Cashmore's Argument Against Doping Be Legalized?

To begin with, Cashmore asserts that permitting the use of doping would make competitive sporting activities safer and help in the research process investigating the substances’ properties. In essence, he argues that by eliminating the use of unknown substances from the unchecked sources it would be easier to regulate sports as there would be no covert doping activities. He further adds that “permitting the use of doping would rescue sports from this clandestine state, creating an environment that would be not only safer, but more congruent” (Cashmore). To some degree, this argument is correct. Even so, it is important to realize that athletes will always find ways to outperform their peers by taking the ‘next best alternative.’ To clarify,
Marveling in the death-defying stunts and record-breaking feats, the audience does not bother how the performers got there. Cashmore insists, “Sports starts are not models. Possibly. But they are not paragons of virtue.” Anyone who does not wish to enhance their performance artificially is simply making a personal choice according to the author. There are a number of reasons why this argument is inappropriate. First, it is evident that allowing doping eliminates any sense of fairness in sport. Apparently, competitors who use the banned substances have an unfair advantage over their ‘clean’ peers. There would be very few, if any, instances where clean athletes emerge victorious in sport. Thus, almost immediately, doping would become as important as taking breakfast. Secondly, fans want to see their favorite athletes compete in their full natural form. If athletes were allowed to use drugs, any stunning achievement would be dismissed as a result of using performance-enhancing substances, not natural ability. Evidently, young athletes idolize sportspersons and follow their footsteps as they mature, dreaming of playing in major leagues when they grow up. Consequently, if the culture of doping is made lawful, the young ones would be exposed to the vice at a young
Doping undermines sportsmanship, which is the act of engaging in sporting activities in a fair, generous, and polite manner. The real spirit of sports is the perfection of talents. Even if doping was allowed under other circumstances, some athletes and the countries that they represent would not afford to fund costly doping programs. Indeed, sports has its own unique character; fans are interested not only in the results of the game, but also in the entire process that has led to the impressive results. For this reason, the competitive sports is based on a set of rules that promote equity, transparency, and integrity. Certainly, cheating compromises the admiration that fans have for their athletes for having reached their peak performance through hard work and relentless training. Should competitive sports lose its value, events such as the Olympics and the Tour de France would attract fewer fans with time and eventually face the possibility of dying out. It is important to realize that sporting is inherently a healthy pursuit and an inspirational activity, and allowing doping would simply be akin to commercializing athletic