The Prohibition of Body Modifications to Improve Performance in Sports - Literature review Example

Name Tutor Course Date The Prohibition of Body Modifications to Improve Performance in Sports Introduction Human beings have been engaging in competitive sports for a long time. Use of performance enhancing drugs dates to so many years back and despite these drugs having been used for such a long time in sports, doping is still a controversial issue in the modern sports (Lamb 2007, p.3). The use of body modifications in the modern sports was first witnessed during the third Olympiad when Thomas Hicks won the race after having being administered with strychnine during the marathon. The first prohibition of performance enhancing drugs was done in 1928 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation. During sports competition, people try their best to have an edge against their adversaries. In order to try out win the other competitors, there are records of people using body modifications in order to enhance the performance (Harvey 2014, p.3). Body modifications are certain drugs that have the ability to improve and increase athletic performance in sports. Use of body modifications in sports affects sports that are perceived as “muscle bound”, for example athletics and body building sports (Harvey 2014, p.4). This essay justifies the ban of body modifications to improve performance in sports because those who use the drugs have undue advantage and also some of these drugs have many side effects. The banning of the performance enhancing drugs is not the solution to preventing athletes from using them. This is because the use body modifications, has been there for such a long time. Therefore, use of performance enhancing drugs is not nothing new although it has become more effective. In 1976, a swimming team won 11 out of 13 Olympic events during competition in Germany and the swimming team later filed a suit against the government for administering them with anabolic steroids. In spite of the well known risks that comes with using performance enhancing drugs and also in spite of the regulating agencies putting so many efforts to eradicate use of drugs in sports, the use of prohibited substances in sports continues to be dominant (Lamb 2007, p.3). Use of performance enhancing drugs currently hardly raises eyebrow now when a well-known athlete fails a dope test. For instance, in 1992, Vicky Rabonwicz assessed some athletes and established that generally athletes believed that most successful athletes use prohibited performance enhancing drugs. Most of the news regarding usage of performance enhancing drugs in sports mostly focuses on this type of anecdotal evidence. Basically, there is shortage of rigorous and objective evidence since athletes are doing something that is prohibited, against the law and at times very risky. The anecdotal representation is clear evidence that the attempts to eradicate use of performance enhancing drugs in sports using even banning have not been successful. Accordingly, because of shortage of good evidence and high rate of usage of body modifications in sports despite of them being prohibited, there is need to find other ways other than prohibiting use of performance enhancing drugs (Lamb 2007, p.3). Banning of the body modifications is the right thing to do. This is because body modifications have the ability to improve athletic performance but these substances can have grave side effects that include permanent morbidity or even death (Orachrd et al, 2006, p.132). Some examples of that indicate how fatal the side effects of the body modification drugs can be include the cyclist who died from stimulant misuse in the 1960 Rome Olympics. Similarly, there have been many cases of cardiovascular diseases including heart attack and different cancer that result from anabolic steroids. Moreover, evidence shows that anabolic steroids used in improving athletic performance can have long-term androgenising effects, including infertility. Therefore, banning of usage of the risky performance enhancing drugs is important in preventing deaths that occur due to usage of these substances (Orachrd et al, 2006, p.132). This is supported by Orachrd et al (2006, p.132) who argues that performance enhancement drugs have the ability to improve endurance of an athlete as well as muscle growth but the side effects outweigh the perceived benefits. Therefore, prohibition of these drugs tries to reduce the number of athletes that engage in doping and hence plays a big role in preventing avoidable deaths (Orachrd et al, 2006, p.134). Moreover, prohibiting the performance enhancement drugs is fundamental because use of these drugs disadvantages athletes who prefer competing with the cream of the crop athletic level without risking their health. Hartgens (2004, p.515) takes a different perspective and argues that performance improving drugs also have negative psychological effects. For example, evidence shows that anabolic steroids can lead to aggression. This is in line with Lamb (2007, p.3) who explains that performance enhancement drugs can also stimulate a sense of invincibility and also encourage extremely macho behavior and at times attacks of rage and even psychosis. Studies also show that males are likely to experience low sperm count, shrunken testicles as well as incapacity to attain an erection, and permanent breast growth. On the other hand, females are likely to have their voices deepen and too much body hair. A study conducted by National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that performance improving drugs are also likely to cause liver cancer and stroke as well. Apart from the psychological toll, depression and potential addiction are other likely problems likely to result from usage of anabolic steroids (Hartgens 2004, p.514). These problems consist of bad temper, impaired judgment, and delusions. Furthermore, injecting steroids is done using needles and this brings in the risk of HIV as well as other blood-borne infections (Hartgens 2004, p.515). More importantly, use of doping agents by some athletes brings in unfair competition especially to the athletes who do not use the performance improving drugs. This is because these drugs give the users undue advantage against the athletes who do use the drugs. For a substance to be include in the world anti-doping code prohibited list, the substance has to not only present health risks to the athlete but also the usage of the substance is considered to be violating the spirit of sport. The performance enhancing drugs violate the spirit of sport because this is form of cheating against athletes who do not use the performance enhancing drugs (Hartgens 2004, p.515). An example of a popular athletic doping scandal involved the positive test of Ben Johnson who was a competing athlete during the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea. Ben was a very popular athlete and among the fastest splinters in the world, and hence he was a very celebrated athlete in Canada. Ben was a stern competitor of Carl Lewis, who was among the most popular American athletes. Both athletes were always competing for first and second position. In 1988, there was high competition between Carl and Ben in order to establish the person who would be crowned as the fastest man in the world. Ben defeated Carl with the world record of 9.79 seconds. Nonetheless, in a post-race testing, a urine sample from Ben was positive for stanozolol, which is a very strong performance enhancement drug. Consequently, Ben was stripped off the medal and his rival Carl was awarded the medal. This example shows how use of body modifications during athletics leads to unfair competition because some athletes may not be using these substances. This further demonstrates why banning of the anabolic steroids is an excellent move (Orachrd 2006, p.134). The banning of use of body modifications in athletics generally covers broad aspects and hence should continue. This is because anti-doping laws do not only focus on positive tests for prohibited substances (Hartgens 2004, p.514). Refusal of an athlete to undergo the testing procedure, tampering with the test sample prior and after submission as well as possession of illegal substances can result to doping violation. This means that healthcare providers who might potentially prescribe or help athletes in accessing the prohibited medications are also subject to doping sanctions and can be suspended from participating in elite sport (Yu-Hsuan 2006, p.24). In addition, allowing use of body modifications diminishes the entertainment values of the sport. This is because use of the performance enhancing drugs does away with the natural competitiveness of sports. This is because use of doping agents gives pharmacologists and healthcare providers the ability to determine the success of the athletes. Instead of athletes practicing in order to win races, some of them might relax and wait to use the performance enhancing drugs to win the competition (Savulescu et al, 2013, 4). Moreover, training in preparation for competition aims at bringing ones potential. Therefore, use of performance improving drugs in order to improve the natural potential goes against the natural model of sport. Sport is supposed to cultivate other positive traits such as willpower, courage and wisdom. Using anabolic steroids goes against this spirit. By using anabolic steroids, athletes attempt to use biological manipulation instead of training (Yu-Hsuan 2006, p.25). Once again, this shows the significance of Prohibiting use of body modifications to improve performance in sports. Conclusion Body modifications have been used for a long time by athletes to improve their performance during sports. While there are arguments that prohibiting use of body modifications is not the solution to preventing their usage, a high number of athletes are still using the performance improving drugs. However, there is enough evidence that supports prohibition of the body modifications in sports. For instance, these drugs are known to have fatal side effects. Some of the side effects include terminal diseases like cancer and heart diseases as well as fertility problems in both men and women. There are also cases where users of performance improving drugs have resulted to deaths of the users. In addition, these drugs are associated with negative psychological effects such as aggression, psychosis and even depression among users. In regard to sport, it is evident that use of body modifications in sports leads to unfair competition and also kills the spirit of sport that focuses on fair competition among athletes. Some athletes do not use the anabolic steroids and during competition they are outdid and this is because their opponents use biological manipulation to win the race. A good example is the case of Ben and Carl who were stiff competitors but Ben ended beating up Carl during the race because he had used body modifications. Therefore, the above analysis is evident to support prohibition of body modifications to improve performance in sports. Cited Works Hartgens F. (2004). Kuipers H. Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids in athletes. Sports Med.34 (1), pp:513–515. Lamb M. (2007). Genetic Enhancement of Athletes Might Harm Sports." Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale Group. Stockton, CA: San Joaquin Delta College Library. Harvey K. (2014). Sports science and medicine: ethics. Nuffield: Nuffield Council o Ethics. Orachrd J, Healey D, Peter F, Burker L & White S. (2006). The use and misuse of performance- enhancing substances in sport. Med J Aust. 184 (3): 132-136. Savulescu J, Foddy B & Clayton M. (2013). Why we should allow performance enhancing drugs in sport. BMJ Journals. 38(6). Yu-Hsuan L. (2006). Performance Enhancing Drugs: History, Medical Effects & Policy. Harvard: Harvard University. Read More

The anecdotal representation is clear evidence that the attempts to eradicate use of performance enhancing drugs in sports using even banning have not been successful. Accordingly, because of shortage of good evidence and high rate of usage of body modifications in sports despite of them being prohibited, there is need to find other ways other than prohibiting use of performance enhancing drugs (Lamb 2007, p.3). Banning of the body modifications is the right thing to do. This is because body modifications have the ability to improve athletic performance but these substances can have grave side effects that include permanent morbidity or even death (Orachrd et al, 2006, p.132). Some examples of that indicate how fatal the side effects of the body modification drugs can be include the cyclist who died from stimulant misuse in the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Similarly, there have been many cases of cardiovascular diseases including heart attack and different cancer that result from anabolic steroids. Moreover, evidence shows that anabolic steroids used in improving athletic performance can have long-term androgenising effects, including infertility. Therefore, banning of usage of the risky performance enhancing drugs is important in preventing deaths that occur due to usage of these substances (Orachrd et al, 2006, p.132). This is supported by Orachrd et al (2006, p.132) who argues that performance enhancement drugs have the ability to improve endurance of an athlete as well as muscle growth but the side effects outweigh the perceived benefits.

Therefore, prohibition of these drugs tries to reduce the number of athletes that engage in doping and hence plays a big role in preventing avoidable deaths (Orachrd et al, 2006, p.134). Moreover, prohibiting the performance enhancement drugs is fundamental because use of these drugs disadvantages athletes who prefer competing with the cream of the crop athletic level without risking their health. Hartgens (2004, p.515) takes a different perspective and argues that performance improving drugs also have negative psychological effects.

For example, evidence shows that anabolic steroids can lead to aggression. This is in line with Lamb (2007, p.3) who explains that performance enhancement drugs can also stimulate a sense of invincibility and also encourage extremely macho behavior and at times attacks of rage and even psychosis. Studies also show that males are likely to experience low sperm count, shrunken testicles as well as incapacity to attain an erection, and permanent breast growth. On the other hand, females are likely to have their voices deepen and too much body hair.

A study conducted by National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that performance improving drugs are also likely to cause liver cancer and stroke as well. Apart from the psychological toll, depression and potential addiction are other likely problems likely to result from usage of anabolic steroids (Hartgens 2004, p.514). These problems consist of bad temper, impaired judgment, and delusions. Furthermore, injecting steroids is done using needles and this brings in the risk of HIV as well as other blood-borne infections (Hartgens 2004, p.515). More importantly, use of doping agents by some athletes brings in unfair competition especially to the athletes who do not use the performance improving drugs.

This is because these drugs give the users undue advantage against the athletes who do use the drugs. For a substance to be include in the world anti-doping code prohibited list, the substance has to not only present health risks to the athlete but also the usage of the substance is considered to be violating the spirit of sport. The performance enhancing drugs violate the spirit of sport because this is form of cheating against athletes who do not use the performance enhancing drugs (Hartgens 2004, p.515). An example of a popular athletic doping scandal involved the positive test of Ben Johnson who was a competing athlete during the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea.

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