Sport and DrugsSport and Drugs Lecture 8 Chp 6 Lecture 8 Chp 6 Coakley, 8th EdCoakley, 8th Ed

““Statements by Olympic insiders claim that it is rare for Statements by Olympic insiders claim that it is rare for anyone to win gold medals without taking performance anyone to win gold medals without taking performance enhancing substances” (Coakley, 2004, p. 160)enhancing substances” (Coakley, 2004, p. 160)

In a US survey, Olympic athletes were asked if they'd In a US survey, Olympic athletes were asked if they'd take illegal drugs - providing winning was guaranteed take illegal drugs - providing winning was guaranteed and that they'd get away with it - 99% said yes to and that they'd get away with it - 99% said yes to cheating.cheating.

And if the drug gave them five years at the top and then And if the drug gave them five years at the top and then killed them half said they'd still take it. killed them half said they'd still take it. (ABC-Lateline, 1998-(ABC-Lateline, 1998-Based on Goldman’s Poll of 198 athletes)Based on Goldman’s Poll of 198 athletes)

Drug and substance use in sports has had a Drug and substance use in sports has had a long historylong history

It has become commonplace to the point where It has become commonplace to the point where reports in the media of athletes being “caught” reports in the media of athletes being “caught” are no longer shockingare no longer shocking

The use of performance enhancing substances The use of performance enhancing substances is argued to occur is argued to occur regularlyregularly in high in high performance sportsperformance sports Use is arguably filtering down to junior sportUse is arguably filtering down to junior sport

Such substances will be used as long as Such substances will be used as long as athletes athletes believebelieve they will enhance performance they will enhance performance

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HistoricallyHistorically Athletes have taken a wide variety of everyday Athletes have taken a wide variety of everyday

and exotic substances over the years….and exotic substances over the years….and and substance use is not just limited to elite athletessubstance use is not just limited to elite athletes

While the lure of financial gain is perceived by While the lure of financial gain is perceived by many as a motivator for athletes to take drugs many as a motivator for athletes to take drugs it has been identified that athletes throughout it has been identified that athletes throughout history have taken drugs for no financial gainhistory have taken drugs for no financial gain

300 BC the Greeks ate “substances” to improve athletic 300 BC the Greeks ate “substances” to improve athletic performance including Hallucinogenic mushrooms, performance including Hallucinogenic mushrooms, sesame seeds and animal proteinsesame seeds and animal protein

1890 concoctions of strychnine and wine used in sports1890 concoctions of strychnine and wine used in sports 1935 Testosterone Synthesized1935 Testosterone Synthesized 1960s Amphetamines used in cycling-causing death of 1960s Amphetamines used in cycling-causing death of

several cyclistsseveral cyclists 1970s systematic drug program by German Democratic 1970s systematic drug program by German Democratic

Republic Republic (GDR- East Germany)(GDR- East Germany) - many athletes given drugs - many athletes given drugs without knowledge or consentwithout knowledge or consent

1980s Blood doping 1980s Blood doping (Reinfusion)(Reinfusion) heavily used heavily used Note: LA Olympics many athletes tested positive for Note: LA Olympics many athletes tested positive for

anabolic steroids, some (9) positives disappeared from anabolic steroids, some (9) positives disappeared from the laboratorythe laboratory

1990s and beyond EPO, HGH and Beta blockers 1990s and beyond EPO, HGH and Beta blockers (slow (slow down heart rate),down heart rate), although steroids remain prevalent although steroids remain prevalent

Drug use as a form of Drug use as a form of deviancedeviance

Using drugs in society as well as drugs in Using drugs in society as well as drugs in sports is a form of deviance sports is a form of deviance ie a shift from the ie a shift from the societal and sporting “norm”societal and sporting “norm”

As in society we have created ideals around As in society we have created ideals around which athletes must conform and those who do which athletes must conform and those who do not are regarded as displaying deviant not are regarded as displaying deviant behaviourbehaviour

The use of performance-enhancing substances The use of performance-enhancing substances is said to be a deviant overconformity in sportsis said to be a deviant overconformity in sports

However, we must However, we must considerconsider

Performance-enhancing Vs recreational drugs Performance-enhancing Vs recreational drugs Elite Vs recreational sportElite Vs recreational sport Adult Vs adolescent/minor useAdult Vs adolescent/minor use Sport by sportSport by sport (including subcultural contexts)(including subcultural contexts)

These different cases and populations may present the These different cases and populations may present the need for different sorts of arguments need for different sorts of arguments (do surfing contests (do surfing contests test for marijuana?)test for marijuana?)

No universals in ethicsNo universals in ethics

Why use drugs in sport?Why use drugs in sport?The argument is:The argument is: Have to use them to be competitiveHave to use them to be competitive Need the edgeNeed the edge Not genetically giftedNot genetically gifted Dissatisfaction with size/weightDissatisfaction with size/weight Peer/Team PressurePeer/Team Pressure

However, it is important to remember that the use of However, it is important to remember that the use of performance-enhancing substances is not a new thing performance-enhancing substances is not a new thing in sports despite continued antidoping regulations and in sports despite continued antidoping regulations and drug testing-policiesdrug testing-policies

Defining and Banning Defining and Banning Performance-Enhancing Performance-Enhancing

SubstancesSubstances

Defining performance-enhancing substances is difficultDefining performance-enhancing substances is difficult They can include aspirin to heroin, steroids to human They can include aspirin to heroin, steroids to human

growth hormonegrowth hormone They may be:They may be:

Legal or illegalLegal or illegal Harmless or dangerousHarmless or dangerous Natural or syntheticNatural or synthetic Socially acceptable or unacceptableSocially acceptable or unacceptable Commonly used or exoticCommonly used or exotic

…….and then what about blood doping, IV drips, .and then what about blood doping, IV drips, hyperbaric chambers, local anaesthetic?hyperbaric chambers, local anaesthetic?

International Olympic Committee International Olympic Committee Definition Definition (until 1999)(until 1999)

Doping is the administration of or use by a Doping is the administration of or use by a competing athlete of any substance competing athlete of any substance foreignforeign to the to the body or any body or any physiological substancephysiological substance taken in taken in abnormalabnormal quantityquantity or taken by an or taken by an abnormal routeabnormal route of entryof entry into the body with the into the body with the sole intentionsole intention of of increasing in an increasing in an artificialartificial and and unfairunfair manner manner his/her performance in competition. When his/her performance in competition. When necessity demands necessity demands medicalmedical treatmenttreatment with any with any substance that, because of its nature, or substance that, because of its nature, or application, is able to to boost the athlete’s application, is able to to boost the athlete’s performance in competition in an artificial and performance in competition in an artificial and unfair manner, this too is regarded by the IOC as unfair manner, this too is regarded by the IOC as doping.doping.

Some Problems with Some Problems with DefinitionsDefinitions

The IOC had difficulty in defining all terms in Italics such The IOC had difficulty in defining all terms in Italics such as the word “foreign”as the word “foreign”

What are foreign substances to the body?What are foreign substances to the body? Why are foreign substances such as aspirin and ibuprofen Why are foreign substances such as aspirin and ibuprofen

NOT banned?NOT banned? Why is the “natural” hormone testosterone banned?Why is the “natural” hormone testosterone banned? What is an abnormal quantity and abnormal route of entryWhat is an abnormal quantity and abnormal route of entry Why are megadoses of vitamins allowed?Why are megadoses of vitamins allowed?

Why can athletes be stripped of medals for taking Why can athletes be stripped of medals for taking medications without intending to improve performance and medications without intending to improve performance and yet other athletes can be legally rehydrated using IV drips?yet other athletes can be legally rehydrated using IV drips?

New IOC drug code New IOC drug code (from (from 1999)1999)

(1) The use of an expedient (substance or (1) The use of an expedient (substance or method) which is potentially harmful to method) which is potentially harmful to athletes’ health and/or capable of enhancing athletes’ health and/or capable of enhancing their performance or (2) the presence in the their performance or (2) the presence in the athlete’s body Prohibited Substance or athlete’s body Prohibited Substance or evidence of the use thereof or evidence of the evidence of the use thereof or evidence of the use of a Prohibited Methoduse of a Prohibited Method

Note: However, this definition is also open to Note: However, this definition is also open to debatedebate

Some philosophical Some philosophical questionsquestions

Why do many athletes see the use of drugs as a noble act Why do many athletes see the use of drugs as a noble act of commitment and dedication, whereas many spectators of commitment and dedication, whereas many spectators see it as a reprehensible act of deviance yet pay big see it as a reprehensible act of deviance yet pay big money to watch athletes do superhuman things requiring money to watch athletes do superhuman things requiring extreme training regimes and strategies made possible extreme training regimes and strategies made possible by drugs? (Coakley, 2004)by drugs? (Coakley, 2004)

What is artificial, foreign, fair, normal, abnormal, right, What is artificial, foreign, fair, normal, abnormal, right, wrong, moral, ethical regarding drugs and sports?wrong, moral, ethical regarding drugs and sports?

These are questions that lead to endless debateThese are questions that lead to endless debate Do we make all drugs legal?….Is that fair?Do we make all drugs legal?….Is that fair? If a fifty year old man takes HGH to remain on the job on If a fifty year old man takes HGH to remain on the job on

a construction site why can’t his 25 year old professional a construction site why can’t his 25 year old professional football son do the same if he is injured?football son do the same if he is injured?

Every six months the list of banned substances Every six months the list of banned substances is updated and grows longeris updated and grows longer

However, it should be noted that physicians, However, it should be noted that physicians, pharmacists, chemists, scientists and athlete’s pharmacists, chemists, scientists and athlete’s are one step ahead of the drug testing are one step ahead of the drug testing proceduresprocedures

Then, what about genetic engineering to Then, what about genetic engineering to improve athletic performance?improve athletic performance?

Drugs only become part of the issue as athletes’ Drugs only become part of the issue as athletes’ bodies are manipulated and structurally and bodies are manipulated and structurally and functionally modifiedfunctionally modified

Drug TestingDrug Testing Powerful arguments for and againstPowerful arguments for and against

AGAINST:AGAINST:

Drug testing as Drug testing as hopelesshopeless, , unjustunjust,, or a or a failurefailure Cat-and-mouse game is ridiculousCat-and-mouse game is ridiculous

Genetic engineering may not be really testableGenetic engineering may not be really testable

Invasion of privacy, especially in case of recreational drugsInvasion of privacy, especially in case of recreational drugs

People in power have right to police our private lives! (paternalism)People in power have right to police our private lives! (paternalism)

Different policies between sportsDifferent policies between sports

Drug TestingDrug TestingFOR:FOR:

Performance enhancing substances allow athletes to go Performance enhancing substances allow athletes to go beyond their “natural” abilitiesbeyond their “natural” abilities

Gives people who use them Gives people who use them unfair advantageunfair advantage

Drug use threatens the health and well-being Drug use threatens the health and well-being of athletesof athletes

Undermines the purity of athletics/sportsUndermines the purity of athletics/sports

SolutionsSolutions Critically examine the hypocrisy in elite sportsCritically examine the hypocrisy in elite sports Establish rules indicating that risks to health are Establish rules indicating that risks to health are

undesirable and unnecessary in sportsundesirable and unnecessary in sports Establish rules stating that injured athletes must be Establish rules stating that injured athletes must be

independently certified as “well” before they playindependently certified as “well” before they play Educate definitions of courage and discipline that Educate definitions of courage and discipline that

promote healthpromote health Make drug education part of health educationMake drug education part of health education

Create norms regulating use of technologyCreate norms regulating use of technologyCritically examine values and norms in sportsCritically examine values and norms in sportsTeach athletes to think criticallyTeach athletes to think criticallyProvide accurate and current informationProvide accurate and current information