Ethics and deviance in sport

Question 1

Blood doping

Answer 1

• a process that increases a persons red blood cell count
• more RBC’s = higher volume of haemoglobin
• extra O2 can be transported to the working muscles
• allows higher levels of performance
• involves the removal of approx 2 pints of blood
• blood is then frozen and re-injected prior to the comp
• endurance athletes

Question 2

Performance enhancing drugs

Answer 2

1. Anabolic steroids

• allows athletes to train harder for longer and often increases strength + aggression

2. Beta blockers

• controls HR
• keeps athlete calm

3. Stimulants

• increases alertness
• eg caffeine

Question 3

Advantages of legal supplements

Answer 3

• dietary supplements claim to help build muscle, increase stamina + control weight
• ergogenic aids claim to increase strength, performance and recovery
• staying hydrated through the drinking of water or energy drinks can improve + aid performance

Question 4

Disadvantages of legal supplements

Answer 4

• some supplements may not be what they seem and could contain banned substances or be contaminated
• health implications over the long term use of creatine supplements have been suggested
• energy drinks contain high levels of sugar contributing to obesity and tooth decay
• it is not in the spirit of fair play

Question 5

Reasons why elite performers use doping and illegal drugs

Answer 5

• pressure to succeed can affect a performers judgement and decision making
• pressure from coaches
• political pressures
• high monetary rewards
• some performers think ‘everyone else is doing it’

Question 6

Consequences of drug taking in sport

Answer 6

1. Societal consequences

• society seen as corrupt and full of unethical citizens who will do anything to ‘win at all costs’

2. Sporting consequences

• concept of fair play is severely challenged
• cheating
• sports become tainted

3. Performers consequences

• severe dangers to health and well being
• possible death

Question 7

Strategies to stop the use of doping + illegal drugs

Answer 7

• WADA draws up a list of banned substances, provides assistance to countries own anti doping programmes + funds research
• drug testing carried out in and out of comp
• drug education provides to athletes and coaches
• a culture of keeping sport free from drugs should be created + reinforced
• punishments for drug use are to be harsher + longer eg WADA doubled ban in 2015

Question 8

Causes of violence in sport

Answer 8

• desire to win is so overwhelming it leads to violence
• nature of activity eg physical sports like ice hockey
• frustration of events
• alcohol and social drugs/performance enhancing drugs
• rivalries
• media increasing tensions
• perception of unfairness or poor officiating
• deindividuation

Question 9

Deindividuation

Answer 9

When you lose your sense of being as an individual, this can cause violent behaviour

Question 10

Implications of violence in sport

Answer 10

1. Social implications

• if violence is to be tackled in sport, then violent behaviour should be tackled in society
• should a sporting action on the field of play be treated the same as a violent act on our street

2. Sporting implications

• governing bodies have their own disciplinary process to ensure standards and maintain non-violent behaviour
• playing strategies that promote violence should be punished
• rule changes should be adopted to make violence less likely

3. Performers implications

• education of performers is important
• performers need to be aware that they are role models and their behaviour is likely to be copied

Question 11

Strategies to prevent violence in relation to players and spectators

Answer 11

• education of performers, encouraging awareness of their emotions and stress levels
• punishment at the time: fines, bans, docking points
• encouraging coaches to promote assertion rather than aggression in players
• law enforcement (in spectators violence) - banning orders have been served in football
• sophisticated policing methods CCTV

Question 12

Gambling in sport

Answer 12

• legal
• sport lends itself to gambling because the outcome of events are supposed to be unpredictable
• elements of chance in most competitions

Question 13

Match fixing

Answer 13

• when a sports comp is played to a completely or partly pre-determined result
• against the law
• requires contacts to be made between corrupt players, coaches and team officials