Doping in sports
Introduction
The world of sports is often related to the word doping. Many respectful and famous athletes have been tested positive
for banned pills and substances. For example, the case of Lance Armstrong who won the Tour the France with the usage
of banned substances.
Doping can cause the development of mental disorders, destroy different organs and systems, and even lead to the
death of a person. Despite all the terrible side-effects, sportsmen still use banned substances. The question of my essay
is: why do sportsmen use doping?
Doping behaviour
Doping is not a new phenomenon in sport, enhancing performance through artificial means has only been banned since
the 1960s. The main reason for banning doping initially was the growing concern about athletes’ health. Doping only
became established as unethical after that point.
Athletes, as they progress in their sports career, are gradually drawn into the vicious circle of the constant desire to
enhance performance. Being overly competitive or exceedingly win-orientated is often used as a lay explanation for
doping. In this process, some athletes may become more persuadable to doping than others, depending on the
combination of their personality and the situation. Therefore, both the individual and systemic factors contributing to
doping behaviour should be fully investigated to underpin effective, targeted anti-doping intervention.
Another major factor that can lead to doping is the financial side, good results get sponsors and publicity, for some
athletes being more than enough motivation for doping.
Sports and politics
The Netflix documentary Icarus shows the influence of the Russian government in the doping program of the athletes.
Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the national anti-doping laboratory of Russia, helps Bryan Fogel. Bryan Fogel
wanted to know if he could get away with doping and if it helped him better his performance in cycling. Fogel doesn’t
perform better in the race due to mechanical problems. The documentary shows the effects of doping on Fogel and how
Fogel gets away with using doping.
Grigory Rodchenkov leaks information about how the Russian athletes tested negative on doping after they had used
steroids and anabolic steroids. He also explains that Putin was involved with the doping scandal at the Olympic Games in
Sochi. After the New York Times write an article about how the Russian government helped with swapping ‘dirty’ urine
with ‘clean’ urine so the athletes would not test positive on doping. After this article, Rodchenkov could not go back to
Russia and was placed under a protection program by the US government.
This documentary shows that the Russian government-sponsored a program that helped athletes with the usage of
doping. It becomes clear that athletes often do not start themselves with using banned substances but are highly
influenced by their trainers and sometimes even the government.
Conclusion
There is not a single reason why sportsmen use doping. Most of the athletes understand the consequences of the usage
of doping; however, the desire to win and be the first is more vital. The influence of coaches and other parties also plays
a role.
The ongoing issue relating to doping in sports should be solved by applying various methods, medical support, various
psychological approaches, and family understanding. Moreover, the national testing agencies should not only exclude
the athlete who used banned substances, but they should also use more strict measures.
Introduction
The world of sports is often related to the word doping. Many respectful and famous athletes have been tested positive
for banned pills and substances. For example, the case of Lance Armstrong who won the Tour the France with the usage
of banned substances.
Doping can cause the development of mental disorders, destroy different organs and systems, and even lead to the
death of a person. Despite all the terrible side-effects, sportsmen still use banned substances. The question of my essay
is: why do sportsmen use doping?
Doping behaviour
Doping is not a new phenomenon in sport, enhancing performance through artificial means has only been banned since
the 1960s. The main reason for banning doping initially was the growing concern about athletes’ health. Doping only
became established as unethical after that point.
Athletes, as they progress in their sports career, are gradually drawn into the vicious circle of the constant desire to
enhance performance. Being overly competitive or exceedingly win-orientated is often used as a lay explanation for
doping. In this process, some athletes may become more persuadable to doping than others, depending on the
combination of their personality and the situation. Therefore, both the individual and systemic factors contributing to
doping behaviour should be fully investigated to underpin effective, targeted anti-doping intervention.
Another major factor that can lead to doping is the financial side, good results get sponsors and publicity, for some
athletes being more than enough motivation for doping.
Sports and politics
The Netflix documentary Icarus shows the influence of the Russian government in the doping program of the athletes.
Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the national anti-doping laboratory of Russia, helps Bryan Fogel. Bryan Fogel
wanted to know if he could get away with doping and if it helped him better his performance in cycling. Fogel doesn’t
perform better in the race due to mechanical problems. The documentary shows the effects of doping on Fogel and how
Fogel gets away with using doping.
Grigory Rodchenkov leaks information about how the Russian athletes tested negative on doping after they had used
steroids and anabolic steroids. He also explains that Putin was involved with the doping scandal at the Olympic Games in
Sochi. After the New York Times write an article about how the Russian government helped with swapping ‘dirty’ urine
with ‘clean’ urine so the athletes would not test positive on doping. After this article, Rodchenkov could not go back to
Russia and was placed under a protection program by the US government.
This documentary shows that the Russian government-sponsored a program that helped athletes with the usage of
doping. It becomes clear that athletes often do not start themselves with using banned substances but are highly
influenced by their trainers and sometimes even the government.
Conclusion
There is not a single reason why sportsmen use doping. Most of the athletes understand the consequences of the usage
of doping; however, the desire to win and be the first is more vital. The influence of coaches and other parties also plays
a role.
The ongoing issue relating to doping in sports should be solved by applying various methods, medical support, various
psychological approaches, and family understanding. Moreover, the national testing agencies should not only exclude
the athlete who used banned substances, but they should also use more strict measures.
