Drug consequence in sports, and its control in sport: An Ethical view.

Name

Affiliation

Introduction

Sports at the local, national and international level have adopted technological advancement as a means of enhancing performance. Participants from all spheres of sporting sector are taking advantage from the flourishing and performance enriching technologies. These may range from muscle fiber typing, biomechanical computer modeling, psychological tests, surgical, coaching, as well as equipments technologically advanced and training facilities. Today sports have shifted from a playful activity to a professional enterprise (Hemphill, 2009). Sporting champions nowadays is no longer wins as a matter of chance, personal determination, careful planning, and corporate planning, but surrounded by large economic and political interest, and, therefore, is becoming a competition between corporations (Hanstad et al, 2008). The use of drugs such as erythropoietin, human hormone, and anabolic steroids as a means of winning and becoming a champion has increased. These have posed a threat to sports which hold a significant place in the public imagination and as a result, reducing its integrity of sports. According to Miah’s discussion, Philosophers has a tremendous pedagogic role to play and enumerate range of moral concerns on a given issue. Credit must be given to WADA for the efforts they have put in since their inceptions till now (Park, 2005).

The decorum: Respect for the Individual, Health and Safety.

Drugs introduce foreign and artificial substances to further developing performance of enhancements not realizable under normal circumstances. These drugs temper with the body and interfere with nature and causes short or long term health hazards. Sports are a measure of natural abilities not aided by any substances. Sport is a game that requires fair practice. As a normal human being, one is to respect himself and others (Houlihan, 2004).

Equality: Fair dealing; fair contest.

Sport is a corporate social activity that promotes the pursuit and achievement of goods into the internal activity. These are the purpose of the activity and the shared standards of technical, ethical or aesthetic achievements that guide excellence. According to Stout, the internal goods specified by the activity itself and acknowledged by people experienced in the activity. Unlike external goods, fortune and fame benefits the entire practice community. Based on this, winning by any means including the use of drugs is not acceptable. Winning has value and not only from the external rewards. Hence, the participants must be fair to themselves and their competitors so that there is a level play field for all (Hanstad et al, 2008).

Responsiveness: Addressing concerns.

Doping is an extremely critical issue that warrants collective efforts. The only road that shed light to this menace is sport ethics. Furthermore, zero tolerance models apply to the campaign against drugs. These incorporate stringent penalties coupled with frequent testing and education awareness programs. Education programs assume that the athletes will take heed to health, fairness and safety in the use of these substances. WADA has pronounced war on those found cheating. This is to protect sport for athletes who are honest and clean. The fight against this menace in sports calls for collective responsibility since it touches all aspects of life (Hemphill, 2009).

Conclusion

In fighting against doping in sports, we should all pull together and join hands with WADA to stump this menace out of sporting activities. Athletes must recognize their health as a vital gift that cannot be bought. Creating fairness is paramount so that none disadvantaged. Government bodies also must join and at national level and stand against doping.