PerformanceEnhancing drugs

The pros and Cons

Melissa Miller Nathan BrennanLacey Anderson Jordyn Adcock

Amy HillMarianne Judd

Performance enhancements

•http://youtu.be/qIFQdaIIl9Y

Should performance enhancing drugs be banned?

•Regarding Sports, Doctors Opinions Vary

•“Performance enhancing Drugs affect the individual athletes integrity because using banned substances is a dishonest behavior and corrupts a victory.”-Thomas Murray

•“Legalizing drugs in sports may be fairer and safer than

banning them” -Julian Savulescu

Can Drugs and Sport Coexist?

•Performance enhancing drugs are not a new phenomenon; athletes in the original Greek Olympics are believed to have used mushrooms and herbs to make them stronger and faster. However, today’s enhancement drugs are far more potent than histories milder form of stimulants.

Types of enhancers

•Anabolic androgenic steroids- synthesized from the hormone testosterone is often used to repair damaged tissue but because these steroids build muscle mass athletes such as weight lifters tend to use them in high doses.

•Amphetamines serve a different purpose; they give athletes, particularly football players a high level of alertness, energy and aggressiveness.

•Blood doping- the purpose is to give the athlete maximized use of oxygen from injecting stored RBC, also called erythropoietin (EPO) also prescribed to treat anemia in cancer patients. (endurance athletes).

Types of enhancers

•Anabolic agents

•hormones

•anti-estrogen

•diuretics

•blood doping

•chemical and physical manipulation

•gene doping.

Banning Drugs

•“In America we believe in the principle of self improvement, the more exaggerated, the better.”

•“The pursuit of personal betterment is an American ideal.” -The blind pursuit of perfection by Richard Hoffer (December 13, 2004; Sports illustrated pg. 52)

ATHLETES VS. PERFECTION

Mark McGwire

•Broke-the record for the most home runs in a season (70) back in 1998 by surpassing Roger Marris who held that record in 1961 with 61.•It’s been reported by former teammate Jose Conseco that “McGwire used steroids as far back as 1988, when he first discussed them with McGwire…”

-Juice and Truth by Tom Verducci (February 21, 2005; Sports Illustrated; p. 41)

Health Effects

•“Many athletes-- young and healthy for the most part--would do significant damage to their long-term health.” -Doping in Sport: Challenges for Medicine. Science and Ethics by Thomas H. Murray (From Journal of

international Medicine, Vol. 262, no. 2, August 2008, pp 95-97)

•Because our body is a temple of God, Is this morally right to do to ourselves?

Anti-Doping

•Stopping Genetic Manipulation

•Gene therapy-- “treats patients by inserting synthetic genes, called trans-genes, into their bodies.” This works by handing “genes off a virus that carries it into the cells.” -Sports genes by David Epstein (May 17, 2010; sports

illustrated: p 57)

Consider This...

•How do we determine which substances should be banned from athletics?

Legalizing Drugs •The Goal of Cleaning Up Sports May be Unattainable!!

•1st ban was in 1928

•1976 East Germany and Athens

olympic games

•Penalty for cheating is small and the payoff for winning is big

•Welfare of athlete

Free Agency

•If there is no excessive risk, allow drugs if it can enhance performance

•Performance enhancement is the spirit of Sports

•Classical Musicians

Physical Risks •Anabolic Steroids:

•Gynecomasta: an enlargement of the breasts in males

•Priapism: persistent and painful penile erections

•Enlargement of Prostate

•Severe Acne, particularly on shoulders and back

•Increased facial hair, reversed with severe balding

•Liver tumors

•Aggressive behaviors and mood swings

Steroid effects•Reported side effects of anabolic steroids in 10 women:

Effect Number Reporting The Effect Reversible After End Of Use

Lower voice 10 No

Increased facial hair 9 No

Enlarged clitoris 8 No

Increased aggressiveness 8 Yes

Increased appetite 8 Unknown

Decreased body fat 8 Unknown

Diminished or stopped menstruation 7 Yes

Increased sexual drive 6 Yes

Increased acne 6 Yes

Decreased breast size 5 Unknown

Increased body hair 5 No

Increased loss of scalp hair 2 No

Athletes mindset

•Scenario 1: From a 1995 poll of 198 sprinters, swimmers, powerlifters

and other Olympians, this question was asked:

•You are offered a banned performance-enhancing substance with two Guarantees: 1) You will not be caught. 2) You will win. Would you take the Substance?

•Response: 195 athletes said Yes; 3 said No

Athletes mindset

•Scenario 2: the athletes were then asked:

•You are offered a banned performance enhancing substance that comes with two guarantees; 1) You will not be caught, 2) You will win every competition you enter for the next 5 years, and then you will die from the side effects of the substance. Would you take it?

•More than half of the athletes said Yes

What can be done?

•Stricter Testing - test year round, give no notice

•More Advanced Testing -takes time

•Keep Records / Retest - started doing this

•Stricter penalties - currently a 2 year suspension

•Legalize it

Questions

• What are the “Ethical vs. Medical” solutions?

•What is the line between good nutrition and use of drugs for enhancement?

•What are the physical risks involved for athletes who take drugs?

•Because the goal of cleaning up sports is unattainable, should we allow drugs?

Sources•Levine. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Bioethical Issues

•Sports Illustrated

•Drug and Substance Abuse Book, Dr. Lindsey

•Myostatin exon skipping shows promise for a wide range of muscle condition; <http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/11/myostatin-exon-skipping-shows-promise.html>; November 2, 2010)