Performance-enhancing drugs in sports

[Pupik]

Yesterday was the public release of the Mitchell Report on baseball players who have used anabolic steroids or human-growth hormones. Every sports station on TV and radio, as well as print and other visual media tends to verbally slam players who use the stuff, most of which is outlawed by the sporting body.

It got me wondering why everyone gets so bothered by it all? The so-called "purity of the game" is an illusion of simplicity to wipe away complicated matters in games and sport, but why do we care? Why does anyone care?

Enlighten me.

 

[Touring Mars]

By definition, performance enhancing drugs allow people to push themselves/go further than they would otherwise be able to. This fact alone undermines the whole ethos of competitive sport. In professional sport, winners and losers (and hence prize money) are determined by who is the most skillful or who is physically able to push themselves the hardest (or the most effectively), and hence someone who has used a performance enhancing drug is cheating at the most fundamental level.

We should care about it because of the influence that winners have on their fanbase and in particular in up-and-coming athletes who are determined to win. To turn a blind eye or to not severely punish the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport sends out the message that it is acceptable to 'do whatever it takes, even breaking the laws of the game' in order to win.

Unfortunately, in sports like cycling, weightlifting and MLB, it seems that drug-use is the norm and that the boot is on the other foot. Using drugs doesn't give you an advantage - it's not using drugs that puts you at a disadvantage. When you are talking about substances (coupled with extreme training regimes) that have the ability to send you to a very early grave (or indeed to jail), I reckon it's fundamentally wrong to advocate drug use - since doing so effectively forces the rest to follow suit.

 

[ExigeEvan]

When you are talking about substances (coupled with extreme training regimes) that have the ability to send you to a very early grave (or indeed to jail), I reckon it's fundamentally wrong to advocate drug use - since doing so effectively forces the rest to follow suit.

This is the key point. When you must put your health at risk in order to reach the physical peak required of your sport then it's gone too far.

Where do you draw the line then? Will we have the extreme case of athletes only being able to compete in one olympics/world championship/final because they pushed their bodies so far in preperation for that peak that their bodies are a wreck?

Keep drugs out.

 

[FoolKiller]

I think the drug issue in sports is, as TM noted, that it makes the point of the sport irrelevant. How guys doing this can be proud of themselves for a physical achievement they didn't work for the same way as others is beyond me.

Honestly if a sport began to allow players over time to do this I wouldn't care then, but as it is sports are statistics reliant. The best is determined by record times, the amount at which someone did something, etc. In sports such as baseball the issue comes up when someone like Barry Bonds breaks some record set by someone like Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth was not using these performance enhancing drugs. Technically he was using performance degrading drugs like smoking and alcohol, and God only knows what else. The comparison doesn't work anymore. Babe Ruth achieved his excellence while doing everything possible to keep from being at physical peak while Barry Bonds reached a higher achievement while using things to exceed his natural physical peak.

These drugs make it so that we can't respect these achievements because that isn't an achievement reached by the athlete himself, rather by the drugs.

We will all look back at this era of baseball and remember that these records that are being broken after decades were never the same circumstance. Sometimes records get broken or stand for long periods and you can attribute it to technology breakthroughs or safety rules that actually impede performance, but those are a result of natural progression in society. These drugs create a situation where no natural technological progression can be attributed to an athletic achievement. It unlevels the playing field.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Drugs and baseball have gone together since the first professional game. This ain't a new thing, folks.

Set some rules, and make sure the players follow them. Don't leave things as they are, "up in the air," unknown to players and fans, alike. Get some regular testing done, and reveal the violators.

I understand the rules are now in place. Good. Educate everybody, fans and players, what they are. Enforce the new rules and better explain what happens when players break the rules.

Also, we need to know what drugs they're talking about. "Performance enhancing drugs?" What the hell does that mean? Aspirin? Aleve? Nicotine? Caffeine? They are drugs that 'enhance' my playing abilities.

 

[FoolKiller]

Also, we need to know what drugs they're talking about. "Performance enhancing drugs?" What the hell does that mean? Aspirin? Aleve? Nicotine? Caffeine? They are drugs that 'enhance' my playing abilities.

Steroids and Human Growth Hormone (HGH). They have been pretty clear about that.

 

[Touring Mars]

Whether she was doped to the eyeballs or not, Florence Joiner was a pretty sad case of what can happen if you push your body to such extremes. I reckon that over-doing it, drug-assisted or not, is a bad thing. That's my excuse anyway They do need to be clear on what is a performance enhancing substance though, since many a clean athlete has had a close run after taking something pretty innocuous, like a cold treatment which contains an ephedrine-based drugs. On the flipside of the debate, whoever classified marijuana as a performance enhancing drug seriously needs to do a bit more homework - unless sitting on the couch and watching TV whilst eating dry Sugar Puffs straight out of the box is classified as a sport these days...

 

[Solid Lifters]

Steroids and Human Growth Hormone (HGH). They have been pretty clear about that.

But, is that it, really?

Seems a big door is left open.

 

[FoolKiller]

But, is that it, really?

Seems a big door is left open.

In the baseball case, yes.

The Mitchell Report (formally the "Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball") is the result of former United States Senator George J. Mitchell's 21-month investigation into the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone in Major League Baseball (MLB).

The issue with cold medicines and the like is that they do read as a steroid, as do nasal sprays and whatnot. That is why in the case of a positive they do multiple tests on multiple samples.

They aren't trying to prevent them from the kinds of things you can get any day by drinking some tea or coffee. They are aiming for stuff that you have to get a prescription for to obtain legally.


And why the NFL called marijuana performance enhancing, I have no clue. I would love to know what the authors of that rule call performance. I can't imagine the lifestyle required to think marijuana has a boosting effect. I just picture a guy in a coma.

 

[Year.Zero]

I can't imagine the lifestyle required to think marijuana has a boosting effect. I just picture a guy in a coma.

Marijuana will never put you in a coma. That sounds like some Reefer Madness s**t to me.

 

[FoolKiller]

Marijuana will never put you in a coma. That sounds like some Reefer Madness s**t to me.

No, I meant the guy that thinks marijuana is a performance enhancing drug must be in a coma to have that perspective.


Anyway, the NFL calls marijuana a performance enhancing drugs and players caught using it are treated the same way. In all honesty, the reason why they do this is to avoid having to report their own players for narcotics use. I don't know how or why it works like that, but they treat it like it is steroids or HGH and then deal with the situation internally.

 

[Greycap]

It won't put you in a coma, but a guy seriously high on marijuana is just about as capable as a guy in one.

My own idea about drugs in sports is a weird but effective one. Make two classes. One with drug tests, the "fair play" class. It works as the current one. Then, one with no tests, no limits, the true Unlimited class. Everyone is responsible only for themselves, let's see how far the human body really can be pushed before some part fails.

 

[ExigeEvan]

But would any large companies support a sport that supported illegal activities? I hardly think you'll have Mcdonalds supporting anabolic steroid use.

But you'll also end up with the small-fish in the big-pond of the "everything goes" league trying to become the big fish in the "clean" league.

 

[Casio]

Anyway, the NFL calls marijuana a performance enhancing drugs and players caught using it are treated the same way. In all honesty, the reason why they do this is to avoid having to report their own players for narcotics use. I don't know how or why it works like that, but they treat it like it is steroids or HGH and then deal with the situation internally.

It's the whole PR factor. It's harmless but they don't want to deal with with all the screaming mothers and angry e-mails when they found out Romo had a joint a week after the Superbowl.

The same thing happened down here in the Australian Football League. One of the top players in the game was busted for doing cocaine and has been banned for the entire next season. Purely to be made an example of, in my opinion. "Drugs are bad m'kayy"

 

[ExigeEvan]

I do agree that sports people shouoldn't be allowed to do drugs, performance enhancing or not. A large part of the audience for football games will be young children who will have posters and calendars and shirts with their favourite footballers names on the back. Thus, these footballers become role models, and what good is a role model, for the sport and for the children, if they are not condoned for using illegal substances?

 

[Sage]

http://yanksfansoxfan.typepad.com/ysfs/2007/12/the-official-yf.html

 

[Formula1Driver]

I agree that they definately should be penalized heavily for using performance enhancing substances but at the same time, when you look at the MLB part, a drug is not going to make you be able to hit a 100mph fastball any better than you already could, alot of it has to with natural talent. Sure in other aspects of games where strength is the key, it is definately wrong but at the same time I can appreciate (as a sports player) that they do require talent to be able to do some of the things they do, not rely solely on an illegal substance.

 

[Jay]

The same thing happened down here in the Australian Football League. One of the top players in the game was busted for doing cocaine and has been banned for the entire next season. Purely to be made an example of, in my opinion. "Drugs are bad m'kayy"

He was given plenty of help and support by the club, and another chance to redeem himself............. Didn't work, what else were they to do? let it slide?

He was even up for Police charges.

 

[Casio]

I know, but the AFL banned him from the game, not the Eagles, with the exact reason being "found guilty of conduct unbecoming and likely to prejudice the interest of the AFL and [of] bringing the game into disrepute". I don't think a lesser player would have been dealt the same suspension.

Players have been going out knocking out people in bars and just getting fined. Drug use only effects Ben Cousins, it's his problem.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Players have been going out knocking out people in bars and just getting fined. Drug use only effects Ben Cousins, it's his problem.

I'm sorry but that argument fails.

Drugs don't just appear, they don't just turn up in peoples pockets. As drugs are illegal there are no standards applied to their production and export.

For example, that cocaine could have been imported in the stomach of a 12yr old kid who's only way of staying alive is by constantly travelling back and forth swallowing condoms of dangerous drugs, putting his life on the line.

And whenever I hear about a marijuana "factory" being raided there's always the caretaker mentioned, because that caretaker is inevitably either a school drop out with no other source of income, or repaying a debt, or an immigrant who speaks no English and isn't even allowed to leave the house.

 

[V1P3R]

BaseBall = Fail

They should Fold permanently...

As for kids taking it nobody wins there. I think the problem is also to do with pushing kids to Win going too far.

 

[FoolKiller]

I agree that they definately should be penalized heavily for using performance enhancing substances but at the same time, when you look at the MLB part, a drug is not going to make you be able to hit a 100mph fastball any better than you already could, alot of it has to with natural talent. Sure in other aspects of games where strength is the key, it is definately wrong but at the same time I can appreciate (as a sports player) that they do require talent to be able to do some of the things they do, not rely solely on an illegal substance.

Yes, talent is required to make a solid connection between bat and ball. However, steroids helps to make sure that ball flies over the outfield wall.

I'm sorry but that argument fails.

Drugs don't just appear, they don't just turn up in peoples pockets. As drugs are illegal there are no standards applied to their production and export.

For example, that cocaine could have been imported in the stomach of a 12yr old kid who's only way of staying alive is by constantly travelling back and forth swallowing condoms of dangerous drugs, putting his life on the line.

And whenever I hear about a marijuana "factory" being raided there's always the caretaker mentioned, because that caretaker is inevitably either a school drop out with no other source of income, or repaying a debt, or an immigrant who speaks no English and isn't even allowed to leave the house.

You know, there is a simple way to take care of everything mentioned in your post here. Make it legal and regulated by government. Suddenly shipping is done by shipping companies and farms are managed by shift supervisors, etc.

 

[ExigeEvan]

You know, there is a simple way to take care of everything mentioned in your post here. Make it legal and regulated by government. Suddenly shipping is done by shipping companies and farms are managed by shift supervisors, etc.

Simple

Is there a thread on this already? I fancy a deeper delve into this topic without ruining this thread.

 

[FoolKiller]

Simple

It is much cheaper and easier than this 20+ year long War on Drugs the US has been doing.

Is there a thread on this already? I fancy a deeper delve into this topic without ruining this thread.

I know it has been discussed many times, but I don't know whether it has its own thread.

 

[Danoff]

The thing that really rubs me the wrong way about this subject is that congress keeps sticking their nose in it. I mean, what the hell does congress care whether baseball players take steroids? That doesn't come anywhere near their charter. Yet time and again we hear about this and the politicians feel the need to get involved.

If major league baseball wants to ban it - fine. But that's an internal, organizational issue. It shouldn't come with any legal ramifications besides perhaps the occasional contract violation.

 

[FoolKiller]

The thing that really rubs me the wrong way about this subject is that congress keeps sticking their nose in it. I mean, what the hell does congress care whether baseball players take steroids? That doesn't come anywhere near their charter. Yet time and again we hear about this and the politicians feel the need to get involved.

If major league baseball wants to ban it - fine. But that's an internal, organizational issue. It shouldn't come with any legal ramifications besides perhaps the occasional contract violation.

Well, if it is an illegal substance and there is obviously an organizational issue at hand then some form of outside body needs to step in.

That is my biggst issue. If I were fired for using illegal drugs and my company publicly reported it there is a good chance men would be inside my house with a search warrant by the time I got home. These guys have their names plastered all over newspapers and the response is not to make them face the legal repercussions, but sit around talking about it. Oh, and they don't get fired either, even though they are doing these illegal things on company property.


I agree that Congress is a tad bit much, although we all know it is to create the appearance that they care. But I do think some form of law enforcment stepping in would be perfectly justified as long as this is an illegal activity.

 

[Danoff]

But I do think some form of law enforcment stepping in would be perfectly justified as long as this is an illegal activity.

Stupid question. Is this an illegal activity? I wasn't sure steroids were illegal.

 

[FoolKiller]

Stupid question. Is this an illegal activity? I wasn't sure steroids were illegal.

HGH, I think is okay as I have heard Paul Harvey advertise it.


But I was under the belief that anabolic steroids were illegal or was a prescription only drug, which would put it on the same level as say OxyContin. I know all other steroid forms are prescription, such as non-addictive nasal sprays.


This brings about another point. Rush Limbaugh's maid tells a tabloid he uses OxyContin and the Attorney General is knocking on his door. Baseball players are accused by other players, trainers, medical staff, and the league itself and there is no legal action created.


EDIT: From Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabolic_steroid

Anabolic steroids are controlled substances in many countries, including the United States (U.S.), Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Argentina and Brazil, while in other countries, such as Mexico and Thailand, they are freely available.

 

[Alfaholic]

I can't imagine the lifestyle required to think marijuana has a boosting effect.

If you smoke some marijuana you can imagine anything.


or so I hear


The problem with drugs in sport is that they are banned, so only some sportspeople use them and therefore a) have an unfair advantage and b) are breaking the rules of their sport and therefore cheating, which is unsporting. Unban them so everyone can use them and there's no problem in the sport. It's then no more cheating than controlling your diet. Unfortunately, I believe it's far less healthy, and if every sportsperson is using them then so are all the kids who want to be fitter / faster / stronger, and you have a country full of unhealthy people who can run fast but die young, making lifting the ban somewhat impractical. For the pro sportspeople, I've got no more problem with a person using a (legal) substance that improves their performance but can damage their health than I had with, say, Ayrton Senna speeding up to the point where he felt he was going to crash, in order to win the race.

I have a thing against using banned drugs in sport because it's against the rules and is cheating. I watch sport to see who can exhibit the most skill in the sport itself, not who can exhibit the most skill in pulling the wool over the officials' eyes. If I wanted to see that I'd watch F1.

 

[Year.Zero]

My grandma's on anabolic steroids. She's tanked.



(Actually it's for her skin or something.)