Are Performance-Enhancing Drugs a Form of Cheating?

Proponents to using performance enhancing drugs argue that the decision regarding whether to use them should be left up to the individual athlete. These people may argue that elite athletes do not achieve greatness based on natural talent alone and that steroids are like any other artificial aid, such as sleeping in low-oxygen tents, fiberglass pole-vaulting poles. Others who agree with this say that these drugs are just like the drug of caffeine used by millions everyday to better help them perform during their day and at their work. 

There are opponents and proponents to the use of performance enhancing drugs. Many oppose them claiming that they are cheating and not sportsman like. Where as supporters say they add excitement to games.
John Whetton, a biology professor and a former Olympic runner, is one of many who believe that users of these drugs are violating the ideals of sportsmanship. "Using chemicals to do what your body isn‘t capable of doing is cheating, but it is a form of cheating that is hidden and therefore it is a nasty form of cheating." Using such drugs gives athletes an unfair advantage over those who choose not to use performance enhancers.This  creates negative pressure on athletes to use these drugs if they want to be competitive. Other people who agree with this idea say athletes have a choice between competing at a world-class level and taking drugs, or competing at a much lower level and staying clean.

Everyone has a different opinion. 

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Drugs and Young Athletes

A 2004 Newsweek article estimated that in the previous year, (2003), 300,000 teens between the 8th and 12th grades had tried steroids. That number is a dramatic increase from a decade before 2003. These estimated users included both boys and girls hoping to improve their performance in sports such as football or track and field, or simply to become more muscular and improve their appearance.
 
Opponents of the use of performance-enhancing drugs at the professional level argue that their use by professionals inspires many young people to try them. They continue to argue that those whose bodies are still developing may be at even greater risk for more harmful health effects.


Steroids can interfere with the natural processes of puberty.
For boys, the sudden surge of testosterone can create male pattern baldness and violent mood swings. The Steroids may also cause the body to stop producing its natural testosterone. The body not producing its natural testosterone can limit bone growth and result in  males developing female characteristics such as breasts and a high voice. Also, some boys who have tried to quit steroids have developed severe depression and a few cases led to suicide.

Girls may become more masculine, lose body fat (including breasts) and develop facial hair and a deep voice as a result of using steroids.

In many cases parents, teachers, or coaches are oblivious to young people using steroids . This is often because steroid testing, at $50 to $100 a test, can be too expensive for schools. Some people feel that there should be more extensive testing and other programs to combat what they consider to be an epidemic of performance-enhancing drugs among youth.

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Lance Armstrong

The latest case involved with the USADA and illegal drugs is the doping scandal with Lance Armstrong.

Lance was a seven-time Tour de France winner. He was an outstanding cyclist who gained a lot of money, many fans and respect along his career. Lance is a cancer survivor. He had testicular cancer that spread to his brain. He founded the cancer charity Livestrong 15 years ago and was the chairman. He also had an endorsement deal with Nike and Anheuser-Busch.

There has been a long list of accusations against Lance for illegal substance use dating back to 2002 and a 21 month investigation that was closed after finding no evidence of illegal drug use.



These accusations were all evaded by Lance until recently. This October (2012) Lance Armstrong crashed. He stepped down as the chairman of Livestrong, lost his sponsorships with Nike and Anheuser-Busch. The USADA released a report that made public testimony from Armstrong's teammates and others who said Armstrong and his team members  used banned performance-enhancing substances and tried to hide it from testing officials. Nike dropped Armstrong saying that there was "seemingly insurmountable evidence" that he participated in doping. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency detailed what it called "overwhelming" evidence of Armstrong's involvement as a professional cyclist in "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program."

Lance Armstrong's reputation and his glory are completely trashed after this huge investigation. People used to look up to and idolize him, now everyone realizes that he is nothing but a cheater and lair. 

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Stimulants

A stimulant is defined as: A substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.
 
People tend to not know a lot about the performance enhancing drugs of Stimulants. Stimulants have most commonly been used illegally by runners, cyclists, and other such athletes since the 1930s. They use these drugs because they can increase aggression and competitiveness as well as reduce tiredness and fatigue.

Some negatives associated with stimulants are they may cause harmful health effects such as high blood pressure, changes in heart rhythm, anxiety, and they can be addicting.


A few stimulants banned by the International Olympic Committee are; amphetamines and ephedrine. Caffeine used to be a banned stimulant, however it was removed in 2004. Many substances often found in cold medications are also banned.

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Athletes and Performance-Enhancing Drugs

Performance-enhancing drugs are defined as: chemicals that can improve a person‘s strength, endurance, or recovery from vigorous exercise.

Some Performance-enhancing drugs

These drugs are in several categories, including stimulants, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and other peptides, erythropoietin (EPO), etc.


In 1999, international sports organizations formally outlawed the use of performance-enhancing drugs for their respective athletes in their respective leagues. These organizations created an "anti-doping" code that requires a two-year suspension of athletes caught using these drugs. The code is enforced by the WADA and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Barry Bonds Cartoon

Major League Baseball (MLB) has had a bad history with performance-enhancing drugs. The MLB conducted a supposedly anonymous drug test of MLB players in 2003. These tests revealed extensive illegal and performance-enhancing drug use. Because of these results, in 2005, U.S. Congress investigated the use of these drugs in the MLB. The actual league also investigated. In 2007, the MLB released an detailed report of performance-enhancing drugs used by some of baseball’s most famous players. The list included Barry Bonds, who broke Hank Aaron’s career home run record in 2007. Also, in 2010, Mark McGwire confessed that he was using steroids when he broke the single-season home-run record in 1998.

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Athletes and Recreational Drugs

A recreational drug is defined as: A drug used non-medically for personal enjoyment.

Recreational drugs include: marijuana, cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms, opium, LSD, ecstasy, etc. These are used again for personal pleasure and not to enhance performance.

Recreational Drugs

These drugs are illegal and can cause health problems. Also their users may become addicted to them.



Recreational drugs are among the substances that are banned in the Olympics and other international sporting events by the World Anti-Doping  Agency (WADA). In America, most professional sport leagues frown upon the use of recreational drugs. These athletes are subject to drug tests, and if they test positive for recreational drugs they can be suspended or baned from games.



Some people support the WADA in their role against athletes and recreational drugs. Others argue that the WADA and other agencies shouldn't monitor recreational drug use in athletes. These people say that these agencies should focus exclusively on performance-enhancing drugs.

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