Performance
Enhancing drugs
The pros and Cons
Melissa Miller
Nathan Brennan
Lacey Anderson
Jordyn Adcock
Amy Hill
Marianne Judd
Performance enhancements
•http://youtu.be/qIFQdaIIl9Y
Should performance enhancing drugs
be banned?
•Regarding Sports, Doctors Opinions Vary
•“Performance enhancing Drugs affect the individual
athletes integrity because using banned substances is a
dishonest behavior and corrupts a victory.”-Thomas Murray
•“Legalizing drugs in sports may be fairer and safer than
banning them”
-Julian Savulescu
Can Drugs and Sport Coexist?
•Performance enhancing drugs are not a new
phenomenon; athletes in the original Greek
Olympics are believed to have used mushrooms
and herbs to make them stronger and faster.
However, today’s enhancement drugs are far more
potent than histories milder form of stimulants.
Types of enhancers
•Anabolic androgenic steroids- synthesized from the hormone
testosterone is often used to repair damaged tissue but because these steroids
build muscle mass athletes such as weight lifters tend to use them in high
doses.
•Amphetamines serve a different purpose; they give athletes,
particularly football players a high level of alertness, energy and
aggressiveness.
•Blood doping- the purpose is to give the athlete maximized use of
oxygen from injecting stored RBC, also called erythropoietin (EPO) also
prescribed to treat anemia in cancer patients. (endurance athletes).
Types of enhancers
•Anabolic agents
•hormones
•anti-estrogen
•diuretics
•blood doping
•chemical and physical manipulation
•gene doping.
Banning Drugs
ATHLETES VS.
PERFECTION
•“In America we believe in the principle of self
improvement, the more exaggerated, the better.”
•“The pursuit of personal betterment is an American
ideal.” -
The blind pursuit of perfection by Richard Hoffer (December 13, 2004; Sports illustrated pg. 52)
Mark McGwire
•
Broke-the record for the
most home runs in a season
(70) back in 1998 by
surpassing Roger Marris who
held that record in 1961 with
61.
•It’s been reported by former
teammate Jose Conseco that
“McGwire used steroids as
far back as 1988, when he
first discussed them with
McGwire…”
•
-Juice and Truth by Tom
Verducci (February 21, 2005;
Sports Illustrated; p. 41)
Health Effects
•“Many athletes-- young and healthy for the most
part--would do significant damage to their long-term
health.” Doping in Sport: Challenges for Medicine. Science and Ethics by Thomas H. Murray (From Journal of
international Medicine, Vol. 262, no. 2, August 2008, pp 95-97)
•Because our body is a temple of God, Is this
morally right to do to ourselves?
Anti-Doping
•Stopping Genetic Manipulation
•Gene therapy-- “treats patients by inserting
synthetic genes, called trans-genes, into their
bodies.” This works by handing “genes off a virus
that carries it into the cells.” -
Sports genes by David Epstein (May 17, 2010; sports
illustrated: p 57)
Consider This...
•
•How do we determine which substances should be
banned from athletics?
Legalizing Drugs
•The Goal of Cleaning Up Sports May be Unattainable!!
•1st ban was in 1928
•1976 East Germany and Athens
olympic games
•
•Penalty for cheating is small and the payoff for
winning is big
•Welfare of athlete
Free Agency
•If there is no excessive risk, allow drugs if it can
enhance performance
•Performance enhancement is the spirit of Sports
•Classical Musicians
•Anabolic Steroids:
Physical Risks
•Gynecomasta: an enlargement of the breasts in males
•Priapism: persistent and painful penile erections
•Enlargement of Prostate
•Severe Acne, particularly on shoulders and back
•Increased facial hair, reversed with severe balding
•Liver tumors
•Aggressive behaviors and mood swings
Steroid effects
•Reported side effects of anabolic steroids in 10 women:
Effect
Number Reporting The Effect
Reversible After End Of Use
Lower voice
10
No
Increased facial hair
9
No
Enlarged clitoris
8
No
Increased aggressiveness
8
Yes
Increased appetite
8
Unknown
Decreased body fat
8
Unknown
Diminished or stopped menstruation
7
Yes
Increased sexual drive
6
Yes
Increased acne
6
Yes
Decreased breast size
5
Unknown
Increased body hair
5
No
Increased loss of scalp hair
2
No
Athletes mindset
•Scenario 1: From a 1995 poll of 198 sprinters, swimmers, powerlifters
and other Olympians, this question was asked:
•You are offered a banned performance-
enhancing substance with two Guarantees: 1)
You will not be caught. 2) You will win. Would you
take the Substance?
•Response: 195 athletes said Yes; 3 said No
Athletes mindset
•Scenario 2: the athletes were then asked:
•You are offered a banned performance enhancing
substance that comes with two guarantees; 1) You
will not be caught, 2) You will win every competition
you enter for the next 5 years, and then you will die
from the side effects of the substance. Would you
take it?
•More than half of the athletes said Yes
What can be done?
•Stricter Testing - test year round, give no notice
•More Advanced Testing -takes time
•Keep Records / Retest - started doing this
•Stricter penalties - currently a 2 year suspension
•Legalize it
Questions
•
•
What are the “Ethical vs. Medical” solutions?
•What is the line between good nutrition and use of drugs for enhancement?
•What are the physical risks involved for athletes who take drugs?
•Because the goal of cleaning up sports is unattainable, should we allow
drugs?
Sources
• Levine. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on
Bioethical Issues
• Sports Illustrated
• Drug and Substance Abuse Book, Dr. Lindsey
• Myostatin exon skipping shows promise for a
wide range of muscle condition;
<http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/11/myostatin-exonskipping-shows-promise.html>; November 2, 2010)