In my opinion, people do not have to blame athletes for using doping. These people were too young and immature to fully realize their actions and where they would lead. Also, they were strongly influenced by their coaches, government, and fans. Athletes were under tremendous pressure; everybody expected achievements from them but forgot that they were regular humans and it was alright for a human to fail. It was systematic doping, it was cheating, and there are consequences when you cheat (Felix Andrew 2017). However, contestants were influenced by higher authority, and I am sure they did not truly understand that. Unfortunately, taking these drugs leads to deplorable consequences for athletes, not those who made them do it. Maybe, the coaches did not understand what suffering they would cause young people or did not care.
The story that impressed me the most was about Katharina Bullin. The woman struggled with her sexual identity because of long-term taking steroids. Her appearance was changing gradually; she tried to conceal it but finally gave up on feminine clothes. She has had 13 operations and lives in constant pain (Felix Andrew 2017). That fact is shocking: the consequences are horrible, and the person has to suffer for the rest of her life; obviously, that does not worth it. However, when a person is young and has no experience in life or wisdom, they are easily convinced by someone important to them. When thousands or even millions of people rely on you (your fans), it is going to be unbearable to disappoint them. That is why athletes agree on taking doping to get the result and appreciation.
Reference
Felix Andrew. (2017). Doping Scandal | East Germany 1970s | Dangerous Secrets of Doping | Documentary. Web.