Drug Use In Amatuer Sports
Performance enhancers can be defined as "narcotic, hallucinogen, or stimulant that increases talent and quality of play". Amateur sport is defined as "any event played part time, especially unpaid or paid very little to perform". And drug can be defined as "a narcotic, stimulant, or hallucinogen" (OED, 2000). Performance enhancing drugs were synthesized in 1887 and were initially commercially available for over-the-counter use as a nasal decongestant. During World War II, these drugs were used as a means of delaying the onset of fatigue and increasing alertness in soldiers. These substances have all the effects needed to enhance performance and are now used in sports. Every year, hundreds of our future athletes perish due to one major issue - drug use. Drug use is the number one abuse in athletics to this very date. How is it possible for our society to stop such a growing trend? The rules and regulations governing the use of drugs in amateur sport are ineffective. The ease of getting the drugs as well as the offset of punishment and danger (involved in using them) by large financial endorsements is a key factor. In addition the laws are too complicated, the testing process is flawed, and the punishments are too weak and vague. A
"Enormous salaries, product endorsement and potential careers outside of the sporting field are some of the rewards available to the successful athlete. Rewards are also available to athletes at lower levels of competitions and to those in amateur sport. Even at junior levels, inducements such as scholarships are a significant incentive and can increase the pressure to achieve." ll of these factors lead to the steady and heavy use of performance enhancers in amateur sporting events. Throughout time we have seen the world of amateur sport develop rapidly from a friendly, non-profitable competition to a way of life that is so demanding in the line of performance that normal, healthy people are converted into drug dependant super human athletes that shame the names 'Olympics' or 'NCAA'. In conclusion, the rules and regulations governing amateur sport are ineffective. All the factors stated make it hard to put a stop to drug use. Stricter laws are necessary for the fight in slowing down the development of this habitual tendency. This, as well as many other factors, lead to the laws against drugs in sports being ineffective. As one could guess, punishments also seem to be on the vague and weak-hearted side. The IOC's punishments for doping in sports are as follows. For a first doping offence the minimum required sanction is a two-year suspension from all competition but, the document follows up by stating that, in specific circumstances there may be a provision for a possible modification of the allotted time period (meaning that the IOC could shorten it by up to a year if there were extenuating circumstances). And along with this, somewhat mild time period, the IOC will strip the medals from the athlete that used no skill to achieve it. Really, the athlete doesn't lose in any of the situations; in fact his motivation grows stronger. The athlete's whole reason for taking drugs is to win. When he is deprived of the possible economic benefits that come with the winning, he desires it more, taking more drugs and getting more prepared for the competitions to come after his lenient suspension. For an athlete, the end justifies the means. If he/she has to get caught using drugs 10 times before winning and not being caught, he/she will do so only because of one thing - money. "During the 20th century, sporting activity has gradually evolved into a 'big business' providing a significant, world-wide source of entertainment, revenue and employment." (Queen, p.3) Also, the punishments made by the IOC and various other communities fails to acknowledge various defenses that can be used by the athletes in their court hearing. The laws against the use of drugs in sports needs to have a monotone voice, in that, if a player is caught using drugs he/she is immediately banned for a certain period of time following a court trial that neglects any excuses or defenses the athletes have for their actions. "Coates, who is a lawy
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Approximate Word count = 1976
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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