Drugs and Sport - Case Study Example

? Drugs and sport INTRODUCTION “Drug abuse is one of the biggest problems in sports. It can also be referred to as substance abuse or doping. Drug abuse involves the repeated and excessive use of chemical substances to achieve a certain effect.” (Neeraj & Maman et al., 2011) The introduction of using drugs and the history of doping in sport was first initiated in 1876. Hence, since then the use of drugs in sports commonly known as performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) is one of the most discussed crises in the sports world. It is said that the use of steroids is extremely common amongst the athletes of different sports, coaches, trainers, student athletes etc. The use of drugs is a major problem in the world of sport. Many athletes have been found out using performance enhancement drugs in order to compete or win in their designated sport or area. Hence, “in today’s competitive sports market, players want to hit more home runs, score more touchdowns, or jump higher than their competitors because their performance will most likely be directly tied to their next playing contract or endorsement deal.” (Pampel, 2007) Drug abuse and performance enhancement drugs (PEDs) is considered as one of the most disputed argument in the world of sport. Therefore, doping is considered as a disruptive behavior from an individual. Also, it is a very secretive behavior. However, it is a very common action that the athletes deny the use of drugs and dopes. For instance, there were many cyclists in the Tour De France of 1998, who had actually doped themselves in order to have an edge over their competitors but they refused this claim when the officials found out. The cyclists had to undergo various tests and many of them were caught using drugs. Basically, drugs in sport are cheating and the combination of drugs and sport do not mix well too. Athletes use drugs in order to have an edge against their competitors and improve and make their performance better which is cheating. This act would not make them better or tell them if they are, to some extent, better than their competitors. “The use of substances to improve performance in sport has been recorded from as early as the third century B.C. – Greek physician Galen used medicinal preparations to treat disease and illness, and noted that many Olympic athletes at the time used stimulants and diet modification methods to enhance their performance.” (White W and Laura S, 1991) The two controversial debatable points which leads to the conclusion that why performance enhancement drugs (PEDs) and doping should be banned in competitive sports are, firstly, the factor of fair play from any game and competition is eliminated when an individual is used to take such pills and medication. It helps an individual to improve physical performance and abilities which is contrary to one of the most important aspect of sport which is fair play. “Athletic competitions, it is argued, are designed to demonstrate the best performer on a level playing-field reflecting natural capacities. It is, therefore, unfair if a particular resource, such as performance enhancing drugs, is available to some competitors but not others” (Sabini & Monterosso, 2005). The second argument to this topic is the disadvantages of such drugs and medication. It is concerning that these pills are damaging and injurious to athlete’s health. As there are various types of drugs which individuals use to enhance their performance include drugs such as anabolic steroids, erythropoietin (EPOs), and human growth hormones (HGOs). All of these have different and harmful side effects which could affect the athletes in their future. Cardiovascular and mental health problems, depression and higher risk of heart attack, hypertension, cardiac disease, and overgrow hands, feet, or head. The use of performance enhancement medication allows athletes to perform better than the other. If this is made legal then any sports will not be an even playing field and no competition will be even. “A booming business exists for illegal steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. Athletes can often buy these drugs at their gyms, through the internet, or from unethical doctors, coaches, or teammates. Some black market drugs are stolen from pharmacies or veterinary supplies.” (Porterfield, 2008) Therefore, the pros and cons to the use of drugs in sports are many. It differs from health risks to unfair advantage and athletes as role models. The pros and cons are as follows: PROS Physical enhancement Bigger body mass Improves strength and endurance Improved performance These medications help an athlete to increase muscle mass and strength which helps them to recover from injury sooner than the specified time. CONS Negative physical side effects Serious medical issues Males can be the victim of hair loss or liver cancer Whereas, females can subject to growth of body and facial hair Females are also liable to contract deepening of their voices Hence, in order to just have an edge and gain more improvement than their competitors will affect an athlete’s overall health and the factor of fair play is eliminated. It is said that there is a regular use of performance enhancement drugs (PEDs) in high schools as the pros of this medication motivate them and they are satisfied with the difference and the end result of it as well. However, they are unaware of the long term effects of such harmful activities. This not only makes them better than their competitors to some extent, but, it also makes a habit of using drugs regularly or every now and then. It becomes an addiction whether to use it for sports or any other thing. And a bad addiction is difficult to ignore. “Today's athletes are looking for an advantage over the competition that will help make them winners. Unfortunately, the adolescents of today are caught up in this high stakes competition frenzy. Because of this reality, teenage use of performance enhancing drugs is growing ever more popular.” (Nationwidechildrens.org, 2013) THE FUTURE OF DRUGS AND SPORTS “As in past decades, future decades will likely see both better drugs to aid sports performance and better tests to stop use of those drugs. Although some hope that education of youth and adult athletes will lessen the desire to use drugs in sports, the effects of education so far appear meager.” (Pampel, 2007) Therefore, there has been a lot of advancement and improvement in the recent years to stop the use of drugs. Drugs such as PEDs, EPO, hGH, and THG are tested before the competition and a severe action is planned on proven athletes. “Given that at present, most sports only outlaw doping, and not any other training techniques, it also comes across as a form of hypocrisy to outlaw just one form of competitive advantage.” (Unsw Science, 2013) Improvements have been introduced in such a way that the officials have started to analyze other substances also rather than urine only. Blood tests are now carried out on the Olympic athletes that help them to find the traces of blood doping which does not appear in the urine. As traces of doping might disappear in the urine, however, they still remain intact in blood and hair for a longer duration than usual which eases the testing of the drug use. CONCLUSION “Even the briefest investigations into the use and abuse of drugs in sport, and the legal, ethical and medical implications of testing, show that there are many unanswered questions, and many grey areas that can serve to be an advantage for certain athletes, whilst disadvantaging others.” (Onset.unsw.edu.au, 2013) Nowadays, athletes in different sports are liable to follow a few strict guidelines which assure that there has not been any performance enhancement drugs used and that there is an even playing field as well for every competitor. The present anti doping constitution in professional sports is encouraged for reasons such as fair play and the health of every athlete. “With the inception of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), anti-doping effort has been considerably intensified and resources invested in anti-doping are rising steeply.” (O’Connor) Works Cited Sabini, J., & Monterosso, J. (2005). Judgments of the fairness of using performance enhancing drugs. Ethics & Behavior, 15(1), 81-94. Dimeo, P. (2007). A history of drug use in sport 1876-1976. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Neeraj, K., Maman, P., S & Hu, J. (2011). Why Players Engage in Drug Abuse Substances? A Survey Study.Doping Journal, 8 1. O’Connor, H. (). Performance enhancing drug use in professional sport is a risk decision: A qualitative analysis of Prospect Theory. Pampel, F. (2007). Drugs and sports. New York NY: Facts on File. Porterfield, J. (2008). Doping. New York: Rosen Pub.. Thornton, P., Champion, W. & Ruddell, L. (2012) Sports ethics for sports management professionals. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett. Nationwidechildrens.org (2013). Abuse of Drugs to Enhance Sports Performance: Winning at Any Cost :: Nationwide Children's Hospital. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/abuse-of-drugs-to-enhance-sports-performance-winning-at-any-cost [Accessed: 28 Nov 2013]. Onset.unsw.edu.au (2013). --- OnSet --- The UNSW Science, Engineering and Technology Review. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.onset.unsw.edu.au/issue5/drugs_in_sport/drugs_in_sport.html [Accessed: 28 Nov 2013]. Ronald S Laura and Saxon W White, Drug Controversy in Sport: The Socio-ethical and Medical Issues. Allen and Unwin, North Sydney, 1991. Read More