What’s the issue?
In the 1972 Olympics, the East German women’s swim team did not win any gold medals. In 1976, they improved their tally by 11 gold medals (out of a possible 13). These days, a story like that would make anyone suspicious – even if you were a devoted fan of East German swimmers. The swimmers were later found guilty of taking anabolic steroids (surprise!). In most of the cases, the athletes were unaware that their own government was systematically doping them.
The difference between 1976 and 2008 is that radical improvements in skill and speed do
not go unnoticed. Performance enhancing drugs are a problem in all professional sports, and the athletes are making the decision to take drugs for themselves. New technology means that testing is becoming more accurate and effective, but it also means that new drugs are being developed to allow athletes to slip under the radar.
How do drugs damage sport?
All around the world, and especially in Australia, sport is an integral part of daily life. On a sports field, everyone is equal. The aim is to have a good time and play a fair game. Drug use in sport is one thing that can ruin this ideal. When drugs enter the equation, sport becomes more about winning at any cost than about rewarding natural ability and hard work. And where is the fun in that?
What is an unfair advantage?
As rewards for sporting achievements increase and drugs become more accessible, competitors are finding that the temptation to cheat the system is always present. When you know your competitors are getting an extra edge by taking drugs – how can it be unfair for you to take them too? When there’s high stakes and high stress, athletes sometimes feel there is no choice.
On top of the moral dilemma, sports agencies are also finding it difficult to decide what is and isn’t an unfair chemical advantage. Caffeine and alcohol have been listed as illegal substances and yet energy drinks have not. With so many substances on the banned list, there is little room for mistakes, even if it’s taking a panadol for a head ache. Now the
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) even has an ‘anti-doping’ hotline so athletes can double check the rules if they are unsure.
Who does it affect?
Spectators and competitors
Doping in sport affects not only the competitors but also the amount of respect spectators hold for sport and their sporting heroes. The appreciation of a sport can easily be tainted if even a single athlete is found guilty of doping. It is also unfair on honest participants; when drugs are used, sport is no longer a measure of pure skill. The stakes are dangerously high in Australia when you consider that our greatest athletes are often considered role models and national heroes.
Sponsorship
Sponsors will not invest in sporting events or athletes if there is doping involved (even if it’s just suspected). Once a sport is known for doping, gaining a clean reputation and attracting sponsors and honest athletes is difficult; not to mention gaining public favour and fans.
Where is it happening?
Sports such as weightlifting, cycling and track and field sports are well known for their history of drug use. Doping is usually present in sports that require strong physical strength, extended periods of endurance, or intense bursts of energy such as weightlifting or sprinting. That being said, drugs can be advantageous in any sport.
This issue is relevant around the world as sporting events take part on both national and international levels. Reputations of whole countries can be tarnished by a few individuals. In any sporting community there will always be someone who knows how to ‘hook you up’.
How are we dealing with the problem?
Drug testing is becoming more frequent and rigorous amongst professional athletes in every sport. In Australia, when athletes begin to compete in sport at a high level of competition, they go into the ASADA ‘testing pool’. This means they are placed on a list and can be approached for a urine sample at any time – how’s that for spontaneity? ASADA’s method is effective because the athletes do not know when they will be tested and therefore have incentive to stay clean all the time.
Many countries are not as scrupulous with their national drug testing policies, so there can never be complete certainty as to the fairness of international competitions.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, 4500 blood and urine samples were collected for testing – up 25 per cent from the 2004 Games. With the threat of having medals revoked, even if years have passed, the industry is crossing their fingers that athletes feel more compelled to stay clean and play fair.
This page was updated by kate elise
How do I know this?
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority,
http://www.asada.gov.au/
‘Beijing faces big challenge in keeping Olympics drug free’, 3 August 2008
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3530852,00.html
Drugs in Sport,
http://drugsinsport.net
Longman J 2004, ‘Drug testing; East German steroids' toll: 'They Killed Heidi'’ New York Times, January 26
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=hea...
Parry G, Ethics in Doping,
http://www.blues.uab.es/olympic.studies/doping/par...
Peak Performance Online, Drugs in sport: Far from being unfair, drugs that enhance performance actually promote equality,
http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/drugsinsport.html
‘Women and Steroids – The Wonder Girls’,
www.steroid-abuse.org
