“The use of steroids gives an unfair advantage that damages the principles of fair competition in any sport. Penalizing athletes for using steroid helps maintain a leveled playing field, guaranteeing that an individual success is reached by natural talent, hard work, and dedication instead of artificial enhancements.”
Introduction
Something remains unchanged in a world that is constantly changing and violating human prejudices and principles. Sport is an inviolable field where justice and honesty always prevail. This is an environment where everyone has equal rights and must follow clear rules that are the same for everyone. The pursuit of excellence through hard-earned skills or natural talent is valued most in athletes. However, some use steroids, which gives them an unfair advantage over others. Supporting the statement from the previous paper, it is important to highlight three reasons for its promotion of punishment for steroid use: instilling fear, promoting honesty, and public trust.
Fear and Responsibility
The first supporting factor for the statement from the previous paper is the emergence of fear and responsibility. According to Vlad et al. (2018), doping is classified as a performance-enhancing substance that endangers health and violates the spirit of sport. These three components are unacceptable in today’s world, where equality among all athletes should prevail. The appearance of punishment for the use of steroids will include not only financial fines but also disciplinary sanctions or even a ban from participating in competitions. The main deterrent to taking steroids will be shame in front of others. An athlete who achieved certain results not due to great efforts and natural talent is not respected. Such a person is not perceived as an equal opponent because the body and strength are supported by artificial supplements.
Fear of consequences becomes the driving force that shapes athletes’ decisions in favor of choices that are consistent with the values of fair play and uphold the integrity of the sport. Not everyone can take responsibility for their actions, but if there is a punishment, there will be a more frequent awareness of the consequences of actions.
In addition, athletes are not always entirely to blame for their actions. Coaches, instructors, and sports organizations have a great influence on them. Therefore, before implementing any punishment, it is worth understanding the situation. Penalties for steroid use should send a clear message to these stakeholders. This will give them an understanding of the responsibility of maintaining a clean and fair sporting environment. Otherwise, a bad reputation and fines will follow the punishment. It is worth exerting the greatest influence on sports organizations because they instill the main values in athletes. However, many athletic associations are trying to combat the appearance of steroids in their environment. With the advent of punishment, their number can increase positively (Vlad et al., 2018). By penalizing steroid use, the sporting environment will contain the pursuit of excellence through honest and ethical methods.
Promoting Fair Play and Honesty
The biggest benefit of penalizing steroid use is the perception of fair play. Honesty is an important attribute of every athlete because transparent competition is based on equal rights. Based on a previous paper that explored this topic, “The main reason why steroid users should be punished is that steroids give an unfair advantage, which undermines the principle of fair competition in any kind of sport.” Potential penalties are an impetus to choose either the higher values of the sports environment or shame and a forever closed path to this world.
Every athlete is a person who has achieved results thanks to work on the body. Achievement is pride and a reward for difficulties along the way and possible health problems due to overload. Punishment for the use of steroids is mandatory, if only because it allows only those who deserve it to enter the world of sports. People who attain something only with the help of doping should refrain from competing with athletes who have trained their bodies for many days in a sports hall or, for example, a stadium. Adherence to anti-doping rules is the same for everyone, and here, it is essential to take care of the absence of corruption.
Maintaining Public Trust
Sport has a close connection with its spectators because it is built on the belief of people that real efforts and willpower from the sports environment. People admire athletes, root for them, and want to be like them. First of all, during the implementation of the punishment for the use of doping, the audience will stop being disappointed in their idols and learn the truth. The other side is what kind of example athletes set for their fans. Any person may also want to take steroids to produce such performance and strength (Reyes-Vallejo, 2020). People are easily influenced by their idols, which is why it causes a big problem.
Furthermore, maintaining public trust is vital to the continued success of sport as an industry. Sports organizations often exist through financial support and sponsorship. If there is a lack of trust, the consequences will affect sports teams, businesses, and the economy. According to Vlad et al. (2018), “Current legislation is not very severe. Perhaps if the repercussions of being positive with illegal substances were higher, violation of rules would not be so common” (p. 533). It is because of these consequences that the punishment for the use of steroids should be firmly established in the sports world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fear and responsibility, promoting honesty, and public trust are the main reasons for introducing punishment for steroid use. At least three reasons support the claims from the previous paper. Many people and viewers believe that sports are fields where the result is achieved thanks to a lot of effort, not lies. All athletes must be on an equal footing and compete under the same conditions. This underscores the crucial significance of implementing penalties, which play a pivotal role in this context.
References
Reyes-Vallejo, L. (2020). Current use and abuse of anabolic steroids. Actas Urológicas Españolas (English Edition), 44(5), 309-313. Web.
Vlad, R. A., Hancu, G., Popescu, G. C. & Lungu, I. A. (2018). Doping in Sports, a Never-Ending Story? Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 8(4), 529-534. Web.
