Should Performance Enhancing Drugs Be Banned in Sports

Should Performance Enhancing Drugs Be Banned in Sports? 11/22/10 Critical Analysis Presentation

Summary �Competition is fair �Mike Higgins �Integrity �Tom Henders �Safe Guards �Sarah Pillon �Safety �Chris Lehr �Counter to fair play �Sam Griffith �Counter to Integrity �Matt Opoka �Counter to Safe Guards �Katie West �Counter to Safety �Casey Kettman

Group Conclusion �As a group we all agree that performance enhancing drugs should be banned in sports

The Right for Fair Competition Mike (Higgs) Higgins

The Right for Fair Competition �For athletes who want to compete clean, the threat they may be beaten by a competitor who is not faster, stronger, or more dedicated, but who takes a drug to gain the edge, is profoundly personal” (Murray 1).

Example �Olympic Track and Field Events – An athlete breaks a world record in the 400 meter dash using a banned substance, it is inappropriate for that person to be commemorated �Like world class runner Marion Jones

Disciplinary Action �Use of such drugs by athletes needs to be seen as cheating and disciplinary actions need to be harsher �It is owed to the clean legendary athletes of the past that these drugs are detected and to punish those who have cheated

Counter Argument for Fair Play Samantha Griffith

Level The Playing Field �By allowing everyone to take performance enhancing drugs, we even the playing field. We remove the effects of genetic inequality. Far from being unfair, allowing performance enhancement promotes equality” (Savulescu 5). �“Nature is not fair, Ian Thorpe has enormous feet which give him an advantage that no other swimmer can get, no matter how much they exercise” (Savulescu 5).

Level The Playing Field �People who do well at sport as a result of the genetic lottery that happened to deal them a winning hand…sport discriminates against the genetically unfit. Sport is the province of the genetic elite (or freak)” (Savulescu 4). Ian Thorpe aka The Thorpedo

�Michael Phelps has proven to be a fierce competitor in the pool since his debut in the 2004 Olympics in Athens at the age of 15. �Since then his awards have culminated to numerous medals, trophies, titles and records. �Does anyone have the chance to compete with him without the use of performance enhancing drugs?

�It is already tough enough to catch naturally talented and dedicated athletes without the drugs �If drugs were legalized, more athletes would have a chance at competing, the playing field would be level, and those who are genetically blessed would no longer be the contenders, everyone would be a contender.

Drugs need to be legalized �If performance enhancing drugs are not legalized the champions of sports will always be those like Michael Phelps, Serena Williams and Lance Armstrong, it is time that the athletes who have never been in the spotlight to have a chance. That is why performanceenhancing drugs should be legalized.

Drugs should be banned in sport on account of fair play

Parity �Sports needs parity �This is what makes sports so great �If everyone had the same talent level, sport become predictable �Amazing to see the underdog win

Integrity of Sports Tom Henders

Integrity �Definition: Behavior that conforms to an acceptable standard of right and wrong �The concept of integrity implies that a person is free of controversy or corruption and they adhere to a moral soundness

Integrity An athlete of integrity would not: �Take drugs to enhance performance �Want to win over their competitor by ways that are illegal �Wish to achieve victory by methods that give an illegitimate advantage

Integrity Performance enhancing drugs affect an athletes integrity �“Olympic Spirit” in sports is mutual understanding, spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. �The integrity of sports is fundamental to the spirit of sport and that integrity is threatened by performance enhancing drugs

Integrity is compromised when: �It is no longer about who has the best skills or talents but instead is about who has the best steroids to beat the opponent �Mutual respect is lost because athletes are no longer competing based on individual, strength, skill or talent

Counter to Integrity Matt Opoka

Effect on Integrity with Ban �Performance-enhancing drugs affect the individual athlete’s integrity in two ways; �First, if drugs are banned, then choosing not to use them is a test of one’s character � A person of integrity does not behave dishonestly � A person of integrity does not seek to prevail over his competitors by methods that give him an illegitimate advantage � Second, the concept of integrity implies wholeness, being unbroken, moral soundness, and freedom from corruption

Effect of Integrity without Ban �By allowing everyone to take performance enhancing drugs we level the playing field” �Advantage of the “genetic lottery” is diminished �Natural advantages become collectively distributed �Dishonesty, wholeness, corruption will be nonexistent �When drugs are allowed to “level the playing field” the notion of integrity is not tested

Effective Expression of One’s Self �Classical musicians commonly use drugs to; �Control stage freight �Reduce stress �Essentially improve performance � “If the audience judges the performance to be improved with drugs, then the drugs are allowing the musician to express him or herself more effectively. ” �Like classical music athletes also need to effectively represent their skills �Essentially legal doping allows all athletes to perform at maximum potential

Integrity in conclusion �There are two common reasons why we appreciate elite sporting; 1. Extraordinary performance 2. Elite competition �By allowing the use of drugs we disclaim dilemmas dealing with integrity and provide a level playing field though which athletes can all perform at maximum potential

Drugs should be banned in sport on account of integrity

Integrity �Performance enhancing drugs threatens the fairness and integrity of athletic competition and sends the wrong message to young athletes �Sports are about competition on equal footing with respect for the opponent and respect for how the game is played

Integrity Ways to preserve integrity in sports include: �Development of anti-doping programs �Establishment of policies about what substances are prohibited �Enforcement of anti-doping laws

Safe Guards in Sport Sarah Pillon

Definition of the “spirit of the sport” �“The spirit of the sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body, and mind, and is characterized by the following values: ethics, fair play and honesty; health; excellence in performance; character and education; fun and joy; teamwork; dedication and commitment; respect for rules and laws; respect for self and other participants; courage; and community and solidarity. ” �Savulescu, Foddy, Clayton

Performance Enhancing drugs and The Spirit of Sport �Ruins the very nature of the value of sports �Diminishes value of natural talent and dedication �Drugs substitute for this �Cheapening of sports �The awe factor �Barry Bonds example �Underdogs

The Spirit of Sport �Makes winners out of “also-rans” �Natural ability should be respected for what it is �Deprives winners out of victories that should be theirs �How would you like to lose to someone that is not better than you, but won simply because he/she took drugs?

Counter to safe guards in sport Katie West

Safeguarding of Sport: Counterargument �Athletes have the best nutrition, coaching, and equipment to improve performance— why not the best performance enhancing drugs? �Great and extraordinary performance if every already talented player was on steroids

Safeguarding of Sport: Counterargument �Players will still have “courage, fortitude, and competitive savvy” �For spectators, sports have always been about witnessing the best athletes

Drugs should be banned in sport on account of safe guards

Safe Guards without drugs �Athletes have the best nutrition, coaching, and equipment to improve performance—why not the best performance enhancing drugs? ” �Drugs are not a requirement for an athlete to become a premier athlete � Main requirements: � Self-discipline � Dedication � Natural ability �“Great and extraordinary performance if every already talented player was on steroid” �Great performances without steroids �If not great without steroids, they do not belong playing.

Safe Guards without drugs �“Players will still have ‘courage, fortitude, and competitive savvy’” �Will not be natural �“For spectators, sports have always been about witnessing the best athletes” �Lose respect for those that use steroids � Cheating �Best athletes= NATURAL ABITLITY + dedication

Safety Christopher Lehr

Using Drugs • Athletes use these drugs to better themselves and increase performance levels • However many of these drugs are used when others, like trainers and the medical staff are unaware • Therefore, they are not monitored by someone who knows � Their complexity � Appropriate doses � Effects

Health Risks • Athletes can develop serious health problems as a result of using these drugs • Athletes can further damage their body with the use of these PEDS, in both the short term, but more importantly in the long term

Health Risks Cont. �Some results of using performance-enhancing drugs � infertility � drug dependence � heart problems � psychiatric disorders like depression and rage �kidney and liver damage � blood disorders

Counter Argument to Safety Casey Kettman

Drugs should be allowed �Ban the drugs that are dangerous and keep the ones that are not dangerous �“We should permit drugs that are safe, and continue to monitor drugs that are unsafe” (Savulescu, Foddy, and Clayton 2004).

Drugs should be allowed Cont. �Stipulating which performance enhancing drugs are bad for you �By doing this, the ones that are not bad for you wouldn’t be considered illegal performance enhancing drugs �It is all about how the rules are stipulated

Drugs should be banned in sport on account of safety

Chris Benoit �Benoit was a world class wrestler in college and a star in the WWE �Since college, he had used steroids to maximize performance �He then developed testicular problems

Chris Benoit Cont. �Was said to be full of rage because of the trauma the drugs had caused �At his house one day, he had killed his wife, suffocated his son, and hung himself �Terrible example of what drugs can do

Banning Drugs �I agree with Casey that certain drugs must be allowed for health reasons �However, using drugs of any magnitude is hard to predict how one’s body will react �Everyone’s body functions differently �Therefore, allowing drugs that are good and using acute medical attention, it will be hard to say how the body will respond

Overview �Drugs in sport should be banned �Fair competition �Integrity �Safe Guards �Safety

Overview �Counter arguments against this reasons as well �If everyone uses them, competition is fair �Dishonesty and corruption would not exist �Sports already has the best nutrition, training, and coaching, so why not use the nest drugs? �People need drugs for their own safety

Conclusion �Sports need parity because this is what makes sports great �Performance enhancing drugs threatens the fairness and integrity of athletic competition and sends the wrong message to young athletes �Drugs are not needed to become a great athelete �Using drugs of any magnitude is hard to predict how one’s body will react ( Safety comes first)

In the end… �Performance enhancing drugs should be banned in sports

Works Cited �Effects of Performance-Enhancing Drugs. Mayo Clinic. www. mayoclinic. com �Murray, Thomas H. "Drugs, Sports, and Ethics. " Exploring Bioethics (2009). �Savulescu, J. , B. Foddy, and M. Clayton. "Why We Should Allow Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sport. " Exploring Bioethics (2009).