Ethics of Steroids in Sports Essay Example
The Ethics of Steroids in Professional Sports
Currently in professional sports, the use of steroids is one of the most highly debated and controversial topics. It seems that every day there is an athlete being suspended, fined, and even prosecuted for using these performance-enhancing drugs. In many cases, sports fans will condemn these athletes for their involvement in steroids. As I looked deeper into the subject I thought to myself, “what is so wrong with athletes trying to take their game to the next level?” Because ultimately, that’s what the real issue is here; its just professionals doing what they can to get ahead in their job and it seems to be perfectly ethical. One of the main arguments in the ethics of steroids in professional sports is that it is unhealthy to the body, which is completely true. The prolonged used of anabolic steroids can cause liver damage and contribute to hormone imbalances among other things; however, this does not make it unethical. Let’s not forget that these athletes are playing sports that in many cases are already a danger to their bodies. When was the last time you heard of an athletes going to the hospital for the use of steroids? Yet everyday there is a case of a professional athlete tearing a muscle or incurring serious head injuries. Studies actually show that deaths from playing college and professional football are 50-100 times higher than the use of steroids. Just because somebody does something that may be harmful to their body, it doesn’t mean their wrong in doing so. For example, if a guy is hungry and decides to eat out at a fast food restaurant, is he pursuing something unethical? We all know the unhealthy effects fast food has on the body, but that doesn’t make it wrong. Adults should be able to make their own decisions when it comes to their personal well-being and if they decide to do something that may be harmful, then so be it. Protestors against steroids also claim that athletes using
Currently in professional sports, the use of steroids is one of the most highly debated and controversial topics. It seems that every day there is an athlete being suspended, fined, and even prosecuted for using these performance-enhancing drugs. In many cases, sports fans will condemn these athletes for their involvement in steroids. As I looked deeper into the subject I thought to myself, “what is so wrong with athletes trying to take their game to the next level?” Because ultimately, that’s what the real issue is here; its just professionals doing what they can to get ahead in their job and it seems to be perfectly ethical. One of the main arguments in the ethics of steroids in professional sports is that it is unhealthy to the body, which is completely true. The prolonged used of anabolic steroids can cause liver damage and contribute to hormone imbalances among other things; however, this does not make it unethical. Let’s not forget that these athletes are playing sports that in many cases are already a danger to their bodies. When was the last time you heard of an athletes going to the hospital for the use of steroids? Yet everyday there is a case of a professional athlete tearing a muscle or incurring serious head injuries. Studies actually show that deaths from playing college and professional football are 50-100 times higher than the use of steroids. Just because somebody does something that may be harmful to their body, it doesn’t mean their wrong in doing so. For example, if a guy is hungry and decides to eat out at a fast food restaurant, is he pursuing something unethical? We all know the unhealthy effects fast food has on the body, but that doesn’t make it wrong. Adults should be able to make their own decisions when it comes to their personal well-being and if they decide to do something that may be harmful, then so be it. Protestors against steroids also claim that athletes using