Drugs - Implications and Arguments Flashcards
What are the positive implications of drug taking?
Bring fame and fortune for those who manage to evade detection.
More chance of winning
Increased performance
More exciting to watch
What are the negative implications of drug taking?
Guilt It’s cheating Others forced to take drugs Scandal in the sport - may decrease interest in it False accusations Breaking code of ethics Threatens the spirit and integrity of sport Decrease in health Poor role models Banned - limit or life Stripped of medals May lose their good reputation Loss of income and sponsorship deals
What are the arguments for drugs?
Battle is expensive and time consuming.
Easy to access, difficult to eliminate.
Money could be spent on other things such as initiatives, campaigns, investment and education.
Detection isn’t always effective.
Difficult to define what a drug is.
Drugs can be taken accidentally (over the counter prescriptions).
A personal choice (take risks and don’t ask to be role models).
If everyone takes them, then the playing field is level.
Increase performance so more exciting.
If monitored, decreased risks.
What are the arguments against drugs?
Dangerous to health Negative role models Negative image for sport Unfair advantage It’s cheating It’s still illegal
No longer about hard work and skill
Immoral and unethical - goes against fair play ethic
Only rich countries can afford it
Negative consequences - loss of sponsorship, medals and funding
Pressure to take drugs increases from coaches and peers who take drugs
What are the way of eliminating performance enhancing drugs in sport?
UKAD
WADA
NGBs
What is UK Anti-Doping?
UKAD is the organisation responsible for protecting UK sport from the threat of drug taking and doping.
Funded by the government
What does UKAD do?
Administers the testing programmes for over 40 sports.
Has a number of anti-doping strategies designed to try to eliminate the use of illegal performance enhancers in sport.
Work with WADA and NGBs.
Finance and invest in drug detection technology, science and medicine
How does UKAD work with athletes and their support staff?
To increase knowledge
Increase understanding of the dangers
Increase understanding of the moral issues
How do UKAD promote drug free sport?
Clean sport week
100% me - drug free, talent and training, role models
What is WADA?
World anti-doping agency
A collective initiative led by the IOC to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against drugs in sport.
How do the organisations work together?
To develop and enforce stricter rules and testing programmes
- Random testing - inside/outside of competition
- biological passports
- whereabouts system
What are biological passports?
An electronic record of biological markers
- exogenous = outside of the body
- endogenous = inside of the body
What do biological passports use?
Uses data from your blood and urine samples.
Creates a baseline for certain hormones and naturally occurring aid (EPO, HGH).
Why are biological passports used?
Ensures consistency between drug tests and natural levels of certain substances.
What are whereabouts system?
Helps to support random out of competition testing.
Athletes must supply their location/whereabouts in advances so they can be located at any time for testing - without warning
What punishments should be used?
Should be harsh so they act as a deterrent to others
- long/lifetime bans
- return career earnings
- return money from sponsors - clauses in contracts state this.
Should be standardised and consistent - gives clear athletes confidence.
How are role models used?
Clean athletes should be promoted and given high status
- media focus
- interaction with young athletes
Drugs cheats should be ‘named and shamed’
- to dissuade young athletes
What does DOPING stand for?
Drug free culture Organisations working together Punishments need to be harsh Investment is required into new testing Name and shame negative role models Guilty lose winnings, funding and sponsorship
What are the difficulties with eradicating drug use?
Difficult to gain immediate access to athletes.
Drug users/providers are one step ahead.
Accidental drug taking
Lack of clear, unified and standardised approach globally
Difficulty in accurate testing
Illegal support from NGBs, teams, countries, coaches
Difficulty in issuing an appropriate ban
Legal challenges
What does UKAD promote?
Anti-doping strategy/structured programme that promotes ‘ethically fair and drug free’.
