Preview

Ethics in the Sports Performance

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1929 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ethics in the Sports Performance
Unit assessment Sports Performance (FD): 50% Assignment, 50% Examination Assignment: Making reference to theoretical literature and integrating pertinent examples, critically examine how the presence of drugs in sport could be harmful to both active participants and the broader sports community.

Due date: 12 Noon on Friday 7th December 2012 [feedback available on-line from 18th January, 2013] Length: 1500 words Value: 50%

Introduction

This essay examines how the presence of drugs in sport could be harmful to both active participants and the broader sports community by underpinning the morals and ethics played in both parties. An active participant refers to elite athletes and the broader sports community refers to members of the publics who participate in sports in a society.

‘In 1928 the International Amateur Athletic Federation became the first International Sport Federation (IF) to ban the use of stimulating substances ' also known as doping (Wada.ama.org). This improved the ethics of sports to an extent as the decision portrayed a notion of a fairer playing field.
In modern major competitions and games the continued use of drugs in sport raises major concerns for a number of reasons. For active participants the use of doping is widely viewed as against the ethics of sport, the values of fair play and competition, as well as the rights of those to take part in it at whatever level (IOC.org).
Equally within the broader sports community drug abuse is widely viewed as illegal and carries severe consequences if caught in a public place, for example possession of steroids which falls into a 'class C drug carries a maximum of 2 years imprisonment and a fine ' (cps.government.uk).

Athletes may take drugs due to the coach focussing on the physical excellence aspect of sport. Coaches should follow a philosophy of coaching “that will ensure a balanced integrated individual” capable of coping with life as a hole.



References: Bredemeier, B.J. (1986) Moral Growth Among Athletes and Nonathletes: A Comparative Analysis, Journal of Genetic Psychology, 147:1, p.7. Dubin, C. L. (1990). Ethics and morality in sport. In Commission of inquiry into the use of drugs and banned practices intended to increase athletic performance (pp. 498-5 12) Ottawa, Canada: Canadian Government Publishing Center. Spence, G., Cavanagh, M. & Grant, A.M. (2006). Duty of care in an unregulated industry: Initial findings on the diversity and practices of Australian coaches. International Coaching Psychological Review, 1(1), 71–85. Miah, A. (2004) Why not dope?: It’s still about the health. Cited in Genetically Modified Athletes. P 173. Noakes, T. D. (2000). Physiological models to understand exercise fatigue and the adaptations that predict or enhance athletic performance. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 10, p123–145. Haney, C. J., Long, B. C., and Howell, G. (1998) ‘Coaching as a profession: Ethical Concerns’, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 10:2,240 — 250 Schneider, A. J., and Butcher, R. B. (1999) A philosophical overview of the argument on banning doping in sport. Chapter 13; p185-197. Van Hoose, W. H., & Kottler, J. A. (1988). Ethical and legal issues in counselling and psychotherapy. London. England: Jossey-Bass. Zorpette, G. (2000) All Doped up - and Going for the Gold. Sports Medicine: Drug Testing. Scientific American: (May 2000) 282; p20-22.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The purposes of this Code are threefold. First, it provides the broad principles and values to which coaches subscribe. These include confidentiality and the utmost concern for the welfare and success of the client. Secondly, it provides rules for coaches to use in many of the specific situations that a coach might encounter. Finally, this Code is meant to serve as a building block for the ethical and moral standards of coaches. While each individual coach agrees to follow this Code, they are encouraged to supplement and add to it in order to build a lifelong commitment to building an ethical workplace and profession.…

    • 864 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Long before Cal scored the touchdown in the 1982 “Big Game” against Stanford, and before Stephen Curry made a record-breaking number of three pointers in one basketball game, sports was primarily based on natural abilities. Today, sports has evolved to elevate the level of play and performance. Major competitions such as the Olympics manifest the most dominant world athletes. The winners are deemed the best in their sport for their abilities to be biologically and physically gifted and to harness that potentiality. These athletes train strenuously, often ingesting synthetic or natural additives to increase performance. To remain competitive in increasingly higher levels of play, athletes should have the choice of using their natural gifts and/or using performance enhancing drugs. Neither an athlete who has a gene that prompts a superior physique nor an athlete who uses steroids should be deemed cheaters, for they are pushing sports to a new level and creating an equal level of play.…

    • 1008 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This would be persistent with resources and a spectrum of alternative performance boosting technologies currently used today. However, in the article, “The Fight Against Doping,” by IOC (International Olympics Committee) president Juan Samaranch, he argues that, “Doping is not only a danger for the health of athletes, it also constitutes a form of cheating which we cannot accept” (190). As the leader of a major organization, Samaranch uses this powerful and passionate statement to show the reader that the IOC takes the issue of performance enhancing drugs in sports seriously and will not grant any leeway. The use of this quote to counter Fry’s point presented in his article has sufficiently persuaded the audience into taking Samaranch side on the topic simply due to the credibility Samaranch has acquired over the years. Overall, Samaranch has done a stand up job utilizing the rhetorical strategy of ethos and pathos in order to strengthen his views regarding the use of performance enhancing drugs in high-leveled…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    References: Donovan, R.J., Egger, G., Kapernick, V., & Mendoza, J. (2002). A Conceptual Framework for Achieving Performance Enhancing Drug Compliance in Sport._Sports Medicine_, 32(4), 269-284.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Aquinas’ ethic theory helps us understand why doping in sport might be considered unethical. According to his principle of Natural Law, “we ought to perform those actions that promote the values specified by the natural inclinations of human beings” (Mizzoni 47). He further develops on four essential human goods: our own life, procreation, sociability and our inclination to understand. Throughout the 20th century, certain athletes have violated some of those goods. When we look at the case of Thomas Hicks we recognize why doping is immoral. This runner put his own life in danger by abusing of a performance-enhancing drug. His behaviors went against the rationale of self-preservation because it caused harmed to his body. He violated…

    • 285 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is estimated that only 10-15% of participants in a major sport are tested for drugs and this particular organisation strives to close the gap of the other 85%. The World-Anti Doping Agency recognises those drugs that are, performance-enhancing, risky, or break the standard rules of a sport, as illegal. The biggest priority for supervisors and coaches is the health of their players, excellence in their honest performance, fairness towards their opponent and respect for their fellow members and community. Experts believe that as the drugs contain some natural substances there will be many more drugs that become untraceable. Some believe that in response to this the drugs should be allowed and that would also allow a level playing field. The drawbacks of this are the dangers and also the expenses. The players who do not want to have an intake of this would be excluded from their sport and it would promote a bad behaviour to the use of drugs as a…

    • 822 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Athletic competition has been a part of our society since the beginning of time. Although, professional athletes are fully equipped and good enough to play in professional sports, many of these athletes feel pressured into using performance enhancing drugs to better their athletic skills in the sport. Throughout this essay, I will discuss the use of these drugs, and why I feel athletes should not use performance enhancing drugs in sports, as well as discussing the point of view made by the athlete including their reasoning why they choose to use performance enhancing drugs. How our laws are used to enforce the ban of illegal substances and how the laws affect the athletes. Since, athletes are in the public eye, their behavior affects children and adults who look up to them as role models.…

    • 1669 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Doping is slowly but definitely destroying the professional sports industry. In this generation in which the use of performance-enhancing drugs is increasing and becoming harder to detect, it could be said that everyone is guilty. As students, we are taught that cheating is no right and if for example we cheat on a test and teachers catch us doing it, there are consequences. What athletes need to understand is that there are consequences for their actions, not only for them but for the entire sports industry. These consequences include, expulsions, suspensions, fines, health problems and most important setting a bad example for all the people who look up to them and believe in them because of their capacity in sports and not because they use…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    There is a lot made of sports people taking performance enhancing drugs during training or competition. But many people are still split on the subject of drugs in sport. is it fair , is it in the spirit of the sport, there arguments for both sides in the sports world, in my following research I will put forward an un-biased view on both sides of the coin, using many sources of past research , books , and trusted internet sites. I will be discussing sports has a whole industry rather than specifying one particular sport or event, taking the main issues and explaining both sides.…

    • 1406 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Drugs in Sport Essay

    • 1048 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The nature of sports promotes a strong desire to win, and many athletes will do anything to rise to the top. Every elite athlete wants to get an edge over their competition, causing many athletes to turn to performance enhancing drugs to gain this edge. Drug use in sport can cost players their super stardom dream career, but more seriously, their own lives. The wide-spread illegal use of drugs has eliminated the question of which athlete has the strongest raw power, to the question of which athlete has the greatest scientific base behind them. These questions have many pros and cons to each side of the argument, causing this question of debate to overlap and only leave deeper confusion in it's path. The principle arguments being- the athletes need to be protected from the health risks associated, there is no clear way to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate artificial aids of performance and the need to preserve the spirit of fair play. The media publishes continuous cases of cheats being caught out, allowing the world to know the discrete and low key aspect to sport, completely abandoning the question, should the use of doping drugs be legalised?…

    • 1048 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Cited: Devine, John W. "Doping Is a Threat to Sporting Excellence." British Journal of Sports…

    • 1467 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Doping in Sports

    • 2597 Words
    • 11 Pages

    The doping situation in professional and amateur sports has become a serious problem. The number of athletes that have been caught doping is unacceptable. Something needs to be done that will stop or greatly reduce the number athletes using drugs to increase performance.…

    • 2597 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Drugs in Sport

    • 2501 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Sport is so much a part of daily life for so many Australians. An Australian child is brought up to idolise their sporting heroes and to pursue the sport itself. It is devastating to think that maybe our sporting heroes are cheats. Today students are being pressured to perform at higher levels to make the first team, representative side or a sporting scholarship at a Greater Public Schools (GPS) which then could lead to the opportunity to make a break into the professional sporting teams. With the increase of drug use young players start thinking that taking performance enhancing drugs is necessary to ‘make it’. The competition in sports is so fierce it amounts to a huge build up on players and teams to perform, including the pressure from big business asking for ‘more’ because the more the players can give and entertain crowds means that demand for the game will rise which in turn means more money at the gates. The power and influence of Australian sport can be seen in its net worth “Sport in Australia generated a net income of $8.8 billion in 2004/2005”. The organisations that are running ‘Game Day’ have only one objective and that is to keep the broadcaster and punters happy and paying money, if this happens the businesses are happy. This is a vicious cycle for agencies who are trying to stop drug doping in sport, because businesses are so money hungry they feel no need to invest in the athletes welfare. More testing needs to be implemented for GPS athletes and they need to be educated that you can still be the best without cheating. Currently no Anti-doping policy exists in Toowoomba Grammar or the GPS schools, the purpose of this document is to outline the need for an Anti-doping policy and make some practical suggestions.…

    • 2501 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This is a serious matter because people use drugs at professional competitions, like the Olympics, and it spoils the thrill of just the idea of it being a competition, fair play and the career of the drug user.…

    • 303 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Don't Spoil the Sport

    • 1453 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the last couple of years, many athletes in different sports have been caught using PED’s. When an athlete tests positive for PED’s, the athlete is usually well known. Also, there have been many instances never reported. It has come to a point where when an athlete is doing really well in his sport, speculations on the use of steroids or other PED’s arise. But the bothersome thing about sports today is that the speculations may very well be true. The use of steroids, and other illegal drugs are dangerous. Although it has enhanced the entertainment value of sports, it also has diminished the value of sportsmanship.…

    • 1453 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics