Doping and Violence in Sports - What Is Price of Glory - Research Paper Example

Drugs and Violence in Sports: What Price Glory? Abstract This paper attempts to explore sports violence and sports doping in professional, amateur as well as youth sports, and their implications to the sporting community and children’s ideals. It further defines how sports doping differs from the usual addictive behavior regarding drug use. The articles cite instances of sports violence and sports doping in the international arena, including the Olympics, the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), and other popular sporting events. This paper further delves into the factors involved why sports violence and sports doping persist in the sporting world. Other articles mention recommendations, as will be mentioned in this paper, that would help alleviate the problem of sports violence and sports doping. Sports Violence and Sports Doping Defined Sports violence can be defined as behavior which causes harm, occurs outside of the rules of the sport, and is unrelated to the competitive objectives of the sport (Ismat, A., 1989). Sports doping, on the other hand, is defined by “try to gain an advantage by using performance-enhancing drugs. (10) The subject of doping is usually exclusively related to sports, since doping drugs are used to enhance performance, as opposed to other forms of addictive behavior (“Doping and Sports: Collective Expert Assessment,” 1998). In the old days, Physical Education (P.E.) teachers would tell children to engage in play in the spirit of fun and camaraderie. That such activity was not only to contribute to their physical development and personal welfare, but also to develop their social skills—not to mention to promote desire for a life-long fondness for activities that would benefit them physically. However, it seems all that are gone today. The true spirit of sports and sportsmanship has gone down the drain, together with dignity and pride, and has been replaced with violence and performance-enhancing substance—all for the spirit of winning. Everything else is just not good enough. Prevalence of Doping and Violence in Sports As early as late 19th century, there had been records that athletes resort to doping to enhance their individual performances, with lethal results. According to the online article, “Doping and Sports: Collective Expert Assessment” (1998), the following incidents had gained international attention due to the use/abuse of prohibited substances: Arthur Linton died during the Bordeaux-Paris race. In 1904, on the other hand, the marathon runner Thomas Hicks collapsed after winning the Saint-Louis Olympics. Also, Dorando Pietri died in London in 1908. All three athletes succumbed to the same reason: they had taken strychnine. In 1960, during the 100-km road run in the Rome Olympics, the cyclist K. Jensen died. Apparently from the drug Ronicol. In 1967, Tom Simpson, a professional world cycling champion, collapsed and died while climbing the Mont Ventoux after having taken amphetamines. In 1975, anabolics killed Kangasniesmi, a weight lifter. His muscles gave in under the weight and the iron bar fell down, breaking his spine. Moreover, according to the article “Drugs in Sport: The Need for Speed” (2009), Ben Johnston, the Canadian track athlete and former Olympic gold medal winner, was banned for abusing stanozolol. It further adds that a leading UK track athlete offered an alibi that the high content of an anabolic drug in his system was due to a substance he ingested the night before he tested positive to enhance his performance in the bedroom, not on his sporting event. At a Tour de France cycling competition, the entire world was at its feet due to a doping scandal, which until then was unheard of in the said competition. Violence, on the other hand, is most widespread in team contact sports. This includes team sports like basketball, ice, hockey, football, and rugby. While most occurrences of violence emanate from players, others, including coaches, parents, fans, and the media, also contribute to what has been described as an epidemic of violence in sports today (Ismat, A., 1989). On national TV, where practically the world is watching, a basketball player leaps onto the stands along with other teammates and exchanged blows with fans. Another player—in baseball, this time—tossed a folding chair into the arena breaking a spectator’s nose. (Sappenfield, 2004) Sappenfield (2004) further reports that even soccer fans from around the world are privy to this sport disaster. There are countries where soccer fans from opposing teams are separated by lines of law enforcement personnel in riot gear. Football is no exception. A match-up degenerated into a brawl for 10 minutes. Another was halted for 30 minutes after fans set off flares, hitting players and setting signs on fire. Star players have to deal with threats of serious bodily harm from opposing teams if they continue humiliating them in the game. Taken to the extreme, some players have had to deal with anonymous death threats if they turn out a disappointing performance (“Sports Violence: Human Nature Exposed!” , 2007). Who could forget the incident in figure skating that put a skating icon to great shame when her top rival was attacked and left with a broken knee? It was initially surmised as a random act of violence. But as the days progressed, it slowly unveiled to the public eye that the incidence was a product of excessive competitiveness and the thirst for recognition. The world of cricket is not spared. A top coach was apparently murdered after the team he was coaching was defeated in the first round of the World Cup. The Associated Press reported that after days of speculation, the police confirmed that the pathologist declared the cause of death was “asphyxia as a result of manual strangulation” (“Sports: When is the Only Thing, Can Violence be Far Away?”, 1991).The list goes on. We would think that is as bad as it goes. Unfortunately, it goes beyond that. Violence has gone to our youth as well—directly, or indirectly, involving them. In either case, they are the hapless victims. In the level of youth sports, violence proliferates. As reported by Sappenfield, (2004) “…touchline tirades at teen soccer referees are routine fare. In Florida, one youth baseball coach broke an umpire's jaw over a disputed call. A Massachusetts hockey dad beat a coach to death.” What, we would ask, are the parents doing? They are supposed to play as role models for their kids as to how to behave like true men of sports, the epitome of sportsmanship. However, such is sadly not the case. In Massachusetts, as Grohol (2007) writes, a single father of four children died after a fight at his son's hockey game. The fistfight broke out after the two fathers argued about rough play in their sons' youth hockey game. There are countless other occasions where parents and athletes not only have hit coaches, referees, but they even hit each other. Though not all incidents result in death, this has become an ever-increasing problem. Reasons for the Prevalence There are a million reasons why these phenomena happen in the world of sports. All seem to justify why athletes, or their entourage, and the general public resort to them as though they were a valid response to the challenging situations facing them. Financial stakes are rising as well as the toughening of the competition for the proverbial fame and fortune, to cite one. Athletes have to endure the pressure of the pursuit for these two elusive elements, driving some to succumb to the lure of performance-enhancing drugs despite the risks involved. In the article, “Doping and Sports: Collective Expert Assessment” (1998), it was found that the wealthier athletes use them under the supervision of competent professionals, while the others, in order to “stay in the race”, resort to self-medication on the basis of advice or information gathered in stadiums (“poor man” doping), unaware of the risk they run. There is little wonder why. Sports have become a business, with the athletes becoming prime goods. Their perceived worth is based not the field, but how much cash they bring in for patrons and sponsors, and how wide the coverage they from the media. This is evident in ice hockey, as Club Owners refuse to discourage the violence, because it attracts spectators who come to see “red ice.” Players who do not participate in the violence endanger their jobs. Most players do not want to see a game where their lives (or others) are in jeopardy. That pressure ultimately comes from owners (sponsors and the media) “who are into making profits” (“Sports: When is the Only Thing, Can Violence be Far Away?”, 1991). In youth sports, it is as equally disheartening. “In the youth culture, it is accepted or even appropriate to respond to disrespect with violence,” says Dan Doyle of the Institute for International Sport in Kingston, R.I. “If you don't, you're not a man.” (Sappenfield, 2004). It has become a badge of honor for the youth to display violence—wittingly or unwittingly—in the field. At such an early stage, they have had to bow down to external pressure to prove themselves. Whatever the reasons are, in the long run, it is the athletes that suffer the most, being the ones in the center of this most pressing issue. Implications It is never easy to turn your head the other way amid all the violence and doping. Not if you have access to information, i.e., the Internet, television, print media. But this is only icing on the cake. Beneath the surface, it is more a cause for concern about the athletes who, at some point in their career—long or short—would have to hang their uniforms. What good has the violence done for their life when their sporting career has ended? Worse, what toll has their doping exacted on their bodies? And what of the youth? After the early experiences in sports, some would throw in the towel and never touch a ball, or swing a bat, or wear a jersey. Others would relentlessly pursue the fame and the glory. However, the twisted idea of violence and doping inculcated in their minds linger, and will manifest in their on-court behavior. Or in any field, for that matter. All the world will see is a never-ending vicious cycle of sports violence and doping. Conclusion Many so-called experts have suggested ways curb this rising public concern on sports doping and sports violence. Some go as far as physically deploying law enforcers on the courts or fields to address the problem on violence. Others offer stiffer penalties on violators—huge fines or eventual expulsion, among others—if caught. They all seem to effectively address the problem at hand. However, these measures serve a palliative purpose, only trying to cure the disease, not preventing it. Perhaps it is best if efforts were concentrated on probing deeper measures to prevent the disease. Children become the athletes of tomorrow. Their view on sports is dictated from as early as they can carry a ball or a bat. At this juncture, they need to be taught that sports is a way to have fun while building character. The goal is not making the highest score, but making sure that the game is played well and fairly. The P.E. teachers were right from the beginning. References Abdal-Haqq, Ismat (1989). ERIC Clearinghouse on Teacher Education Washington DC. Violence in Sports. ERIC Digest 1-89. Grohol, John M. (2007). Violence in Youth Sports. PsychCentral article. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/articles/prn22.htm Doping and Sports: Collective Expert Assessment (1998). Department of Life Sciences Synthetic Report. Retrieved from http://www.cnrs.fr/cw/en/pres/compress/dopage/dopage2.html Drugs in Sport: The Need for Speed. Sports Drugs article. Retrieved from http://www.sports- drugs.com/drugs-in-sport-two.htm Sappenfield, Mark (2004). Sports violence fed by both fans, athletes. The Christian Science Article. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1124/p03s01-ussc.html Sports Violence: Human Nature Exposed! (2007). The Real Truth article. Retrieved from http://www.realtruth.org/news/070402-002-society.html Sports: When is the Only Thing, Can Violence be Far Away? (1991) Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace article. Retrieved from http://www.peace.ca/sports.htm Read More