6.3 Ethical issues Flashcards
Etiquette
Etiquette is the unwritten rules, or customs, of a sport; it is expected that performers and participants follow these rules.
Sportsmanship
This means that participants play by the rules and within the spirit of the game.
It involves respecting others in the sport, including the opposition, and acting graciously upon losing.
Gamesmanship
This involves ‘bending’ the rules in such a way as to not be punished or disciplined for rule-breaking; this is often to gain an advantage over other competitors.
Contract to compete
The contract to compete is related to good conduct in sport.
It is an agreement whereby a player will aim to win and play within the rules whilst allowing other competitors a fair chance to play and win.
This is an unwritten agreement that the player mentally signs up for when competing in a sport.
Acting or playing out of this contract is seen as breaking the values of a sport and is not considered good sportsmanship.
Prohibited substances in sport
A prohibited substance in sport is a product that is banned by the national governing body of a sport and/or the International Olympic Committee
These may be known as performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs)
Stimulants
These are substances that increase activity in parts of the brain; effects include: Increased alertness, Decreased reaction times, Reduced tiredness and Increased aggression.
Some stimulants are legal substances such as caffeine, or chemicals produced in the body, such as adrenaline.
Illegal stimulants, such as amphetamines, are prohibited in sports
They can have negative side effects: Highly addictive, Raised blood pressure, Reduced sleep quality, Increased risk of heart attacks and strokes and Increased risk of injury due to being more tolerant to pain.
Narcotic analgesics
Very strong painkillers are known as narcotic analgesics.
They can be used to numb the pain that might result from overtraining and injury.
These are highly addictive and have strong withdrawal symptoms.
Anabolic agents
Anabolic agents are used to increase muscle mass and growth
This can help improve: Strength, Stamina, Speed, Competitiveness (through increased aggression) and Recovery from injury.
Side effects include: Addiction to the substance, High blood pressure,
Liver, kidney and heart damage, Shrinking of testicles and Biologically female athletes may develop a deeper voice, body hair and smaller breasts.
Peptide hormones (EPO)
Peptide hormones are naturally occurring hormones within the body.
They can help improve muscle growth, thereby improving: Strength, Stamina,
Recovery from injury, Energy levels.
EPO is a peptide hormone secreted by the kidneys which regulates red blood cell production.
Synthetic EPO can be taken by athletes to increase red blood cell count
More red blood cells mean more efficient transport of oxygen and glucose to muscles for respiration.
Historically EPO has been difficult to test for, but new drug testing technology means that this drug is now detectable.
Side effects include: Headaches, Nausea, Increased viscosity (thickness) of the blood, Increased blood pressure.
Diuretics
These drugs remove excess water from the body by causing more frequent urination.
They can cause rapid weight loss so may be used where weight categories are in place, such as in boxing.
Diuretics can mask the presence of other performance-enhancing drugs within the body and help with their removal from the body through urination.
Side effects include severe dehydration, lower blood pressure and can cause muscle cramps.
Blood doping
Blood doping is used to increase the number of red blood cells in the body
This is also known as an individual’s red blood cell count.
This increases cardiovascular fitness because an increase in red blood cells will result in more oxygen being delivered to cells for respiration.
Blood doping involves: Removing blood from the participant a few weeks before an event and freezing it for storage.
The participant’s body then produces more red blood cells to replace the removed blood.
Just before the event (1 -2 days) the removed blood is thawed and injected back into the participant to boost red blood cell count.
There are many side effects of blood doping, including:
Blood viscosity (thickness) increases; this can lead to blocked blood vessels, known as an embolism.
If this happens in the coronary arteries of the heart, a heart attack may occur.
Risk of infection from contaminated equipment.
Beta blockers
Beta blockers are a medication that must be prescribed by medical professionals.
Beta blockers function to reduce the effects of adrenaline on the body; this can improve fine motor control and therefore the precision of movements.
Beta blockers can be useful for performers struggling with anxiety in sports that require fine control.
Their effects on the body include: Reduced heart rate, Reduced muscle tension and Reduced blood pressure.
Several side effects can occur from the use of beta blockers: Nausea, Weakness and Heart issues.
Advantages and disadvantages for the performer of taking PEDs
Advantages - Increased chances of success in a chosen sport, allowing a performer to maintain an income and keep sponsorship deals.
Elite and professional athletes may have increased chances of fame and wealth.
Performers may feel that many opponents are also using PEDs, so see it as a way to level the playing field.
Disadvantages - There are many associated health risks and side effects.
Taking prohibited substances is cheating and is seen as immoral.
There are negative consequences to reputation, resulting in performers being dropped by sponsors.
Performers can be fined or even banned from their sport.
Disadvantages to the sport of performers taking PEDs
A sport as a whole can be affected when performers frequently test positive for PEDs.
A loss of reputation and credibility can occur as spectators and fans doubt that achievements are due to skill and ability alone.
Loss of spectators can result in sports losing income from sponsorship and the media.
There may be long-term effects with fewer participants entering the sport due to the loss of reputation.
Positive effects of spectator behaviour
Spectators help create an atmosphere at sporting events; cheering, chanting and applauding can all encourage a team and performers may respond by raising their performance level.
When playing home events, the home team or player receives much more support than the opposition; this is called a home-field advantage.
Negative effects of spectator behaviour
There is increased pressure on players to perform; this can negatively affect the performance of players even when crowd noise is positive.
Negative chants, booing and sneering can be distracting to players.
Younger performers may not enjoy, or be used to, crowd behaviour and this can affect participation numbers.
Large crowds can create a negative atmosphere through crowd trouble, or hooliganism; this has been a problem at some football matches.
When crowds become too large or volatile for the sporting arena it can become unsafe.
Ensuring the safety of spectators can have large costs, e.g. employing security and building secure infrastructure.
Hooliganism
Hooliganism is Violent or damaging behaviour by individuals or groups of people.
Hooliganism can be a problem inside sports grounds and also on nearby roads, inside pubs and on public transport to and from events.
Reasons for hooliganism include:
Rivalry between spectators of opposing teams.
A sense of hype and excitement around a sport and match outcomes.
Spectators being fuelled by alcohol or drugs which can affect behaviour.
Gang culture can arise when spectators want to protect and defend their team or local area from opposition spectators.
Frustration about decisions made by match officials.
Most hooliganism occurs among male spectators and it is thought that this could be a display of masculinity from these spectators.
Combating hooliganism
Starting events and matches with an early kick-off.
Alcohol restrictions are put in place within sports grounds.
Stadia are designed to be all-seater venues.
Stadia are designed to segregate fans around and within the grounds.
Spectators can be given banning orders.
There may also be travel restrictions for known hooligans.
Many sports utilise education programmes and campaigns to encourage positive spectator behaviour.
