Illegal Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in the...

Illegal Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in the Olympics Since the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece, athletes have struggled to find a way to gain the competitive edge. Early rituals included consuming wine and brandy before an event, eating potent mushrooms, and even concocting magic potions thought to give the athlete improved performance ability (Phillips, 2000, p.53). A constant battle has been fought as the International Olympic Committee struggles to keep drug testing up-to-date and effective. We have come to associate drug use with a few famous names of fallen heroes, such as Ben Johnson and the most recent, C.J. Hunter, but few people realize just how widespread drug use is in Olympic sports and how small a†¦show more content†¦Swimmers and athletes of track and field are inherently more reliant on their physique than any ball-player (Economist, 1998, p.10). The athletes of track and field are competing as individuals, compared to an entire team. Their flaws and faults are more obvious and prevalent than if they we re part of a team and had other athletes around them to help them. Yes, track and field can be considered a team-oriented sport, since everyone is part of a team. But the competition itself is based upon the individual, and that is why many athletes feel the pressure to use any method possible to help them gain a competitive edge. But my thought is that no matter what the competition is, or whom you are competing against, there is no need to use chemicals to increase your athletic performance. I also feel as though many of the athletes in track and field use performance- enhancing drugs because they feel pressured into it. There is an ever-increasing amount of athletes in track and field who use performance-enhancing drugs, so many athletes feel compelled to taking them. They probably feel as though if they are working and training as hard as they can, and there are other athletes out there who are also working just as intensely, plus taking chemicals to give them added strength and endurance, then those athletes will have the competitive edge. It reminds me of Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest. Those who are the most fit, or in other words, those who are stronger,Show MoreRelatedPerformance Enhancing Drugs Should Be Legal1039 Words   |  5 PagesIllegal performance enhancing drugs should remain illegal they truly shatter the idea that hard work pays off, performance enhancing drugs are for cheaters, and cheaters never prosper. Performance enhancing drugs are far too easily accepted and used. Performance enhancing drugs are more prevalent, needed, and dated than many know. Athletes do not feel ashamed or the need to hide their use of performance enhancing drugs. Performance enhancing drug use is a universal thing, and using them has beenRead MorePerformance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports1078 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Performance-enhancing drugs in sports: A literature review A number of prominent athletes have recently experienced a fall from grace, because of the revelation that they used performance-enhancing drugs. Perhaps the most famous example of this phenomenon is Lance Armstrong. In an advertisement for Nike that his former sponsor now no doubt regrets, Armstrong is shown asking the viewer what am I on? Im on my bike, busting my ass six hours a day. Professional cycling is often cited as one ofRead MoreAnabolic Steroids : Use And Performance Enhancing Drugs1516 Words   |  7 PagesSteroids The use of performance enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids has been a debatable topic in the United States as early as the 1950’s. Former U. S. Representative Howard Berman expresses that â€Å"Steroids can seem necessary to compete at the highest level, and the quick rewards may seem to outweigh the long term consequences to users.† The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that countless athletes, both young and old, face life threatening illnesses due to the use of performance-enhancingRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs. . Performance-Enhancing Drugs1580 Words   |  7 PagesPerformance Enhancing Drugs Performance-enhancing drugs (PED s) have been an issue for many decades now for the medical and sports field. Olympic and professional athletes have been using them to gain an upper hand on the competition, but some may ask if it s really worth it? Studies show that performance-enhancing drugs have been proven to negatively affect the health of athletes who take them. Simply put, performance-enhancing drugs could either improve athletic performance or can be extremelyRead MoreTesting for Drugs In The Olympics Essay1507 Words   |  7 Pageswatched the Olympics and wondered how the athletes can be that strong and fast?   The International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) certainly has.   Each year the athletes come up with new ways to enhance their performance, and make it harder for the Olympic drug testers to detect banned substances.   With performance enhancing drugs becoming harder to police, the burden of trying to keep the Olympics as clean as possible falls on the I.O.C.s sh oulders.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Drug use in the Olympics is not a newRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs791 Words   |  3 PagesPerformance enhancing drugs Using performance-enhancing drugs such as doping. Most of the athletes take PED’s so they can win a golden medal for their country. And they want fame. No any athlete shouldn’t take PED because no one knows the risks. The penalty for using performance enhancing drugs should be stricter because it can cause health risks, it’s cheating, an it’s legally, and world class athletes use it and still get away with it. The government should banned drugs so no any athlete shouldn’tRead MorePed in Sports1082 Words   |  5 PagesI Introduction Performance-Enhancing Drugs, various substances, chemical agents, or procedures designed to provide an advantage in athletic performance. Performance-enhancing drugs affect the body in different ways, such as enlarging muscles or increasing the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity. Despite these apparent benefits, the use of such drugs is considered both competitively unethical and medically dangerous. Most performance-enhancing drugs are outlawed by organizations that govern majorRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs Sports Today1476 Words   |  6 PagesResearch, period 3 December 15, 2013 Performance Enhancing Drugs In Sports Today Performance enhancing drugs, or steroids, have long been in the lifestyle of athletes. Many famous athletes like Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Marion Jones and Lance Armstrong have all confessed to the use of steroids. Celebrities like actor Charlie Sheen and ex Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, have also admitted to using steroids in the past. Performance enhancing drugs are a dangerous form of medicineRead MoreThe Drawbacks Of Anabolic Steroids1384 Words   |  6 PagesThe Drawbacks of Anabolic Steroids and Why They Should Stay Illegal Anabolic steroids have been used and taken by humans for over half a century. The effects they provide have developed large ongoing debates as to whether these substances should be allowed to the general public. Anabolic steroid in short provide the human body a much grander potential to build muscle by helping the cells within the body produce more muscle fibers at an astonishing rate that could never be achieved naturally. ManyRead MoreShould Athletes Be Suspended Because Of Illegal Acts?1137 Words   |  5 PagesShould athletes be suspended because of illegal acts? Suspension’s in sports are very controversial in the sports and news world. It’s almost like there is a athlete each month who was convicted for homicide, taking performance enhancing drugs, or DUI and DWI. And this continues to happen in the sports community. Leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB take this into vigorous consideration. But that doesn’t stop an athlete from injuring others and themselves. This is why suspensions need to occur more