Performance-enhancing drugs have been part of sports for decades, though the problem has become more scientifically advanced in the last 20 years. The big uproar started in baseball, with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds launching home runs to the moon (and breaking cherished records) with the help of performance enhancers. More recently, Alex Rodriguez has been accused of cheating, after he supposedly stopped using steroids. While MLB has a better drug testing program than most sports, the pharmacists seem to be several steps ahead of the commissioner.
The PED issue is a concern in multiple sports. Boxer Juan Manuel Marquez became incredibly ripped at age 39, with the help of a known steroid coach; he showed new knockout power on his way to demolishing Manny Pacquiao. Cyclist Lance Armstrong finally admitted medicinally-enhanced cheating that enabled him to win multiple Tour de France titles. At age 37, Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis recovered from a torn triceps in 10 weeks — an injury that normally takes six months to deal with.
In some cases, the cheaters have been caught. In others, the athletes are merely suspected cheaters. For some fans, drugs have tarnished modern sports, while others feel that they’re just part of today’s game. How do you feel about the matter?
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Bill Simmons wrote an outstanding column on PEDs in sports and how the issue isn’t really being dealt with. He wrote, “I don’t even know what I am watching anymore.” And while the issue is quite complicated, it can really be summed up in that one sentence for many sports fans.
While performance-enhancing drugs are rapidly becoming more advanced, the governing bodies of most major sports are moving at a much slower pace. Let’s use boxing as an example. Most drug testing is handled by state commissions and a simple urine test is used. Organizations like VADA have exponentially more advanced techniques that cover a wide array of performance enhancers, yet most fights use tests that are easily beat. Off the top of my head, I only know of one boxer (Nonito Donaire) that subjects himself to random VADA testing 365 days a year. VADA is great for the sport and is relatively inexpensive, but due to politics and greed it isn’t being used for more fights.
Then there are the sports journalists. The issue of PEDs is covered every now and then, but it’s often handled with a gentle touch. On one hand, writers and broadcast journalists don’t want to offend the people and sports that they’re covering. Losing access would make their jobs incredibly difficult. On the other hand, the issue is arguably so big that more journalists should be doing more to help clean up sports.
Some fans dismiss modern PEDs as simple evolution. They point to the fact that many hall-of-fame athletes used amphetamines, commonly called “greenies,” from the ’60s on. They believe that steroids and HGH are modern-day tools that athletes use to get an edge, no different from the use of greenies back in the day.
Others feel that advanced medicine has tainted sports. Like Simmons wrote, many fans feel, “I don’t even know what I am watching anymore.” Cynical fans believe that most athletes cheat and that modern sports are tarnished.
I’d love to hear your take on the issue. Kindly vote in today’s poll and leave a comment with your view on PEDs in today’s sports.
I don’t really care. No amount of roids helped the hand and eye coordination to hit baseballs.
If it helps an athlete recover faster then that’s a good thing. Leagues are becoming more and more idiotic with their scheduling. Baltimore hit a slump during the year after playing 4 regular season games in 17 days. Hell yes you need something for your body. Journalists are hypocrites for the most part. I don’t think the fans care since as long as the sport is entertaining.
What about contact and combat sports? Hurting or killing other athletes is a danger.
Doesn’t matter. Recovery is even more important in contact/combat sports. I don’t see how someone being a bit stronger makes a blind hit any more dangerous than someone that isn’t on juice. Boxing is about the only sport I can think of where roids might be an issue if the guy is super strong…but that can be countered with technique and speed.
I don’t think it’s a big deal. Vote Barry Bonds into the hall you assholes. Top 5 all time needs to be there.
My question isn’t why Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, can win 7 tour de frances after taking PED’s. My question is: Why aren’t we all taking PED’s?
It depends on which PED, really. I see HGH therapy becoming more common. There are ethics involved when using it for sports, particularly combat sports, but for general health it can really improve the quality of life for middle-age men and older.
When I think of incredible recovery time, my brain instantly thinks of hockey. Those guys shatter their ankles, pull muscles and tendons, take pucks to the face removing most of their teeth, and their back in 15 minutes.
Does the cortisone and other remedies they use count as PEDs? How could Brock Lesner or Scott Steiner affect a forecheck line?
Boxing and MMA are the biggest dangers, I believe. If you take a guy that’s already skilled and add PEDs then you have a potential killer on your hands. There’s a particularly cavalier attitude towards testosterone. Most major boxing and MMA fights happen in Nevada. The Nevada State Athletic Commission allows for a 6:1 testosterone:epitestosterone ratio. A balanced ratio is “normal,” while some athletes naturally have a 2:1 ratio. Most state commissions allow for a 4:1 ratio. One of the reasons fighters prefer Nevada is that they can load up on testosterone and get away with it.
The danger and potential for tremendous consequence is inherently part of those 2 sports though. If PEDs help them recover then so be it. They are definitely taking steroids for a “cold” afterward.
Didn’t know that.