The Case for PED Use in Sports

This essay will deal with the issue of whether elite athletes shall be permitted or not permitted to use performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sporting events and competitions, both international and national and.

In favour

Favourable argument mainly stems from limitation in detection of drug misuse. Anti-doping programmes rely on testing. However, they are limited in terms of their ability to detect drug misuse. This limitation makes prohibition of use of drugs redundant. It is argued that many athletes have the know-how of and are familiar with drugs’ pharmacology as well as pharmacokinetics that they could circumvent detection (Savulescu, Creaney, & Vondy, 2013). Further, the administrative difficulty in the doping programme poses challenges in detecting drug misuse. Example is the case of alleged failure to notify whereabouts against Wilson Kipsang, the two-time Marathon winner. It was argued that his suspension does not concern any kind of tampering with a doping test (BBC, 2020).

Biological advantages to some elite athletes that make them better than the other may also influence the argument in favour of using PEDs. So, is it fair when there is such genetic advantage to an athlete who competes with others? For example, take the case of Caster Semenya, gold medalist in 800m women’s race at 2012 World Championships and silver at the 2012 London Olympics, and gold in Rio. Semenya had hyperandrogenism, which causes high levels of testosterone, generally counted a performance advantage. However, putting genetic advantage in an unfair bracket would also be unfair (Clark, 2016 ). In such situation where there could be no blanket rule about who and which biological characteristic is to be considered, the argument for regulated PEDs use become stronger (Collins, 2017). In this regard, it is argued that permitting use of PEDs may potentially, reduce the extent of benefit enjoyed by genetically privileged competitors (Savulescu & Foddy, Le tour and failure of zero tolerance: Time to relax doping controls , 2011). Moreover, the reportedly widespread drug abuse is a sign of failure of the testing system, and permitting the use of PEDs may correct the unfairness to some extent. In support, Collins argues in favour of elite athletes using PEDs should so long as it does not put them to a significant health risk (Collins, 2017). Savulescu and Foddy support this view when they argue for permit use of safe drugs and also banning and monitoring unsafe drugs. For example, taking erythropoietin, which is an endurance enhancing drug, up to the safe level will not be a problem and they argue that its use will allow athletes to correct natural inequality. However, use of harmful drugs such as anabolic steroids should be monitored and detected (Savulescu, Foddy, & Clayton, Why we should allow performance enhancing drugs in sport, 2004).

The above argument presents two approaches in regard to arguments concerning use of PEDs. Russell and Browne state that the existing general restrictions on PEDs could pose an unsolvable collective action problem that could create adverse consequences for sport. The prohibition of PEDs is based on the argument that it violates sport’s integrity. However, this may not hold true for elite sport. They alternatively favour a harm prevention approach that does not support the general prohibiting especially concerning use of non-harmful PED. This approach may provide for better compliance aligned with the integrity of sport, and also provides with an opportunity of resolving the collective action problem (Russell & Browne, 2018).

Against

Noakes states that Government, sporting institutions and pharmaceutical industry are the three stakeholders in respect to use of performance enhancing drugs. They do not arguably take account about their responsibility to protect athletes. It is also argued that overt or covert government collusion contributes to prevalent doping amongst elite athletes. Further, the easy availability of the products is also one factor for the pharmaceutical companies to be unresponsive to misuse of drugs by athletes for non-medical reasons (Noakes, 2006). It is for these reasons that athletes, whether elite or not, should be prohibited from using PEDs competitive sports. If permitted, athletes would be exposed to health risks.

Sigmund states use of PEDs would pose health risk to athletes (Loland, 2011, pp. 304-312). For example, the artificial replications of erythropoietin could increase red-blood-cell count in an athlete. However, if the count goes beyond 60%, it could significantly increase the athlete’s chance of a stroke or a heart attack (Draper, 2014, p. 380). Thus, it is arguably reasonable to ban PEDs as they are dangerous. Sigmund poses the moral question about whether a ban on use of PEDs be morally justified. He argues that the fairness argument, such as posed above, cannot be a justifiable reason to defend a wrong. It cannot be justified for it is disadvantages for those minority-rule-adhering athletes (Loland, Can a ban on doping be morally justified?, 2011, pp. 304-312).

The use of PEDs amongst elite has reportedly created huge disadvantages and complex regulatory problem in defining permissible limits of the use. Besides the health risk, they are exposed to significant mental problems, including misuse of substance (Rice, Purcell, Silva, Mawren, McGorry, & Parker, 2016), or a culture of use of PEDs. Young athletes may be pressured into using PEDs given the chance at victory. This goes against their autonomy. For adult athletes, having autonomy to use PEDs would expose them to a range of pressures level. Moreover, legalising PEDs would expose the stark disparity between wealthy and poorer athletes (Collins, 2017).

Wiesing argues that any form of legalizing or permitting use of PEDs would produce more disadvantages. A culture would develop pressurising young athletes pursuing competitive sports to take avoidable health risks. Use of PEDs, the variable responses to doping measures, and inventiveness of doping doctors would only do partial justice to athletic talents. It would also cause audience mistrust because of the possibility opened to athletes to rely on illegal doping practices. Thus, such avoidable risks associated with use of PEDs should not be taken to increase the appeal of sports. It would damage the role model sports play in the society (Wiesing, 2011).

Bibliography

Collins, R. W. (2017). Lowering Restrictions on Performance Enhancing Drugs in Elite Sports. Inquiries Journal , 9 (3), 1.

Draper, N. (2014). Exercise Physiology: For Health and Sports Performance . Routledge .

Loland, S. (2011). Can a ban on doping be morally justified? . In J. Savulescu, R. t. Meulen, & G. Kahane, Enhancing human capacities . Blackwell Publishing .

Loland, S. (2011). Can a ban on doping be morally justified? In J. Savulescu, R. t. Meulen, & G. Kahane, Enhancing human capacitie. Blackwell Publishing.

Noakes, T. D. (2006). ‘Should we allow performance-enhancing drugs in sport? A rebuttal to the article by Savulescu and colleagues. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching , 1 (4), 289-316.

Rice, S. M., Purcell, R., Silva, S. D., Mawren, D., McGorry, P. D., & Parker, A. G. (2016). The mental health of elite athletes: a narrative systematic review. Sports medicine , 46 (9), 1333-1353.

Russell, J. S., & Browne, A. (2018). Performance-enhancing drugs as a collective action problem. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport , 45 (2), 109-127.

Savulescu, J., & Foddy, B. (2011). Le tour and failure of zero tolerance: Time to relax doping controls . In J. Savulescu, R. t. Meulen, & G. Kahane, Enhancing human capacities. Blackwell Publishing.

Savulescu, J., Creaney, L., & Vondy, A. (2013). ‘Should athletes be allowed to use performance enhancing drugs?’. BMJ (347 ), 6150.

Savulescu, J., Foddy, B., & Clayton, M. (2004). Why we should allow performance enhancing drugs in sport. British journal of sports medicine , 38 (6), 666-670.

Wiesing, U. (2011). Should performance-enhancing drugs in sport be legalized under medical supervision? Sports medicine , 41 (2), 167-176.