PED’s- Who’s to say what is and what isn’t?
I understand the argument. But, who started the argument and where does it end? As long as there have been sports, there has been something that helps the athlete to get better, faster, stronger. Athletes are always looking to enhance their performance. Longer and harder workouts, more coaching with better expert advice, better equipment, and yes medicine.
When did we decide that we needed to regulate who as an athlete could take what? Which vitamins, supplements, and other drugs enhance an athlete’s performance? Who gets the privilege of deciding this in the name of all performing athletes? Dare I even say, “What is wrong with trying to enhance one’s performance?” Isn’t that what we want from all athletes? Don’t we want them all to run faster, jump farther, hit homeruns, throw touchdowns, be the best of the best, and be a physical specimen? Of course that is what we expect out of them!
How many people that simply watch the news for the latest name of who has been banned from sport or forced into early retirement actually even know which substances are banned by which sport? Do people even realize that different sports have different lists as to which substances they consider to be performance enhancing? Are you, the average fan, taking performance-enhancing drugs?
Did you realize that if you drink a lot of coffee every day that you would be considered to be abusing performance-enhancing drugs in some sports? Did you realize that if you took Nyquil last night that you could be banned in some sports for performance-enhancing drugs? Did you realize that if you used an inhaler for asthma today that you could be abusing performance-enhancing drugs? Did you know that a number of items that you could have purchased at your local vitamin store today could get you banned for life if you are an athlete?
I realize that all of the above is the lighter side of the items that are on the banned lists, but one still has to wonder why they are on the list to begin with! The more serious side is of course steroid usage and many other drugs. I am one of those that feel as though there is too much regulation. It seems the problem just grows, as the restrictions do. There will always be a new substance! Where does it end? Will athletes soon be banned from taking vitamin C because it gives them an unfair advantage? Try doing without some of the above-mentioned items on or before a day that you have to do a big presentation and you are not feeling too well. Sorry, do with out them and perform as well as you can anyway, best of luck!
Shawna,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your position that there is too much regulation. I mean seriously, it is just too difficult to monitor everything. I don't think there is anything wrong with perfomance enhancing substances as long as they are not illegal and do not cause severe harm. But even that has me think to myself....what about regular sugar in our childrens diet...or too much caffeine...or foods high in cholesterol.....or escessive drinking. I know one issue deals with sports competition and one is dealing with personal lifestyle. But really, where does the line begin? Perhaps the issue could be rectified by having two series of competition...one for people free to use PED's and then an ORGANIC and natural league? Just a thought....
I must say it's refreshing to read perspective from the ladies on this issue. And, as always, the response is unique and different than what guys would say. Organic and natural?! Bwah ha ha...what a concept!
ReplyDeleteMs. Shawna is right...don't we spend our days trying to enhance our performance? As a military man, I have physical fitness demands that I must meet. At some point my knees started complaining about all the running I was doing. The doctor recommended Glucosamine, which helped...but again, a performance enhancer. Isn't increasing ones fiber intake enhancing performance? If what we're talking about is integrity, shouldn't the sports judges, referees, umpires and boards of directors be subject to background checks and testing of some kind also? How about the owners of the teams? Should they also be held to some higher standard of integrity than the employees they lord over? I say if we stop keeping irrelevant statistics in sports, athletes might stop trying to gain an edge and play the game simply to compete.