...despite the risks involved? Abstract Drugs in sport is an ongoing problem which I believe will never be completely abolished from the sporting world. We have definitely come a long way since the early days of drug use with the introduction of governing bodies such ad WADA to help control the testing of athletes and the detection of illegal substances, however I do not think we will be able to completely remove this ’drug culture’ from the sporting world. Therefore having experienced first-hand the drug testing practices involved in detection after competing in the world youth championships this year I was interested to look into the motivation behind athletes who choose to cheat and risk their future career both athletically and their career after retirement having been branded as a 'cheat’ within their sport. I will do this by looking into the history of drug use in sport and the enhancements the drugs provide to performance to try to understand why athletes risk their careers to simply win. Contents | | Abstract | 2 | Introduction | 2 | Drugs in sport; a modern problem? | 3 | Drugs in sport: what are they? * Amphetamines * Anabolic steroids * EPO * Diuretics * Caffeine | 3-6 | Drugs in sport: health risks | 6-7 | Drugs in sport: detection and punishment | 7- | Drugs in sport: why cheat...
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...Anabolic Steroids: A Perceived Means to Perfection At what point does the quest for perfection become an obsession? In the world of athleticism, the point of mania is usually when a person turns to performance enhancement by means of ergogenic aids. An ergogenic aid is anything that enhances a person’s athletic abilities. Examples of ergogenic aids are vitamins, foods, caffeine, and the most controversial anabolic steroids. Anabolic Steroids have sparked worldwide interest in the media because of the potential dangers associated with usage and moreover the fact that steroids are illegal in the professional sports arena. Anabolic steroids are classified as ergogenic aids, because they are chemically made substances that promote increased stamina when training, resulting in greater amounts of fat free mass and overall strength. The use of anabolic steroids has evolved into further drug experimentation and dependence, destroying the most critical aspect and fundamental of training “quality vs. quantity,” thus creating a “by any means necessary” athletic society. What Are the Affects of Steroid Use on Athletic Performance? Over the last five years several allegations and indictments have been made against athletes for their use of performance enhancing drugs. According to Steven M. Cohen, “Athletes use these drugs to enhance athletic performance, but not in the manner one might assume. Anabolic steroids won't make an athlete “better” at his or her sport. Steroids aren't...
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...tests" (Millar). In Jeremy Rozansky's article "How to Think About Our Steroid Supermen" he discusses the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports and how the use of these drugs is unethical because it goes against the sportsmanship spirit of the game. Rozansky also talks about the many ways doping is dangerous and can compromise the health of the athletes involved. He states his opinion that doping in sports sends a bad message to children-that drugs make champions. While these are valid points, However, if PEDs in sports were allowed and regulated, not only would it help the athletes improve performance, it would also make doping safer for the athletes as limits could be set on how much an athlete can use/have in their system. By regulating doping in professional sports, not only would this help keep athletes from injuring themselves, it also has the potential of improving the entertainment of spectating the sports by leveling the playing field even more and allowing for even greater spectacular feats to occur. Lance Armstrong was a role model. Not only did he survive cancer, despite having brain and lung metastases, he came back to win the most grueling race in sports, the Tour de France, a record 7 times. He was an icon, but that time has passed. In Rozansky's article he argues that Lance, and other athletes like him, by choosing to use performance-enhancing drugs choose to participate not in sports but in a spectacle that bears only a mocking resemblance to true...
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...Have you ever wondered what happens to athletes who are caught using steroids? It makes the news, the athlete is criticized by the world, but what punishments do they actually receive? Rafael Palmeiro, a baseball great, was given a ten-day suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. What kind of example are we setting for our young athletes? Pete Rose made a mistake by gambling on baseball and he was given a lifetime suspension and a ban from the baseball Hall of Fame (Jordan, 2006). This gives the impression that steroid use is not necessarily a big deal. Who cares about a ten-day suspension? You still get to continue playing with your team and still have an opportunity to “earn” your way into the Hall of Fame. We need to have stronger punishments for athletes caught using performance-enhancing drugs. These drugs are bad for the body, for the team, and for the family. Performance-enhancing drug use has extreme negative effects on the body. Many common side effects and psychological symptoms occur from their use. Just a few of the side effects include: liver tumors, kidney tumors, jaundice, fluid retention, hypertension, increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), decreases in HDL (good cholesterol), severe acne, trembling, enlarged facial bones, nausea, vomiting, bone pain, and muscle cramps. Psychological effects include, but are not limited to, depression, irritability, inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, lack of interest or energy for everyday life, aggressiveness...
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...Athletes enhancing their performance are common in sports today. Headlines seem to pop up every month about athletes doping across various sports. Through the use of injections or pills, the use of drugs in sports goes back almost to the invention of the concept of sports. Sports like wrestling, soccer, American football and cycling are among the many sports that are influenced by doping. These performance enhancing drugs make the body produce more red blood cells and only last for a short period of time, contrasting to the regular steroid. These drugs allow the athlete to obtain more oxygen into their system – enhancing their performance for a few hours before returning to their normal state. More and more athletes are doping, with Lance Armstrong...
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...Part 1 | Part 2 If drugs were to disappear from the bodybuilding scene, in what state would this leave the sport? How would the inevitable "down-sizing" of competitors' affect the marketability of what is essentially a pursuit of extremes? Competitors and the paying public alike have increasingly puzzled over this dilemma as the sport has evolved into a quest to out-size the next guy, an activity where winning at all costs has become the main aim. In fact, never in the history of sport in general and bodybuilding in particular has there been a more contentious issue: drug use among the elite. In many respects the lay public and, more disturbingly, the media, even tend to associate bodybuilding, and bodybuilders with drug use, like the two are somehow inextricably connected. The truth is, there are two definite camps on the issue: one that considers a drug-free approach the best option for all concerned, and those who support the individual's right to use every advantage to win. While some feel that a drug-free stance would sanitise the sport to where it is more publicly accepted, thus helping to remove the sideshow status it is often encumbered with, others feel any professional sport has its risks and that all advantages must be taken to win at the highest level. And although anabolic drugs such as anabolic/androgenic steroids, insulin and Human Growth Hormone do help the bodybuilder to achieve their full potential as athletes, reported drawbacks to the use of such substances...
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...Steroids: an Athlete's Choice Most athletes are paid outrageous salaries to play sports they have come to perfect, giving their fans what they expect. Most fans want to see athletes with explosive speed, excessive strength, extreme attitudes, and perform beyond the normal athletic ability. Athletes have come to increase these attributes with assistance of performance enhancing drugs, which is acceptable and encouraged by most fans. This day in age many professional athletes have evolved into “super human beings” taking sports into a new era; as history and statistics shows this could be due to the use of performance enhancing drugs. However, steroids have been known to cure certain illnesses but it can also cause many repercussions if used inappropriately. The History Steroids have been around for sometime time now, these days steroids have been widely known for its usage in professional sports. History shows that steroids were used as a medical treatment to assist in abnormal growth deficiencies. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy [ONDCP] (2008), steroids were developed in the late 1930’s primarily to treat hypogonadism, a condition in which the testes do not produce sufficient testosterone for normal growth, development, and sexual functioning. Thereafter, scientist discovered steroids enhanced the growth of skeletal muscle in laboratory test animals giving an appeal for humans to intake. By this discovery lead to an outbreak of athletic interest and...
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...antagonistic environment where people compete for jobs, college admissions, fame and status. In a high-pressured society, people are willing to do whatever it takes to be number one, or the best at what they do. The smallest, slightest advantage could make all the difference in the world, especially in an olympic race where .5 milliseconds could be the difference between winning and losing. The use of performing enhancing drugs has given athletes an advantage, over those who do not use them. Not only have athletes engaged in the use of anabolic steroids, but other drugs such as stimulants, beta-blockers, diuretics, and human growth hormone. Society has placed a pressure on athletes...
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...Ethical issues regarding the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports In the history of 20th century sports, specifically in the post World War 2 era, there has been an ever increasing use of performance enhancing drugs in all avenues of sport. Sports have become money making machine for both athletes and big business and the “win at all costs” attitude which has permeated itself into all aspects of professional and college level athletics. Winners make money, losers don’t. The temptation of fame, notoriety and million dollar contracts in all venues of sport is a lure for many athletes. Elite professional athletes are worshiped in today’s society. This paper will elaborate on the use of performance enhancing drugs in the sporting world and the associated sports ethical issues. It is a majority belief in all sporting circles that the “true” spirit of sportsmanship does not allow any aspect of performance enhancing drugs. There are several arguments both in favor and against the use of performance enhancing drugs which will be presented and discussed in this paper. While addressing this ethical issue, we need to define the term ethics. Ethics can be defined as the socially accepted norms and values. These norms and values are varied from society to society and are based on culture and tradition. Ethics also could be defined as the unsaid, un-written and understood laws that prevail in a society. Ethics also cover what is right and what is wrong in society and teaches...
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...Health History Paper October 31, 2012 Abstract This paper follows the trends of using corticosteroids as a long-term therapy for sports injuries. It goes into the many adverse effects of both the long term use and the short term use. In the use of these medicines we will go over the major concerns as well as what you can do to limit the adverse effects. We will also cover when you should consult your physician and what the different routes for administration. Adverse Effects of Corticosteroids The use of corticosteroids has long since been associated with long term adverse effects on the body. There are some researchers who argue that effects of these therapies are hard on the body and do more damage in the long term that the short term good they produce. Other researchers say that the evidence that is currently available slandering corticosteroids is insufficient and lacking in accurate scientific information. In this paper we will be looking at the negative effects of these drugs and the many forms in which it can be administered. There are inhaled, nasal, systemic (oral,IV), topical, and local (IM). Now each of these has some variances as far as adverse effects are concerned, but there are some they have in common. Some of the adverse effects are named a few headache, dizziness, adrenal suppression, and decreased growth in children. Corticosteroids should be given only by a specialist and when necessary because corticosteroids can delay soft-tissue healing and sometimes...
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...Drug use has reached an all-time high in the sports arena. The need to succeed, be among the elite, financial gain, and the pressure to win are some of the many reasons that drugs are found in sports today. Drugs in sports range from therapeutic drugs, performance enhancement drugs, and recreational drugs. Drugs in sports are found on various levels of competition such as: high school, college, and professional sports. High school athletes' are using enhancement drugs so that they may receive a college scholarship, collegiate athletes' are using drugs so that they make it to the professional level, and professional athletes' are using drugs to make sure that they stay among the elite. Drug use in athletics have led to suspensions of players, athletes being banned from that particular sport, and ultimately death. There are many reasons for using drugs in sports, with performance enhancement being one of the top reasons, but no one will ever understand why athletes risk their career and lives. A concern for the public is the fact that athletes assume these risks just to be among the top competitors of sports. Drugs are a danger to the health of athletes. Drug use to enhance performance is unethical, and using drugs is illegal in today's society. Drugs in sports is unethical because the focus of winning and succeeding overshadows the real reasons for playing sports such as the love for a sport, natural talent and ability, and hard work to be among the elite. Athletes are thinking...
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...response to an imposed load is an important and well-known biological adaptation of skeletal muscle. However, little is known about the systemic changes in hypertrophying muscle at the molecular level. Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), are drugs that have similar effects to testosterone in the body. They increase protein within cells, especially in skeletal muscles. Anabolic steroids also have androgenic and virilizing properties, including the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics such as the growth of the vocal cords, testicles (primary sexual characteristics), and body hair (secondary sexual characteristics). Of the many 100’s of steroids which were never produced, it is from them that the supplement industry has selected our current roster of OTC anabolics. At this point you might be asking “How are these supplement companies able to legally manufacture and sell these products, since they are no different than any other CIII steroid?” Remember, it wasn’t until 1990 that steroids were officially declared to be controlled substances and illegal to possess without a prescription, but this only applied to steroids which were either currently prescribed, or had been prescribed in the past. All of the many 100’s of steroids which had avoided prescription status remained as unscheduled drugs, which meant that anyone was free to possess them without breaking the law. Certainly, I am sure that the government never anticipated that...
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...Anabolic steroids are man-made compounds, related to testosterone, used to promote muscle growth and performance. They have a notorious history and are currently prevalent in weightlifting and sporting communities. The smallest subset within that community are adolescents. Anabolic steroid usage as an adolescent is the most harmful time a person can use steroids because they are illegal and dangerous without a doctor’s prescription and monitoring, prematurely stunt physical growth, and the side effects can be temporary, permanent or, in rare cases, deadly. The origin of anabolic steroids can be traced back to the early 1930’s when scientist were able to synthesize testosterone in order treat men unable to develop and grow normally or function...
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...the press he brought it over from the Dominican Republic and used it for six months. Rodriguez is now a spokesman who travels around the country to talk to the youth about the dangers of using anabolic steroids (Biography.com 1). Human growth hormone increases the amount of red blood cells in the user’s bloodstream, making a higher amount of oxygen move more quickly into...
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...Darius Crane Dr. Byron Stay Mount Writing Seminar March 6, 2012 Should There be Stricter Regulations for Drug Use In Professional Sports? Major sports leagues have a serious problem, which are performance enhancing drugs. Performance enhancing drugs seem to find their way into just about any major sporting event or organization. Even though there are penalties for those caught using performance enhancing drugs, they still seem to be prevalent among some of the biggest names in sports competition. A big reason for this is that the punishment given to those caught cheating does not have the punitive ramifications for possession or using a controlled substance that society expects. Even as advanced as the testing is for these substances, the guilty athletes are given the chance to prove that the test result was a mistake on the part of the laboratory conducting the testing, the fault of their trainer, or an over the counter supplement from a local health food store. Performance enhancing drugs are having a negative impact on all sports, and because of this, it will effect how future athletes conduct themselves. Most athletes will say that the drive to win is the reason that they use performance enhancing drugs. They feel that they are leveling an uneven playing field because no athlete today makes it on talent alone. They have to be on something. With the window of opportunity being so small and several trying to get through it, many athletes...
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