the use of these drugs.

It is a consequential nature where the athletes may enjoy the benefits they will accrue from the use of these drugs or also suffer from them too as the evil nature take its course. The last part of the utilitarian theory is the decision phase. In this phase the user has to determine after a reconsideration and study of the drugs whether to adopt their usage. This decision is therefore critical since it is the measure of the utility judgments. In sport, member staffs provide rules and regulation that abides all members participating in the various field of sports.

It is therefore concluding that, athletes do not have a right to make decision as to either use drugs that enhance performance or not. The decision had been finally made by the staff and subordinate members. The role of athletes is to abide with the regulation set alongside their participation in any competition. There Richards’s theory on Utilitarian may not be accepted since athletes cannot make any decisions in regard to use of drugs that enhance performance since they are restricted. When taking into consideration of Richards (1979) article about Kantian Deontology, it displays this theory as an action that is moral correct and acceptable in the essence of provision of an obligation or guided by duty.

Deontologist theory always foresee that a situation may be accepted in a certain field will not necessarily mean that it is also accepted in other fields of which it will be unaccepted (Richard, 1979). Kantian deontology therefore shows a classification of ethical values that are accepted in a field yet they are unaccepted in another field. Enhancing performance drugs are sometimes preferred to be used by prescribed doctors while in the field of sports are not encouraged at all. The use of these drugs enables athletes to gain extra energy at an expense of their own.

They will not race or compete with their artificial or talented energy hence they are not encouraged at all. Therefore, deontology theory provides a distinctive role in classifying where it is needed and where it is not. Using this theory it is correct that some of the ethical concerns are restricted in some certain field while they are mostly encouraged in other field. The application of this theory is depicted in the use of drug enhancement performance. In the sport field they are not encouraged as they provide false energy for the participants in that field.

Some other fields like in the gym section these kinds of drugs are highly used to provide strong energy in body building. These drugs increases muscle capacity in individual hence becoming more strong and reliable in carrying heavy weights. According to Richard (1979) articles, Kantian deontology theory involves ethical consideration that are accepted in one field and using the same not to be accepted to other available fields. This theory is much applicable to those in sport field as the use of performance enhancement drugs is prohibited.

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