Athletes have been taking performance-enhancing drugs in different forms for centuries; the furthest dated supplement used to increase performance was used in Ancient Greece, when they would ingest doop with the hopes of increasing their performance and becoming some of the first Olympic champions. Since then, the development of Performance-enhancing drugs has hit a rapid increase and massive amounts of more powerful drugs have been produced. Athletes of different sports, gender and age use these drugs all over the world. Many different sporting organizations are strongly involved in the fight against them and the fight to someday, eradicate their use from the sporting world as a whole, but why?.
This extended research essay will look at the countering arguments over whether the ban on performance-enhancing drugs should remain in place or whether it would be a benefit to the sporting community as a whole if this prohibition were lifted in sporting associations. .
Research Hypothesis .
Most sources will have more stable and comprehensive arguments as to why the use of performance-enhancing drugs should not be legalized however a final conclusion cannot be reached as the final outcome of this research question is moderately opinion based.
Literature Review.
The use of performance-enhancing drugs has been a major discussion topic and provides massive pressure on athletes around the world in a variety of different sports from Major League Baseball to Billiards. The question that raises a huge amount of commotion is: Should performance-enhancing drugs be legalized? Several ideas and beliefs have connotations to the use of drugs in sport. Such examples include athletes as role models, health risks, the legalization of PED with medical supervision, sportsmanship, sports fans and an unfair advantage (Agency, 2003; Allison, 2004; Fost, 2005; National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 2000; Pound, 2008; Fost, 2005).