Drugs and doping in sport

Question 1

Ethics (definition)

Deviance (definition)

Answer 1

Ethics:

Rules that dictate an individuals conduct.

Deviance:

A word that describes unacceptable behaviour within a culture. Any behaviour that differs from perceived social or legal norm is seen as deviant.

Question 2

Blood Doping

Definition
How it’s done (2)
Effect

Answer 2

The misuse of techniques and/or substances to increase one’s red blood cell count (WADA)

• Commonly involves the removal of approximately two pints of blood several weeks before competition.
• It’s then frozen until 1-2 prior to competition when it is injected back into the performer.

It allows extra oxygen to be transported to the working muscles, resulting in higher level of performance.

Question 3

Legal supplements - advantages (3) vs disadvantages (4)

Answer 3

Advantages:

• They are accepted by sports administrators.
• Slightly enhance performance.
• Can build muscle, increase stamina, control weight, improve flexibility or aid recovery.

Disadvantages:

• Some argue it is unfair as not everyone has equal access to supplements.
• They could present health risks to performers.
• They can contain banned substances or be contaminated in manufacturing process.
• May cause long term health problems.

Question 4

What are some examples of legal supplements? (7)

Answer 4

• Vitamins and minerals
• Bicarbonate
• Creatine
• Carbohydrate powders and gels
• Energy bars
• Recovery formulas
• Sports drinks

Question 5

What are the 4 reasons athletes take illegal drugs? (4,3,3,1)

Answer 5

Pressure to succeed:

• Pressure from coaches, friends, family, other performers, the athlete themselves.
• Lack of understanding.
• Physiological pressure - weight/injury
• Psychological pressure - anxiety

Political pressure:

• To gain status for their nation
• State sponsored doping
• eg Russia athletics scandal in 2015

Monetary pressure:

• Potential earning capacity from successful performance.
• Lucrative sponsorship deals.
• Financial stability for life.

Everyone else is taking them:

• Some believe drug taking is so prevalent in some sports such as cycling that it should be accepted as part of the sport.

Question 6

What 3 things can the consequences of drugs and doping be related to? (6,2/ 6,2/ 5,1)

Answer 6

Performers:

Negatives:

• Severe dangers to health and well being.
• Suspicion of other athletes
• Questioning of own clean performance
• Legal implication (custodial sentences, fines)
• Lifetime bans from competitions
• Bringing a sport into disrepute

Positives:

• Fame/fortune
• Improved performance

Sport:

Negatives:

• Sports associated with drug taking are tainted.
• Struggle for sponsorship.
• Loss of public support.
• Results that can’t be trusted.
• Disaffected population.
• Negative role models.

Positives:

• More thorough education programmes in place.
• New scientific methods needed to detect illegal substances, so better technology.

Society:

Negatives:

• Corrupt society.
• Unethical citizens.
• Win-at-all costs mentality.
• Political leaders and role models reinforcing this mentality.
• Cynical society.

Positives:

• Wake-up call to society to clean up sport and make it more ethical

Question 7

What are the strategies to stop use of illegal drugs? (6)

Answer 7

• Unified/standardised world wide doping policy from WADA.
• Reinforce a culture of clean sport through role models.
• More money available for efficient/effective testing.
• Education programmes for athletes/coaches.
• Stricter, more rigorous/random testing.
• Stricter, more rigorous punishments.

Question 8

What are the barriers to eliminating illegal drugs? (8)

Answer 8

• Win-at-all costs mentality.

The win-at-all costs mentality still exists in sport today so athletes will take illegal drugs in order to win eg Lance Armstrong.

• Commercial incentives.

The commercialism / sponsorship in sport increases the incentives to cheat

• Level playing field.

Athletes may believe that others are taking performance enhancing drugs so they do it to level the playing field.

• Technology.

Doping technology is always ahead of prevention efforts

• Missing tests.

Athletes can miss 2 tests without any punishment

• Country differences.

Some countries anti-doping programmes are limited

• State-sponsored doping.

State-sponsored doping programmes add pressure on athletes to dope and help avoid detection

• Punishment.

Some may see sanction as too lenient