Drug Abuse In The Olympics

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The Olympics are a way for many countries to show the world the abilities of their native upcoming athletes. It is a prestigious event in which many people compete for a medal in a respective athletic area. However, the integrity of the Olympics and its competitors is being threatened by a predominant issue regarding steroids and performance enhancing drugs. Due to the inherent competitiveness of the Olympics, many athletes are using performance enhancing drugs to obtain an absolute advantage. Drug abuse in the Olympics must be stopped for the good of everyone and the Olympics. The first and seemingly the most established issue would be the health of the drug abuser. According to Michael Maloney, doctor of medicine, and the director of University Sports Medicine, misuse of anabolic steroid and other performance enhancing drugs can lead to serious long-term health issues. Male drug abusers can experience effects such as Gynecomastia. Steroid use has also been linked to elevated blood pressures, heart problems, and strokes. Gary Becker, PhD, writes, “Performance enhancers, like steroids and other forms of doping, have a negative effect on long-term health” (“Drug Use in Sports”). It is not for the Olympics alone that we should ascertain the end of doping, but also for the health of the abuser themselves. …show more content…
The Olympics should be considered a prestigious and legitimate event where natural athletes show the fruits of their labors and compete skillfully for first place. By doping, the physical ability required to get first place is raised dramatically, and to be competitively viable, one must dope to have a chance at winning. As Thomas H. Murray concludes, “Athletes, [forced to dope], would be pressed to take more and more drugs, in ever wilder combinations and at increasingly higher doses..” (“Drug Use in