By: Arin Chaitanya
Author Note
This paper underlines the fairness and credibility of using Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED’s) (mainly in sports but goes through wherever it is used) through my own findings.
Abstract
The ethics of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports is a complex and extremely controversial issue that continues to spark debates among athletes, sports organizations, and society. PEDs are substances that can artificially enhance an athlete's physical performance, allowing them to run faster, jump higher, recover more quickly and several other effects. While people argue that PEDs are simply a way to push the boundaries of human ability and make sports more exciting and competitive, others believe that their usage undermines the values of fairness, hard work, and natural talent that sports are built upon. Critics also point out the numerous health risks associated with PEDs, such as heart problems, hormonal imbalances, and long-term damage to the body, which can have devastating consequences for athletes. This issue is further complicated by the intense pressures athletes face to succeed in a highly competitive world, where winning can mean fame, wealth, and career opportunities. Countless athletes feel that they must use PEDs just to keep up with their competitors, creating a cycle of dependency and potentially forcing others to follow their choices to stay competitive. The role of sports organizations also adds another layer of intricacy, as they are tasked with enforcing rules, preserving athlete safety and the integrity of the competition. As science and technology continues to evolve, the ethical debate surrounding these PEDs grows even more challenging, raising important questions about where to draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable. This paper will explore these ethical concerns in depth, examining the impact of PEDs on fairness, athlete health, and the broader values that define sportsmanship.
What exactly are PED’s?
Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances or agents taken to improve various forms of physical activity and performance in the body. These drugs are particularly popular among teenagers, athletes, and bodybuilders, as they are used to bring about desired changes in body composition and enhance overall performance. PEDs achieve these effects by influencing the body in various ways, such as enlarging muscles or increasing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. Common examples include anabolic steroids, testosterone, human growth hormone, creatine, and ephedrine. These substances are often taken in non-pharmacologic doses specifically for the purpose of improving sports performance.
Types of PED’s and their overall effects on someone’s body
There are many types of PED’s in sports, but their usage can have innumerous side effects out of which some may be beneficial to an athlete, but the rest are extremely harmful and may be life-threatening and career ending. Take the legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman for example, he used steroids, testosterone and growth hormone. It did help him maintain his muscle mass in his thirties, but it led to him being in a wheelchair due to his persistent workouts which led to him getting a herniated disk and his 13 surgeries (due to the side effects of the drugs). He himself has said that he used to be able to bend down and do some crazy stretches which he can’t do now.
Going back to the topic lets dive into some types of PED’s:
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HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)- This is a hormone naturally produced in women during pregnancy, but it is sometimes misused by athletes and bodybuilders as a PED. It is often taken alongside or after a cycle of anabolic steroids to stimulate testosterone production in the body and to counteract the negative effects of steroids on testicular function, such as shrinking and lowered testosterone levels. Misuse of HCG also has some negative effects like the suppression of testosterone production, testicular atrophy (decaying/shrinking), increased risk of cardiovascular issues, mood and behavioral changes.
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Insulin- Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It plays a critical role in regulating blood sugar (glucose) levels and ensuring that the body's cells have enough energy to function properly. But, like HCG, some athletes and bodybuilders misuse insulin as a PED to increase muscle mass and improve recovery by driving glucose and amino acids into muscle cells. However, misuse of insulin can lead to severe health risks, including hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar), which can be life-threatening, long-term metabolic imbalance and increased fat storage if the extra glucose is not properly utilized.
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SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators)- SARMs are drugs that work like steroids but target specific tissues, like muscles and bones, instead of affecting the whole body. This helps build muscle and strengthen bones. In medical settings, this could be very useful for stimulating specific tissue growth like muscle and bone, while avoiding unwanted side effects in other tissues like the liver or skin. But, like the others we have discussed, they too have harmful effects. These include low testosterone, decreased energy/fatigue, liver and kidney damage, increased risk of heart diseases, and many unpredictable side effects that are not very well studied.
Major Times of Doping: Where They Were Used the Most
In the past 30 years there have been countless incidents where athletes were caught doping at major tournaments and events. These events caused major controversy amongst people which pushed the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to issue the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) (The Code is a document that coalesces the numerous anti-doping regulations across sports and countries. Since its initial implementation, it has experienced several modifications to address emerging challenges in doping. The major updates to the Code were issued in 2009, 2015, and most recently in 2021. These updates aim to enhance clarity, improve impartiality, and address new doping methods and practices.)on 4th January 2004.
The use of (PEDs) has impaired several major sporting events, highlighting the widespread moral and administrative challenges. The Biogenesis Scandal in Major League Baseball (MLB) (2013) led to 13 players being suspended for 50 or more games for getting PEDs from a clinic. In the National Football League (NFL), at least 258 players were suspended for PED violations between 2001 and 2022. The Olympic Games have also faced significant issues, with 107 positive doping cases in the 2012 London Olympics, 110 cases in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, 50 athletes getting disqualified from the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to retesting coming back as positive, and 26 caught during the 2004 Athens Olympics (Which was a record at the time). The Tour de France was infamously corrupted by Lance Armstrong which cost him seven titles (1999-2005), as well as the 1998 Festina Affair, where an entire team was expelled for doping. The Russian Doping Scandal (2012-2016) implicated over 1,000 athletes in a state-sponsored program, while the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima saw 11 athletes test positive for banned substances. These incidents magnify the constant challenge of ensuring fair competition and safeguarding the integrity of sports.
What are the opinions of countries on doping?
The perspective on anti-doping policies varies significantly across countries, depending on their cultural attitudes toward sports, governance resources, and the importance placed on fair play and athlete health.
Global perspectives on anti-doping policies reflect diverse cultural, economic, and political contexts, with significant efforts concentrated in Western nations. The United States leads with strong enforcement by organizations like the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), emphasizing clarity and global cooperation, particularly following high-profile scandals such as Lance Armstrong's case. Similarly, European countries align with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), highlighting strong anti-doping organisations in Germany, UK, and France.
Along with them, Scandinavian nations like Norway and Sweden accent good sportsmanship and education. However, going against these efforts are regions like Russia and former Soviet states, where state-sponsored doping scandals have undermined international trust. These countries face difficulties with political interference and resource allocation despite publicly endorsing anti-doping measures.
Elsewhere, the landscape varies. In Asia, nations like China and Japan show commitment to strengthening anti-doping policies, especially during global events, though China's past doping controversies invite inspection. India struggles with limited resources and enforcement, leading to erratic alignment with WADA standards. African countries, barring exceptions like South Africa, face similar challenges due to economic limitations but they benefit from international alliances.
In South America, countries like Brazil have made considerable progress, notably during the 2016 Rio Olympics, but corruption and economic difficulties persist. Meanwhile, the Middle East is gradually improving its anti-doping foundations, driven by the organisation of global events like the FIFA World Cup. Across regions, these varied approaches accentuate the complex intermixing of culture, resources, and administration in putting an end to doping in sports.
What do different scholars feel about this?
A prominent critic of PED use in sports, Thomas H. Murray, argues that performance-enhancing drugs undermine the core ethical values of fairness, integrity, and respect for human limits. In his work, Murray emphasizes that PEDs create an unfair advantage, persuading athletes into using substances to remain competitive, even if they oppose such measures. This undermines the level playing field that sports are meant to embody. Furthermore, Murray highlights the significant health risks associated with PED use, which jeopardize not only the well-being of athletes but also send a dangerous message to younger competitors who may feel pressured to prioritize performance over health.
Similarly, Angela J. Schneider, a scholar in sports ethics, contends that PEDs corrupt the essence of sport by shifting the focus from natural talent and hard work to artificial enhancement. She argues that the use of such substances erodes the authenticity of athletic achievement, diminishing the value of human effort and the pursuit of excellence within the accepted boundaries of competition. Both scholars stress that tolerating PEDs undermines the moral fabric of sports, turning them into mere showcases of pharmacological advantage rather than a testament to human potential.
Despite countless well-educated personnel agree with Thomas Murray and Angela Schneider, there is one scholar who presents a positive view on the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports, Julian Savulescu, a bioethicist. Savulescu argues that the controlled use of PEDs can enhance human potential and level the playing field by addressing genetic inequalities among athletes. He contends that instead of banning PEDs outright, regulating their use under medical supervision could ensure safety while promoting fairness. According to Savulescu, since sports already involve artificial enhancements like advanced training techniques and specialized equipment, PEDs could be seen as an extension of these innovations.
Savulescu also challenges the idea that PEDs corrupt the spirit of sport. He argues that the essence of sport is pushing human limits, and if PEDs allow athletes to achieve extraordinary performances, they could contribute to that goal. He emphasizes the importance of rethinking traditional beliefs on doping, advocating for open dialogue and evidence-based approaches to integrate PEDs ethically and responsibly into sports.
Though opinions differ among different groups of people, I agree with Savulescu. His ideas preserve the main purpose of the rules and regulations against doping and the use of PEDs, but they also give athletes freedom to push their limits. Along with these, his ideas could also add to the competitiveness and enthusiasm among people. Compared to these benefits that come along with Savulescu’s ideas, banning PED’s entirely would make all sports and competitions extremely dull which would go against the entire purpose of their creation, entertainment.
The End
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Literature review
Introduction
The ethics of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports is highly debated. PEDs, like anabolic steroids and growth hormones, boost athletic performance but raise fairness, health, and integrity concerns. This review explores definitions, types, historical cases, global policies, and ethical perspectives on PED use.
PEDs: Definition and Effects
PEDs enhance physical performance by altering body functions, such as increasing muscle mass or oxygen delivery. Common types include anabolic steroids, insulin, and SARMs. While PEDs improve performance, their misuse leads to severe health risks like organ damage and hormonal imbalances, sparking ethical concerns.
Historical Doping Cases
High-profile doping scandals reveal the widespread impact of PEDs:
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Olympics: Over 100 doping cases were reported in the London (2012) and Rio (2016) Games.
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Cycling: Lance Armstrong lost seven Tour de France titles due to doping.
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State-Sponsored Programs: Russia’s doping program involved over 1,000 athletes (2012-2016).
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Other Scandals: The Biogenesis Scandal in Major League Baseball (2013) and NFL’s numerous PED violations further highlight the problem.
These incidents erode public trust and challenge sports integrity.
Global Anti-Doping Policies
Approaches to anti-doping vary worldwide:
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Western Nations: The U.S. and Europe lead with strong enforcement and adherence to WADA.
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Developing Nations: Limited resources hinder anti-doping efforts in Africa and parts of Asia.
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Controversial Cases: Nations like Russia and China face scrutiny for doping scandals despite public anti-doping commitments.
Global disparities in anti-doping enforcement complicate ensuring fair competition.
Ethical Debates
Scholars diverge on PED ethics:
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Critics:
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Thomas H. Murray argues PEDs undermine fairness and endanger athlete health.
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Angela J. Schneider stresses PEDs devalue natural talent and effort.
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Proponents:
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Julian Savulescu advocates for regulated PED use to address genetic inequalities and enhance performance safely.
The debate reflects broader tensions between fairness, health, and innovation in sports.
Conclusion
PEDs in sports spark debates over fairness, safety, and sportsmanship. Striking a balance between preserving integrity and embracing innovation remains critical.
