Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports - Essay Example

Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports The spirit of athletics is linked with the age old history of civilization. The ancient Greek hero's, Spartan hero's and the Olympians of centuries have endured discipline and perseverance to achieve their desired feat of success as superhero. Good discipline and perseverance gives momentum to athletic performance in the public eye which is manifestation of practice, precision and talent. This pinnacle of performance is reached by victory or defeat, joy and sorrow as witnessed on the field by the fans, organizers, team members and by the individual participant. Success is the moment of euphoria marked by honor and success. The chains of followers are linked with the path traveled by a successful athlete or sportsperson which makes them a role model for the masses. The drama of performance on world scene is so overpowering that athletes sometime fall in the controversy of doping (use of performance enhancing drugs) in sports. A winning athlete is the star of the public eye just as a politician, musician or a literary figure and their image is a delicate balance training, character and publicity. When athlete resorts to taking performance enhancing drugs, they not only hurt themselves but in turn set in motion a chain of events that destroys the sport each time a new case surfaces. The controversy which has been built around athletic doping or use of performance enhancing drug to maximize sport performance can be traced back to 490 BC in the legendary marathon run by Feidipides, which made him a superhero at the cost of his life (Savulescu, et al. 2004). Performance enhancing drugs has been reported to be used even since the Greeks started the Olympics in 776 BC. Olympic athletes were believed to have used herbs and mushrooms in an attempt to improve their performance. However, it was not until the early 19th century that the problem became a menace to the sport. Today, the thrust for winning is so high that there are reports that performance-enhancing drugs have been used in college, high school and junior high/middle school athletics around the world (Kidsource OnLine, 1996). The desire to outperform the other competitors at any cost is so demanding. The performance oriented athletics with result at its core is fuelled by different levels of drugs which enhance shot-term and long-term performance. The progress in technology offers greater lure to administering different levels of biological intervention. The health and the fitness should be the core of rational judgment rather than emotional euphoria of success. The use of doping takes away the human element of ethics and honesty in sports. An athlete stoops down to the level of an animal with no reason, choice or judgment. Some of the performance-enhancing drugs are dangerous; they have multitude physical, mental and emotional side effects ranging from short-term to long-term. Anabolic steroids are associated are associated with a range of side effects, including heart attacks and liver cancer. Some doping substances are permitted in low doses like alcohol and caffeine. Another form of doping is blood doping either by blood transfusion or use of the hormone erythropoietin. In recent times tetrahydrogestrinone(THG) and modafinil are causing controversy throughout the sporting world. The number and variety of drugs use by athletes are rather alarming. Substances used as ergogenic aids are meant to primarily increase size, endurance and strength of the athletes. Performance increasing drugs also include beta-adrenoceptor blockers and beta-adrenoceptor agonists, calcium-channel blockers, diuretics, growth hormone and growth hormone stimulants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, iron, theophylline and in some situations, vitamins (Lajis, N.D.). These substances used to boost athletic performance, increase strength and improve appearance present a serious health risk. Use of enhancement drugs violates athlete's autonomy. Besides, such illegal acts questions their confidence, morals, ethics and takes away the spirit of fair play and healthy participation from the sports arena. The use of performance enhancing drugs makes a sportsperson appear as clever, manipulative business person with ruthless attitude towards survival and also puts a chemical burden on the body of an athlete. These drugs interfere with the normal biological process and gives short-term gains with better absorption of oxygen, stronger muscle and greater endurance; but they fail to realize the fact that they are at the risk of innumerable long-term health risks like cardiac problems, cancer, insomnia, dependence and others. Though usage of such drugs may give the athlete short-term personal gains with enhanced performance, but it badly affects their professional career and public image. The glory of winning at any cost attracts most of the athletes in the present day. The monitory benefit that follows winners acts as a strong driving force behind drug abuse in sports. The side effects of these drugs are innumerable. For instance, the use of anabolic steroids may result is acute acne, balding, and undesirable body changes such as the development of breasts (gynecomastia) and shrinking testicles in men, and masculinization in women (e.g., more body hair, a deeper voice, smaller breasts and fewer menstrual cycles). Use of these steroids may also increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes by elevating blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Oral steroids have been linked to liver disease, and evidence exists for increased risk of prostate, liver and kidney cancer. Steroids are often injected and these increase the risk of contracting serious infections such as hepatitis and HIV among those who share needles. Evidence suggests that the abuse of steroids can increase aggressive behavior in males, cause mood swings and impair judgment (The Hormone Foundation, 2005). The use of drugs is against the rules. "The World Anti-Doping Agency code declares a drug illegal if it is performance enhancing, if it is a health risk, or if it violates the "spirit of sport" The spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind, and is characterized by certain values." (Savulescu et al., 2004). Athletes have always held a very prestigious place in the hearts and the minds of the people. They have achieved a role model status on the basis of their outstanding performance, courage and spirit. Use of performance enhancing drug very badly affects the confidence of the fans that look up to their favorite athlete. Fans feel betrayed and cheated when an athlete is caught doping. Such a situation creates the climate of distrust and dishonesty. Athletes are regarded as symbol of good health, courage, confidence and solidarity, doping questions their integrity and solidarity. Illegal drug use creates a climate of unfairness and corruption, which damages the image of the sportsperson as well as the spirit of sports. The present status of sports is very controversial and corrupt which not only affects the athlete and the organization but also affects the future of younger athletes. The fans lose their confidence, organization loses its name and athlete loses his image. Besides, today the use of drugs by the sportsman has put immense technological and economic pressure on the sports authorities to test and screen the athletes in present climate of corruption and manipulation that makes it expensive for the athlete, for the organization as well as fans. The fan amenities are greatly damaged because of negative effects of doping and reduced fan attendance. This negative publicity will also affect the ticket, food and beverage prices associated with sports management. The future of sports looks very dark in the shadow created by the performance enhancing drugs. The burden is on everyone involved in sports the managers, coaches, institutions and the country. Use of performance enhancing drug violates the rules of sports and it is unethical, unfair and unsafe. Active measures have been taken to clean up the dirty sports scenario by International Olympic Committee. The basic anti-doping principles of sport are laid down to strengthen and reinforce the rules, values and the spirit of the sports. These are "protection of the athletes' health"; "respect for medical and sports ethics"; and "ensuring an equal chance for everyone during competition" (Maxwell and Mehlman, 2007). Sports play a significant role in our society and culture. Winners become heroes as society creates a culture that worships them. Unfortunately not every athlete who competes wins, and for those lacking sufficient talent, performance-enhancing drugs offer the means by which they may become "winners." Too much fame and fortune can be gained by being a winner in sports lead many of them to use performance enhancing drugs (Bahrke and Yesalis, 2002). The charm of good sport is lost if any incidence of performance enhancing drugs comes in to picture. Hence, it is the responsibility of athletes, fans, organizers and every one to encourage good sports. In order to prevent sports from becoming mere contest between drugs, money and politics, sport organizations around the world need to encourage true sports. References Bahrke, M. S. and Yesalis, C.E. (2002) The Future of Performance-Enhancing Substances in Sport. The Physician And Sportsmedicine - Vol 30 - No. 11 - November 2002. Wikipedia (2007) Doping (sport). Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Retrieved February 2, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_(sport) Kidsource OnLine, (1996) "Silent Epidemic of Abuse" Pervades Sports In America. Retrieved February 22, 2007, from http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/news/drugs7_9_96.html Lajis, R.H. (N.D.) The History Of Drug Abuse In Sports. Retrieved February 3, 2006, from http://www.prn2.usm.my/mainsite/bulletin/sun/1996/sun27.html Maxwell, J. and Mehlman, J.D. (2007) Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports. Retrieved February 2, 2007, from http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/articles/bioethics/perfdrugs_10/ Savulescu, J., Foddy B., and Clayton M. (2004). Why we should allow performance enhancing drugs in sport. BJSM Online Web site, Retrieved February 1, 2007, from http://bjsm.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/38/6/666 The Hormone Foundation (2005) Program on Adolescent Hormone Abuse and Performance-Enhancing Drugs Retrieved February 21, 2007, from http://www.hormone.org/pdf/Horm_Abuse_Fact_Sheet.pdf Read More