Volume 9, Number 2, January 2014
Activity
Drugs in sport
Sue Young
1 Elite athletes take performance-enhancing drugs despite obvious risks to their health and the negative implications of being caught. Give reasons why drug taking continues at elite sporting events such as the Olympics.
2 ‘Elite performers should be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs just like any other training aid.’ Discuss this statement.
Answers
1 Physiological benefits (e.g. increased power/endurance)
Psychological benefits(e.g. increased aggression/confidence)
Win at all costs attitude
Financial rewards/fame
Pressure from coaches/peers/media — to win
Levels the playing field (others are doing it, I can’t win if I don’t)
Belief they won’t get caught/effective masking agents)
Poor punishments/lack of effective deterrents
2 Agree:
· Battle against drugs is expensive/it is time consuming
· Money spent on testing could be better spent elsewhere (e.g. participation initiatives)
· Detection is not always effective/drug testers are always one step behind
· Difficult to define what a ‘drug’ is, compared with a legal supplement
· Drugs sometimes taken ‘accidentally’ (e.g. stimulants in cold cures — skier Alain Baxter)
· Sacrifices made by performer are personal choice
· High performance standards result/more spectator interest
· Levels the playing field
· If properly monitored, drug-taking health risks may be lessened
· Athletes do not ask to be role models
Disagree:
· Health risks/dangerous side effects
· Young are tempted to use them/negative role models
· Gives a negative image to certain sports (e.g. weightlifting/cycling)
· Pressure from coaches/peers to take drugs
· Success in sport should be about hard work/natural talent
· Drug use is outside this concept
· It is unfair/immoral/unethical
· It is cheating
· Only richer countries can afford them
· Negative consequences if caught (e.g. loss of sponsorship/medals/lottery funding)
· It is illegal/against the laws of the land
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