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Reflective Essay
The purpose of this research essay is to help the reader understand the different
perspectives on the controversial issue. I tried to find credible sources that shared different
opinions on the subject. While I was writing this essay I tried to put in the most important
information so the reader would have a basic understanding about the subject.
Something that I felt that I did well in this essay is that I kept things simple. It’s a simple
essay to read and comprehend. The sources I used were also easy to understand, and I kept my
essay well organized. If I were given more time to revise my essay I would add more
information, I would also look for more sources with more information.
I learned while writing this essay that it is very important to plan out and organize an
essay. It became easier for me to write after I had planned what I wanted to write about. I
learned that it is important to have a good thesis statement and have a clear purpose. Lastly I
also learned that It is important to in mind the audience when writing an essay.
In conclusion this course helped me develop better writing skills. This has helped me in
the other courses where I have to write essays. It helped me organize my other essays and
write the most important information.
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Annotate Bibliography
Research Questions:
Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in professional sports? Is using performanceenhancing drugs in professional sports cheating? If professional sports, were to allow the use of
performance-enhancing drugs how would it affect professional sports?
Source 1:
Neuman, Jeff. "Rethinking Steroids." RealClearSports: Sports News, Opinions & Analysis. 17 Feb.
2009. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
Summary:
In the sports article “Rethinking Steroids” the author Jeff Neuman claims that we
already live in a society full of doping. Neuman states that people already use performanceenhancing drugs everyday whether it is using hair products, drugs for depression or anxiety,
products to look younger and even products to increase a person’s sexual endurance. Neuman
claims that using steroids does have some side effects but they are reversible by stopping from
taking steroids. The author is not necessarily supporting use of performance-enhancing drugs
but he thinks that people should be more informed on the subject.
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Assess:
The author Jeff Neuman is a sports writer and editor. He wrote this article in early 2009.
Neuman brings up some legitimate arguments regarding steroids for example when he states
that performance-enhancing drugs are not as bad as the media makes them seem. On flaw is
that his article is that it is short and he only uses few examples to support his claims.
Reflect:
The article will only help my research a little bit. It does not help answer all of my
research questions but it will help me bring up valid points on whether using steroids is
cheating or not. This source helped me consider that one of the reasons why steroids are not
accepted in sports might be because of all the negative things the media says about them.
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Research Questions:
Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in professional sports? Is using performanceenhancing drugs in professional sports cheating? If professional sports, were to allow the use of
performance-enhancing drugs how would it affect professional sports?
Source 2:
Roleff, Tamara L. Performance-enhancing Drugs. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven, 2010. Print.
Summary:
In the book Performance-Enhancing Drugs the book editor Tamara L. Roleff gathered
information regarding the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Each chapter in the book was
written by a different author. The book argues that using steroids can be dangerous for athletes
but can also be beneficial if used properly. One of the authors shares his opinion on why the
use of performance-enhancing drugs is considered cheating and they do not belong in
profession sports. While on the other hand another author argues that, allowing performanceenhancing drugs is not cheating because sports are about reaching a new human potential. The
book also argues that allowing drugs could make sports more entertaining.
Assess:
All of the authors in the book have either written books or published articles regarding
the performance-enhancing drugs. Because the book has several authors it is bias on certain
issues but it covers the pros and cons regarding each subject. The book was republished in 2010
so it is fairly recent with statistics and medical information.
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Reflect:
What is most helpful about using this book for my research is that is gives both the pros
and cons regarding my subject. For instance, Chapter 3 states that using performanceenhancing drugs is cheating while Chapter 4 argues that it is not cheating. Although the source
is bias it informs the reader about the pros and cons of the subject.
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Research Questions:
Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in professional sports? Is using performanceenhancing drugs in professional sports cheating? If professional sports, were to allow the use of
performance-enhancing drugs how would it affect professional sports?
Source 3:
Urban, Wiesing. “Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sport be Legalized under Medical
Supervision?” Sports Medicine. Vol.41 (2011): 167-176. Print.
Summary:
In the article “Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports be Legalized under
Medical Supervision?” the author Urban Wiesing argues that even though allowing
performance-enhancing drugs could have some benefits, it would ultimately be as difficult to
control and leave a negative influence on adolescents. Wiesing states that allowing drugs even
with doctors supervision could still lead to long term health risks.
Assess:
The authors objective was to inform that using performance-enhancing drugs in sports
even if it were supervised would be pointless. This source is different than the other sources
because it logically explains both sides of the issue but is bias towards not allowing doping. The
author Urban Wiesing is a good source because he is a Professor at the University of Tuebingen
in Germany.
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Reflect:
The source fits perfectly into my research because the author talks about points that go
directly with my research questions. The article will help me because it gives the authors
opinion on all of my topic questions. I will use this article to help my research paper have more
credibility.
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Source Analysis
In recent discussions regarding performance -enhancing drugs, a controversial issue has
been whether professional sports should allow athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs
under doctor’s supervision. One hand, some, such as Jesse Haggard argue that these kinds of
drugs should be allowed in sports. From this perspective the author claims that using
performance-enhancing drugs will not automatically make the athlete faster and strong
because they still need to work hard. He also goes on to argue that this issue is also being mixed
with health care and the two subjects should remain separated. On the other hand, however,
others, such as Sal Marinello, argue that performance-enhancing drugs do not belong in sports
because the majority of athletes do not want to use drugs, if doping were permitted many
athletes would be pressured into using drugs. He states, “Think about how you would feel if you
had to take a drug, or do something that you are opposed to doing, in order to compete for
your job.”(Marinello 65). According to this view, it would be unfair to those athletes who want
to remain drug free. Still others, such as Urban Wiesing, claims that performance-enhancing
drugs would not help professional sports to become more entertaining. From this point of view
is it would be too difficult to accurately monitor drugs. Wiesing also states that doping could
have long term health risks. These various perspectives show us that this issue is debatable.
In the book Performance-Enhancing Drugs one of the authors Jesse Haggard argues that
professional sports should consider allowing performance-enhancing drugs. He claims that
using steroids does give athletes an advantage over those who do not but the results are not
automatic, the athlete must still practice in order to see results. Haggard also states that often
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times the issue of steroids in sports gets tided up with healthcare rights. He claims that if
steroids are banned in professional sports it would impact those people who need to use
steroids for medication. It would also be unfair to those athletes who need these drugs for
medication and also want to pursue their careers in professional sports. Lastly, he goes on to
argue that many drug tests are not accurate and many athletes have found ways to use
performance-enhancing drugs undetected. He claims many athletes are already using
performance-enhancing drugs and allowing them would even out the playing field.
The author Jesse Haggard uses logos in his arguments to explain from a logical point of
view why the audience should consider allowing performance-enhancing drugs in sports. He
states, “If we choose as a country to let professional sports be a priority before healthcare, we
could give up steroid use in medicine altogether.” (Haggard 55). Haggard is saying that this
country could lose the rights to use medicated steroids if the country chooses to ban steroids in
sports. The author is effective using logos because he puts the audience in a situation where
they must pick what is more important, allowing steroids in sports or having these medications
become illegal that could cost people’s lives.
The author Jesse Haggard is a credible source because he is a former medical director of
a naturopathic medical clinic in Phoenix. He claims to have seen the positive effects that
steroids can have on thousands of his patients. He is also author of the book Demystifying
Steroids.
In the book Performance Enhancing Drugs one of the authors Sal Marinello argues that
professional sports should not allow athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs. Marinello
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claims that using drugs would be unfair to the majority of athletes. He says that most athletes
would like to be able to perform without having to use these drugs, and allowing doping would
pressure many athletes into using these drugs. The author considers using performanceenhancing drugs as cheating and they should have no place in sports.
The author Sal Marinello uses pathos in his argument to influence the reader that using
performance-enhancing drugs is unfair to most athletes. When the author states that most
athletes do not want to use drugs in order to perform better he claims, “Think about how you
would feel if you had to take a drug, or do something that you are opposed to doing, in order to
compete for your job.”(Marinello 65). The author is explaining that if you let some athletes use
performance-enhancers than you force everyone else to have to use them too in order to keep
their jobs. The author is effective using pathos because he helps the audience look at the
situation from the perspective of an athlete who does not want to use performance-enhancers.
The author Sal Marinello is a credible source because he is a personal trainer, an
assistant high school football coach, and weight-lifting coach. He has also written many articles
for websites regarding steroid use.
In the article written by Urban Wiesing titled “Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs in
Sport be Legalized under Medical Supervision?” the author argues that allowing performanceenhancers in sports would be too much trouble. He states that allowing professionals to use
these drugs would affect the adolescents in a negative way because athletes would role model
young people that it is alright to take dangerous drugs. Wiesing also argues that allowing
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athletes to use performance-enhancers would not make sports more entertaining. Lastly the
author claims that performance-enhancers would also bring long term health problems to the
users.
The author Urban Wiesing uses pathos in his article. When the author is talking about
how allowing performance-enhancers in professional sports would affect adolescents he states,
“Moreover, the consequences would be devastating for children and adolescents who are
directly affected, i.e. training for a career as an athlete.”(Wiesing 175). The author is saying that
if athletes use performance-enhancers than young people would also be affected. Wiesing is
effective because he uses the youth to draw the attention of parents who do not want young
people to use performance-enhancing drugs.
All the sources are different because they have different arguments to support each of
their claims. The authors also have different professions so they give their opinions regarding
the issue from their own points of view. For example the author Sal Marinello is a personal
trainer and assistant high school coach so he was an athlete and his opinion is that using
steroids is cheating. Jesse Haggard a former medical director, views this issue not like an athlete
but from the point of view of a physician. He claims that is debate is being mixed up with
healthcare.
In conclusion, the debate whether profession sports should allow athletes to use
performance-enhancers will always be a controversial issue. Some people will always be looking
for new reasons to allow performance-enhancing drugs. And as medical research might bring
newer and better drugs that may not have health risks this debate may never die off.
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Professional sports will probably never allow the use of steroids but some people will always be
debating that they should be allowed.
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Sources:
Roleff, Tamara L. Performance-enhancing Drugs. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven, 2010. Print.
Wiesing, Urban. “Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sport be Legalized under
Medical Supervision?” Sports Medicine (2011) 167-76. Adis Dota. Print.
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Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports
Performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids are used for medical purposes to help
treat muscle and tissue injuries. Many physicians often use these drugs to help their patients
recover faster from injuries. If not used under a physician’s supervision, these drugs are also
dangerous to use because of some of the health problems they can give the user, such as,
increased risk of prostate cancer for men. These drugs also have side effects like depression and
sudden mood swings. Performance-enhancers are also known to increase the user’s endurance
and strength.
Recently, Performance-Enhancing drugs have been a controversial topic. In professional
sports athletes are not allowed to use these drugs to improve their playing ability. While others
argue that sports should not allow these drugs. This argument has left many people wondering,
if sports should allow their athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs.
One opinion is that performance-enhancing drugs should be allowed into professional
sports because many athletes already use steroids. Jesse Haggard former medical director of a
naturopathic medical clinic in Phoenix claims, “Testing for steroids only reduces steroid use.
Athletes can usually continue to use steroids regardless of the steroid screening test used. The
athletes may need to reduce their dosage, change steroid products or add other medications to
pass a steroid test, but none of the antidoping tests employed today detect steroid use
100%.”(Haggard 51). To put it simply some athletes have found loop holes around the
antidoping tests. If athletes were allowed to use performance-enhancers it would actually even
out the playing field because some are already using steroids undetected. To those who claim
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that using steroids would be cheating Haggard compares steroids to another product Creatine.
“Creatine has been shown to increase all of the same physical performance parameters that
steroids enhance... All of these performance-enhancing effects from creatine seem to be
contradictory to creating “fairness and equality for athletes,” yet creatine use is allowed in all
sports.” (Haggard 53). Haggard is stating that if this argument is really about fairness then why
products like Creatine are allowed while steroids are not.
On the other hand there are those who claim that performance-enhancing drugs have
no place in professional sports. Sal Marinello a personal trainer, assistant high school football
coach, and weight-lifting coach, states that allowing performance-enhancing drugs would
actually uneven the playing field for athletes because many athletes do not want to use
performance-enhancers. He claims many athletes will be forced into using performanceenhancers just to be able to keep their jobs. Marinello also thinks that using performanceenhancing drugs is cheating. Marinello says that the only people that do not think using
performance-enhancing drugs is cheating are non-athletes. He states, “And if the players don’t
feel that they are cheating by using these drugs, why don’t they come out and tell us so? Why is
it always “the other guy” that supports the unfettered use of performance-enhancing drugs and
not the athletes themselves?”(Marinello 65). Marinello is saying that most athletes do not want
performance-enhancing drugs to be allowed in sports, this is their job let them make the
decision.
Though this argument has much to do with athletes, some look at this issue differently,
by looking at the health risks involved and the influence it would leave on adolescents. Dr.
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Urban Wiesing professor at Institute for Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Tuebingen
in Germany. Wrote an article about if sports should allow performance-enhancers. He claims
that people under the age of 18 should not be allowed to participate using performanceenhancers, “Moreover, the consequences would be devastating for children and adolescents
who are directly affected, i.e. training for a career as an athlete… the manner in which children
and adolescents under the age of 18 years (which is an advanced age in many sports) react to
performance enhancers is not known.”(Wiesing 175). Wiesing shows concern for the negative
effects that doping could cause to young people effect directly.
In professional sports everywhere performance-enhancers are banned. International
competition like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup also have bans restricting performanceenhancing drugs.
In conclusion, it does not seem performance-enhancing drugs will be allowed into sports
any time soon. What is certain is that as technology advances people will be looking for newer
and better ways to use steroids. What I learned about this issue is that it is no longer about if
using these drugs is really cheating. It has become more of an argument whether society will
accept athletes to use these drugs to improve their performance at the cost of possible health
risks.
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Sources:
Roleff, Tamara L. Performance-enhancing Drugs. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven, 2010. Print.
Wiesing, Urban. “Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sport be Legalized under
Medical Supervision?” Sports Medicine (2011) 167-76. Adis Dota. Print.