...The Advantages and Disadvantages of Blood Doping Over the past years, there have been many technological advances in the field of medicine. Some of them have proven to be extremely beneficial in creating a healthier society while others have been used for personal gain. The following essay will outline one of these advances, which is the medical phenomena of blood doping, also known as blood boosting and blood packing. There has been much controversy surrounding the use of blood doping ever since it has gained mainstream publicity. From a medical and an ethical perspective, many consider the use it wrong and immoral. In the following paragraph, we will briefly introduce this concept by describing the process and how it can be utilized. Later on, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of employing blood doping. Blood doping is a medical process used to increase the concentration of red blood cells in one’s body to a higher, supraphysiologic level (Shah 167). Athletes who would like to give themselves an advantage competing physically most commonly use it (Foschi, 458). This procedure can be achieved in two different ways. One can ask to have his or her own blood injected or can request the use of the blood of a matching donor. These processes are respectively called autologous and monologous transfusions. The red blood cells are usually removed over an extended period of time. The withdrawn blood is then refrigerated for preservation and finally re-injected...
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...Is it acceptable to use performance-enhancing drugs? – RE Essay Performance-enhancing drugs are becoming widely known and used in the world of sport, athletics especially. These drugs are generally used by professional athletes for means of achieving medal positions and/or personal bests in their various races and competitions. There is, however, controversy when it comes to the use of performance-enhancing drugs. There are some who believe that performance-enhancing drugs should be available and allowed to be used in competitions. Sport regulations ban performance-drug use and ensure that athletes are tested to determine that they are not using them. Many religious believers value sport only if it does not involve cheating. All religions...
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...Kelly Thomer Sports History Why Aluminum Bats should be Banned from the NCAA Crack! That was the sound of our nation's pastime in the early days of baseball. For nearly 125, years the wooden bat was used in every level of baseball. In Tom's River, New Jersey, the little league World Series is held every summer. Ping! This is the only sound that a spectator will hear during one of those baseball games. What happened to the old-fashioned crack of the bat? The wooden bat has been used in professional baseball since the game's establishment in 1864. An aluminum bat is more dangerous than a wooden bat due to the advanced technology of the aluminum bat, but offers a greater impact to a ball than a wooden bat could. For college ball players hoping to make it to the majors, they should be using the equipment required by the MLB in order to be the most prepared. Also, it makes it harder for scouts to determine how a player will perform under different conditions. This is why I believe the NCAA should play with the same standards as the MLB. The baseball bat controversy has been lingering over amateur baseball since the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) allowed the use of aluminum bats for the first time in 1974 (Adelson). Every year there is another injury to a pitcher as a result of the aluminum bat due to its exit velocity. The exit velocity of a ball plays a key role in determining the level of risk of injury. It is defined as the speed of the ball off the...
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...best of the best, but should they be able to use steroids to make themselves that much better? Using steroids to enhance performance and physique has been and is very popular among athletes. Many times, athletes view steroids as the main contributing factor in efforts to reach the highest level in their profession. Steroids are not good for sports as they have an impact in the world bigger than the effect on each individual steroid user. Sports have been seen as a display of pure skill and talent, but with an integration of steroids, that model is hard to tell as athletes become bigger, faster, and stronger. Steroids should be avoided in sports because they create unfair advantages, affect the integrity of the sport, and lead to poor choices in younger ages as the professional athletes are seen as popular role models. Steroids have been supported by multiple people and continue to lead to discussions as to whether or not they belong in professional sports. Being among the greats takes years of practice and raw skill...
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...2014 Banning Steroids Steroids have been around in some form for a great deal of years. They have been used in all types of sports by professional and amateur athletes as well as people who just want massive muscle growth. Steroids have always played a major role in sports and sparked a great controversy of whether professional athletes should be allowed to use different forms of steroids or not. In Let Steroids into the Hall of Fame by Zev Chafets, the author discusses this topic of steroids being made illegal in professional sports. Steroids in sports have been frowned upon for years now as people see it as a way of cheating the system and having unfair advantages over other players. A topic that is commonly missed when talking about steroids is the health risks that it holds. People tend to focus on the performance part of steroids more than the deeper issue at hand which is, how will this affect a persons overall health? Steroids have been known to help peoples health in some cases but not very many. Steroids should be an illegal drug in professional sports due to the fact that the negatives by far outweigh the positives when it comes to peoples health. Steroids have always been used in sports but especially in the medical field. Despite all the negatives that steroids brings along, it can not be denied that many people have been helped by the use of steroids. Steroids when prescribed and taken as directed by the doctor are often safe and effective. One area that steroids...
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...have been gaining popularity. They are free, easy to join, and easy to message its members. Teenagers chat about everything from school, to sports, to what they were doing last night. It all seems like innocent fun, and it can be. But many teens are unaware there are hidden dangers of social networking sites. Some say that Social Network Sites are going to be the next social phenomenon. Usually, we have to meet a person to find out what they look like, what their interests are, or to just figure out what kind of person they are. But by using Social Networking Sites, such as Facebook, you can learn all about pretty much anyone just by going on the internet. The only fault of Social Networking Sites is that the information that you receive may not be true. It is hard to keep people from posting false information on social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace. All someone needs to do is click edit and create their own little character. It is tough to say when the issue over Facebook arose but within the past year debates have been coming up more frequently. The controversy over Facebook ignites debates among many because there are both good and bad to the site. Many people believe that Facebook is dangerous for users because of the amount of information that can be added on to one’s account. Also those who oppose the use of the site feel that time should not be spent online because it takes time away from family and puts more emphasis on virtual rather than physical...
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...talent on the court. He is on fire the first three quarters of the game. Suddenly you begin to recognize an odd shift in his performance. He looks flushed, his pace slows down, and his movement begins to appear sluggish. Suddenly, while running up the court, he crashes to his knees, and nearly faints. What could be the culprit behind this unusual occurrence? A caffeine rush delivered from an energy drink that was ingested and responsible for inflecting a 160 milligram jolt of caffeine into the body of this young man. This is a true story about a middle school aged child named Cameron. In an article entitled “Jittery: Too Much Caffeine Can Mess with Your Mind”, the dangerous side effects of excessive amounts of caffeine was discussed. (Lam, Miles, Nyseen 2009). Energy drinks are toxic and contain dangerous levels of caffeine, and regulations should be implemented by our government that would make it illegal for individuals under the age of 18 to purchase these beverages. This will reduce the percentage of young adolescence blindly exposing themselves to danger, possibly encourage them to pick healthier beverages to consume, as well as protect our children. Caffeinated energy drinks are filled with unsafe levels of caffeine. The consumption of these beverages are a part of a big craze amongst teens. It seems as if the marketing of these specific types of products are geared towards our youth. With cool names such as “Rock Star”, “Full Throttle”, and “Monster”, the energy...
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...approved for use. The manufacturers of these tires can have some legal responsibility, but is there a moral responsible. Two major tire manufacturers have had controversies involving the use of their tires. Firestone had their controversy with the Ford Motor Company, while Michelin had their controversy in the racing world. Each manufacturer had legal battles, but only Michelin realized the fault in the company tires and deemed them unsafe for use. Automobiles have long since been a major part of our society and for the vast majority of the world. The automobile might be one of the greatest inventions ever, but what is the most important feature of the automobile that is actually in contact with the ground? The answer is simple, the tires. The tires that we think of today are pneumatic tires, meaning that air is enclosed in the void area between the inside of the tire and the wheel, thus reducing vibration and increasing traction. The first pneumatic tires were used on bicycles, not on cars, but that same technology would come to be a major part of the automotive industry. Since their early uses, there have been safety concerns for tires. This prompted many tests ensure the safety of the product. There are countless numbers of tire manufacturers. For example, alphabetically there is Avon, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear, and Michelin, just to name a few. Two of those manufacturers, Firestone and Michelin, have both had major controversies surrounding...
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...are very common in the sporting scene. Many of the people abusing these drugs do not at all realize the harm that they are doing to themselves. The sources I chose to support my argument were chosen because of their credibility and their accuracy. They all give either statistics or information on how bad the side effects of drug abuse are. "Addiction and Substance Abuse." Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 19 Nov. 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. <http://www.2facts.com/article/i1700390> In this article, the author(s) discuss many viewpoints on drug abuse. They explain supporters and opponents’ viewpoints on drug being kept illegal. An argument that I found that would support my own argument was the supporters’ idea that legalizing drugs will only make things worse by letting more and more people get into them and become dependent on them. My point in using this as a source is not to discuss legalizing drugs, but merely showing how people do know that they are wrong and can have negative, long-lasting effects on users. Marijuana is a gateway drug, and can be harmful if used over long periods of time. Long-time users have experienced permanent short-term memory problems, lung damage, and slowed reaction time. "Drug Abuse Effects." Drug Abuse Effects. Coalition Against Drug Abuse, 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://drugabuse.com/library/drug-abuse-effects/> This article was very descriptive of what drugs do to the user when consumed and what their permanent...
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...fooled from steroids it still is a drug. Like for Smelly one of the Bell brothers struggles from getting off the drug as he knows he won’t be able to stay away from it very long as he tells Chris. This shows just how much power this drug has on him that even Smelly knows he won’t able to say away from the drug. Then in competition where it is said that everyone uses anabolic steroids to enhance performance not all are punished for the use. For instance, in the 1988 Olympics when it was brought to attention that winner Ben Johnson used a banned substance and was striped of his gold medal. Although, who is now got the gold medal Carl Lewis was too taking a banned substance but why was it not brought forth to the media?...
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...steroids. The challenge is to find a top player who hasn’t…” - Jose Canseco (2005) Performance-Enhancing drugs are widely used in sports in order to win and be the best, despite the fact that they are illegal and dangerous. It has always been a very “Black and White” issue. Many people, while they may not agree with it; they believe we should ignore it because these are “Sports Stars”. While others, want the athletes in question to be stripped of any titles they may have achieved while supposedly “juicing”. I believe that this is an issue of whom the controversy surrounds and why it is happening in sports. Athletes use Performance-Enhancing drugs despite the risk of side-effects. There have been serious documented risks of using Performance-Enhancing drugs. Some of these side effects are: death, high blood pressure, heart attacks, liver damage, stroke, headaches, increased risk of joint and tendon injuries, baldness, “roid rage”, hallucinations, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, reduced sperm count, impotence, increased breast size, and enlarged prostate are side-effects that occur in men. (American Academy of Pediatrics. 2002). Many companies have produced supplements that do not require a prescription or can be obtained legally that may produce similar results in muscle gain and strength, without the dangerous steroid side-effects. The companies that produce steroids state that they are safe for the user. Eighty-Two percent of all DEA-seized...
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...Nike in Indonesia An interesting reference was made to capitalism in a documentary about Indonesian Nike sweatshops; capitalism was referred to as “the survival of the fittest.” Capitalism is an economic system where the majority of the means of production are owned privately, production is guided, and income is distributed mostly through the operation of markets; in this case capitalists would be the “fittest.” However, there are two more types of people: laborers and consumers. Laborers are those who sell their labor to the capitalists, ideally for livable wages, and consumers are those who purchase the goods or services that are demanded. Ironically, capitalism would be non-existent if it was not for laborers and consumers but these are the people that are seen as “not fit enough.” There are different approaches to capitalism; one of them is called outsourcing. Companies outsource because “outsourcing can be such an approach and one of the strategies that can lead to greater competitiveness. (Ahmad)” Outsourcing can help firms because products that may cost one amount to create may have a significantly lower production cost in another country due to resources that are available in that geographic location. However, as the living necessities and wages rise in the United States, companies like Nike have decided to outsource their labor to take advantage of lower safety standards and a cheaper work force; “Nike employs approximately 23,000 people worldwide…it has been accused...
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...December 7, 2012 Gun Control Obviously, guns have been a very big part of our history but because it was use inappropriately gun control was created. Guns are weapons that can take a life in an instant (“Does Gun Control…”). Guns have been part of American society since the arrival of the first European settlers (“Topic Overview…”). Arms in this country are part of our history, part of our culture. It has been passed down, generations to generations, as just an important part of who we are (“Topic Overview…”). Prior to the civil war, gun control laws were enacted in the slaves states principally due to the fear of firearms in the hands of free blacks and slaves who might rebel against their masters (“Special Interview…”). In the 1960’s after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, gun control became a major subject of safety. Certain individuals cannot handle firearm safely, and some individuals choose to use firearms inappropriately. Our society has passed laws regulating the ownership and use of firearms, and more legislation is being considered (“Special Interview…”). Throughout history violence has plagued the human race. We have passed laws to protect society, but the violence continues. Laws attempt to change human behavior, but laws are not able to change human nature. Laws are not enough to protect people from aggression. Xiong 2 While gun control advocates contend that guns leads to crime, injury, and...
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...Nike Dilemma: Still waiting for them to "do it"! Another corporate giant having its fare share of controversies over the years is Nike. Nike employs approximately 26,000 people worldwide. In addition, approximately 650,000 workers are employed in Nike contracted factories around the globe. More than 75% of these work in Asia, predominantly in China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Korea and Malaysia (Nike 2006). In 1998 Nike came under fire for the sweatshop conditions of the workers in the Nike factories in China and other third world countries. The evidence showed that the workers were regularly subject to physical punishment and sexual abuse and exposed to dangerous chemicals. (Nike Accused of Lying About Asian Factories 1998). Sub standard working facilities, bare minimum wages and risks to health of labourers mark NIKE factories in Asia. The firm was also accused of practicing child labour in Pakistan. So the question now is, why did it happen, and more importantly, has anything been done since to correct it. So why did it happen? Well that is quite clear. The reason why most firms outsource their activities to lesser developed countries is to exploit cheaper labour and production costs. Nike has a brand reputation worldwide, and in-fact is a market leader in the sales of athletic shoes. The constant focus is to formulate ways and strategies to reduce production costs, and one way of that is fewer wages to the workers. The high unemployment levels in the third world countries...
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...the Olympic games on national television, they do not even realize the impact this team and coach are about to leave on sports history for years to come. This year, not only did the United States cycling team claim one medal, but rather nine of them, including four golds. Following the games, Coach Eddy received a large amount of praise and was even awarded the title “Man of the Year” by the United States Cycling Federation (USCF). To the world’s surprise, a scandal was about to be unveiled. Robert Lea, president of USCF, sent a letter to members of the board, in which he stated his resignation from his position as president because investigation showed that the United States coaching staff “blood doped” some of the Olympic cyclists. But what was blood doping, and why was it such an issue? Blood doping is the practice of increasing the number of red blood cells (by artificial means) in the bloodstream. With an increase of red blood cells, more oxygen can be carried from the lungs to the muscles, which can improve aerobic capacity. This blood doping procedure gained notoriety in the sports world because of what it can do for athletes during endurance events and the jeopardizing effects it could have on the cardiovascular system. Basically, in order for muscles to perform they need a need a ready supply of oxygen. This is especially true in endurance sports. For example—Jake, a non blood doper is a marathon runner. During high intensity runs, his oxygen...
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