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Enhancement v. Necessity:
Steroid Use in Professional Sports
By: Lorenzo Sanchez
Abstract:
This academic essay by UC Berkeley senior student Lorenzo Sanchez examines the controversial topic of the use of performance enhancing drugs within professional sports from the perspective of both the fan/spectator and the athlete themselves, delving into the pressure and reasoning behind an athlete’s choice and asking the question: “Who’s to blame for their use?”.
This academic essay by UC Berkeley senior student Lorenzo Sanchez examines the controversial topic of the use of performance enhancing drugs within professional sports from the perspective of both the fan/spectator and the athlete themselves, delving into the pressure and reasoning behind an athlete’s choice and asking the question: “Who’s to blame for their use?”.
Excerpt:
The use of PEDs is an issue of much debate throughout the world of sports, mainly concerning their place within it. The general consensus from the fans and audience suggests that there is no place for them in this space as they lend themselves to a sense of being wronged and cheated. Yet, who is it that we consider as being “wronged” or “cheated” when the issue of PEDs is brought up in professional sports? The apparent answer from the fans and wider public often points to one’s fellow athletes who do not rely on these drugs and/or the integrity of the game for pulling it through the mud. In this sense, then, those who use steroids for performance enhancement should be chastised for making this decision and tarnishing the honor of their sport, portraying them in a demonizing light. While this criticism may be fair, the reality of the situation is that in many cases, these athletes use PEDs out of necessity rather than enhancement. Thus, the issue then becomes whether or not an athlete should be held accountable for using steroids in light of their reasoning for doing so.
By nature, the world of sports is competitive both on and off the field as athletes constantly push themselves to perform as best they can. Yet, these standards expected of them are not set in stone and are constantly changing, pushing many to their limits and often beyond in an attempt to not get left behind and potentially lose their jobs. Often times, this pressure is what causes an athlete to turn to PEDs yet, as these shifting standards come not from the sport but from what the spectators expect of the sport, a potential justification for this damning act arises. As Joan Ryan discusses in her column “Is it time to legalize steroids” for SFGate, these “near-mythic characters” live in a world where there is a constant pressure placed on performing well. Ryan continues and notes that “Athletes have increasingly turned to pharmaceuticals to push their performances to the highest and most rewarded levels. Athletes who abstain from the performance-enhancers risk falling below the ever-higher playing standards and thus risk losing their jobs”, offering a glimpse into this pressure that most may not be informed about. This world of sports that has come to be held in such high regard by the fans and audience then paints the use of PEDs as a doubled edged sword, one that may be necessary in achieving what they’ve come to desire from sports yet despised for desecrating this grand ideal they have become devoted to. In this sense, their use becomes a no-win situation where an athlete must be careful in either risking the possibility of falling behind and losing their job or risking a situation where they are caught and chastised for taking this “easy way”. While there is a sense that something greater is being wronged and cheated by the use of these drugs, it ultimately converges back to the fans and audience who come to cast this feeling on the athletes for what they have come to expect regarding this view.
The full piece can be read here.
The use of PEDs is an issue of much debate throughout the world of sports, mainly concerning their place within it. The general consensus from the fans and audience suggests that there is no place for them in this space as they lend themselves to a sense of being wronged and cheated. Yet, who is it that we consider as being “wronged” or “cheated” when the issue of PEDs is brought up in professional sports? The apparent answer from the fans and wider public often points to one’s fellow athletes who do not rely on these drugs and/or the integrity of the game for pulling it through the mud. In this sense, then, those who use steroids for performance enhancement should be chastised for making this decision and tarnishing the honor of their sport, portraying them in a demonizing light. While this criticism may be fair, the reality of the situation is that in many cases, these athletes use PEDs out of necessity rather than enhancement. Thus, the issue then becomes whether or not an athlete should be held accountable for using steroids in light of their reasoning for doing so.
By nature, the world of sports is competitive both on and off the field as athletes constantly push themselves to perform as best they can. Yet, these standards expected of them are not set in stone and are constantly changing, pushing many to their limits and often beyond in an attempt to not get left behind and potentially lose their jobs. Often times, this pressure is what causes an athlete to turn to PEDs yet, as these shifting standards come not from the sport but from what the spectators expect of the sport, a potential justification for this damning act arises. As Joan Ryan discusses in her column “Is it time to legalize steroids” for SFGate, these “near-mythic characters” live in a world where there is a constant pressure placed on performing well. Ryan continues and notes that “Athletes have increasingly turned to pharmaceuticals to push their performances to the highest and most rewarded levels. Athletes who abstain from the performance-enhancers risk falling below the ever-higher playing standards and thus risk losing their jobs”, offering a glimpse into this pressure that most may not be informed about. This world of sports that has come to be held in such high regard by the fans and audience then paints the use of PEDs as a doubled edged sword, one that may be necessary in achieving what they’ve come to desire from sports yet despised for desecrating this grand ideal they have become devoted to. In this sense, their use becomes a no-win situation where an athlete must be careful in either risking the possibility of falling behind and losing their job or risking a situation where they are caught and chastised for taking this “easy way”. While there is a sense that something greater is being wronged and cheated by the use of these drugs, it ultimately converges back to the fans and audience who come to cast this feeling on the athletes for what they have come to expect regarding this view.
The full piece can be read here.