Drugs in Sports

[Lex]

How do you feel about Athletes taking Preformance enhancing drugs? Do you think it should be totally outlawed or do think they should be able to do whatever they want?


Discuss

[The Stranger]

These drugs should be outlawed because it is an unfair adavatage to the opposing team. Also I believe anybody that tests positive for proformance enhancers should be kicked out of their sport and stipped of the chance to go to the hall of fame.

[Lex]

I think sterioids should be outlawed, but I that they should be softer on Recreational drugs like weed.

[GhostDog]

hell i think steriodes should be legal in football... well not the NFL... but i tihnk they should have tried to make the XFL more interesting with that.... lol

[FireEater]

I think sterioids should be outlawed,

EEeerrrrr, what country do you live in? here in the U.S. steriods are illegal and will get you a felony charge. Which is bullshit to me.

And before any of you fucks start bashing steroids, all I am going to say is DO NOT believe the fucking government or media about them. Don't be a brainwashed idiot and start spouting off how they will make your peepee smaller or rot your brain.

I agree they shouldn't be allowed in sports, but then again they should be illegal for personal use of non-athletes.

FE

[Lex]

EEeerrrrr, what country do you live in? here in the U.S. steriods are illegal and will get you a felony charge. Which is bullshit to me.

I meant they should stay illegal, and that they go easier on recreational drugs. I dont think people should get 1 year bans for smocking some dope.

[FireEater]

Ahhhhh....But did you know that recreational drug use kills more people than steriod use?

Rec drugs are by far more dangerous than steriods.

FE

[Devastation]

How do you feel about Athletes taking Preformance enhancing drugs? Do you think it should be totally outlawed or do think they should be able to do whatever they want?


Discuss
I think drug use should be mandatory.








Discuss

[FireEater]

Here is a good read I found. It touches on Sports use some.

FE

"Recent articles in the media made a big deal about increased use of anabolic steroids and sports supplements by college and high school students. Yet, if you examine the data, only 1.4% of college students and five percent of high school athletes use steroids. Nearly 80% of college and high school students use alcohol, 30% smoke marijuana and 25% smoke cigarettes." (1) I think that the ban on steroids should be lifted, therefore legalizing them. Now before we move on, I want to get a few things straight. First, I do not think steroids, at this point of time, are safe for teenagers, nor have I ever-used steroids.

History

"In the mid 1980's, complaints of the use of drugs, particularly steroids began appearing in the media with increasing frequency." (2) "The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 added steroids to the list of controlled substances, criminalizing the use of non-medical use by those seeking muscle growth for aesthetic or athletic enhancement.

Side Effects

Steroids have been banned because they're dangerous. However, the side effects of these drugs are much less severe than those from smoking or drinking. People have been taking these drugs for more than 40 years. Yet we haven't seen the landslide of heart attacks and cancer deaths predicted by the steroids Cassandra's. The U.S is supposed to be a free country. What right do lawmakers have to ban a drug that affects nobody but the user?" (3) "People in this country can choose to have tummy tucks, breast implants, nose jobs, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol excessively, or watch strippers as long as they don't hurt other people.

Actually smokers are allowed free reign to harm others with second hand smoke in most places in the country except California. Smokers are not subjected to arrest and criminal prosecution, even though many, many more deaths result from tobacco annually than in all 50 years of non-medical steroid use. Each year, the use of over-the-counter aspirin and ibuprofen accounts for an estimated 7,600 deaths and 76,000 hospitalizations in the Unites States." (2)

Medicine

Steroids are also widely used for medicinal purposes, and the illegalization of steroids is not promoting research. If steroids were legalized, then more companies would be inclined to research ways of making steroids safer and more effective, for medicinal and physical enhancement purposes.

America's Youth

One problem brought up by people against steroids deal with teenagers. One goal of the Control Act was to discourage young people from using them. The downside of this is that illegal users are less willing to admit their steroid usage to physicians. Also, the "end result is that the people, including minors, using steroids illegally rarely get blood pressure checks, cholesterol readings, prostate exams and liver enzyme tests." (2)

"Protecting young people from danger is a worthy goal of any legislation. The Control Act appears to have the opposite effect. A primary effect of the Control Act's restrictions upon legitimate product has been the increased manufacture and distribution of black market counterfeit products and substandard veterinary steroids never intended for human consumption. Some of these black market products are tainted with impurities or contain other foreign substances, supporting the assertion that continued enforcement of steroid legislation will worsen health risks associated with steroid use. Tougher laws and heightened enforcement… have fueled thriving counterfeit operations that pose even more severe heath risks." (2)

Use in Sports

The last issue supporting the ban of steroids deals with sports organizations. "Issues of cheating, 'hollow victories', 'wining at any cost', act, were probably the primary ideological foundation for the Control Act. Permitting steroid users to compete with drug-free athletes reflects on the fairness of athletic competition at any level." (4) "The Control Act has been an extremely limited value in addressing the 'cheating' problem. Elite athletes are almost never prosecuted under the Control Act, obtaining their steroid supplies through sophisticated channels that avoid detection by law enforcement. Serious athletes devout huge amounts of time, energy and resources to training for an event.

Drug Testing

The effect of drug testing- preventing steroid-using athletes from competing- is both a more effective and more appropriate deterrent than the Control Act's threat of making overly ambitious athletes into convicted felons. This is especially true because of the vast majority of anabolic steroid users are not competitive athletes at all, but merely otherwise low-abiding adults who are using the hormones for physical appearance." (2)

The main idea of my article is that steroids should be legalized. Though more people might be inclined to use steroids if they were legalized, they would be using steroids that safer, more effective and cheaper because of the increase of research done. Another issue is fairness in sports. Sports organizations can still keep steroid use illegal and with the increased research of steroids comes more effective drug-testing utilities. Lastly, people needing steroids for medicinal purposes can have greater success in their treatments if more research was in reaction to the legalization of steroids. I think it's time to lift the steroid ban, do you?

[Liberator13]

No, they should not be allowed to use them.

Why should they get to take drugs to make themselves look bigger, and at the same time, get paid millions of dollars they honestly don't deserve.

[FireEater]

get paid millions of dollars they honestly don't deserve.

So who should get all those millions, the owners? It's the athletes that bring in the fans that bring in the money.

Why shouldn't they get as big a piece of the pie as they can? When was the last time you saw the owner on the field bringing in the fans? And no, Jerry Jones don't count.

If you think the players get paid to much, then quit watching, going or spending your money on sports. That includes any merchandise, tickets, TV, ect....

FE

[Liberator13]

Fire, don't take this as a personal attack

I know they rake in more money than they know what to do with.. but how about they actually use the money for something good... like.. charity.. the homeless... I know I will get millions of neg reps for this post, but if charities were givin just a portion of the money everybody involved recieves, God only knows how many problems would be solved.

And I've never, ever been a big charity donor or anything, never thought of it really, but this is a perfect chance for people to really use their money.

[Devastation]

Teachers, Fire Fighters and Police Officers should be getting paid what these "Sports Stars" are getting paid.

I'm not saying that sports players need to be driving yugos, I just don't see why they are pulling in millions upon millions of dollars to play a game.

More like a hundred-thousand or something.

[Liberator13]

Teachers, Fire Fighters and Police Officers should be getting paid what these "Sports Stars" are getting paid.

I'm not saying that sports players need to be driving yugos, I just don't see why they are pulling in millions upon millions of dollars to play a game.

More like a hundred-thousand or something.

Exactly, I mean I know they deserve a lotta money, but its just entertainment, and safety and security is more important than that

[TheDawgPound72]

A quote that sticks in my mind is "If you're not cheating, you're not trying hard enough"

That is true and false in some ways. Its true in the sense, that you should do everything within reason to win. Are you gonna blame a guy for saying he was safe, even if he was blatanly tagged out? Im not. You try as hard as you can everytime to be the best you can be, and players have an attitude like that, for good reason of course. However, when it comes to taking steriods, that crosses the line for one reason:

They are not an allowed substance. If they were legal, then whoever would take the benefits along with the side effects would be considered a ball player doing all he can to win. However, they are illegal, so that right there that should tell you that you shouldn't take them.

In everyday life, you face punishment for your wrongdoings. If a guy like Giambi, who I had the utmost respect for before I heard of this, does something wrong, then he should be punished. He should not be welcomed back by any team, until he shows that he can go without them. He should be forced to go through clinical examinations, continuous drug testings, whatever's necessary to make sure that the game is played as fairly as possible. And all of these guys like Bonds and Sheffield, should be shown some leaniance. I mean, if they didn't know they were doing it, how can you place harsh restrictions upon them.

So heres my plan:

Anyone who immeadiately admits they used steriods will face severe punishment, but it will be less harsh than if you were caught using them. If they came out right now, and say, "I used steriods", then should be suspended immeadiately, sent to a rehab clinic, and have anything else done that the MLB feels necessary. THis suspension should be without pay, and indefinite, til the player shows that they are clean.

For those who are caught in random testings, or any other circumstance, should be immeadiately suspended for at least 81 games of the season without pay. After more tests and whatever the MLB feels necessary is preformed, then the player should be allowed to return. This is of course, if the teams want him back, which in most cases they would.

Thats not a full proof plan in any means, but a step into how the steroids problem should be fixed.

And one more thing. Jason Giambi, even though he did cheat, had the balls to say he was on steroids. Even though he was under oath facing a grand jury, he still did tell the truth. He knows he has a problem, and hes gonna try to get it fixed. The problem lays within guys like Bonds, who waited until someone already went down for it before they confessed. Whether or not he knew he was on it, he should of told the truth the absolute second he learned of it. And that he didn't.

[Lex]

Teachers, Fire Fighters and Police Officers should be getting paid what these "Sports Stars" are getting paid.

I'm not saying that sports players need to be driving yugos, I just don't see why they are pulling in millions upon millions of dollars to play a game.

More like a hundred-thousand or something.


Its fair that they get paid so much, Do you know how much money is generated from the sports industry? If it wasnt for the athlets nobody would be working at the stadiums selling beer, nobody would be paying to see games, and The Sports writers and news casters would be out of a job. They deserve there pay.

[Liberator13]

No, I see your point, but I disagree.

The sportswriters and news casters and venders would still earn their profit, lowering the athletes profits doesn't effect them at all, unless some athletes decide they can't play for less than a million dollars a year :rolleyes:

[Devastation]

They deserve there pay.

Not 70 million dollar contracts.

[FireEater]

but how about they actually use the money for something good... like.. charity.. the homeless...
Athletes do have thier charities they donate to. Lots of them donate millions of dollars to charities every year.

When you make that kind of money, charities are a great tax write off. I'm not saying that is the only reason they give.

FE

EDIT: lowering the athletes profits doesn't effect them at all, unless some athletes decide they can't play for less than a million dollars a year :rolleyes:It's not a profit for the athletes, it's a paycheck. And once again, if they lower thier pay, where do you think it would go? The owners and they are already the fat cats in this game.

[Liberator13]

Athletes do have thier charities they donate to. Lots of them donate millions of dollars to charities every year.

When you make that kind of money, charities are a great tax write off. I'm not saying that is the only reason they give.

FE

I'm glad you said that, and I know they don't do it for a tax write off. I'm saying the leagues and teams and owners themselves need to make it a joint effort to help.. not just here and there as some do, though that is greatly appreciated, I think they need to do more.

||EDIT||
Paycheck.. profit... they are getting paid millions of dollars to play a sport they love... its both.. but who cares what its really called haha

[FireEater]

Not 70 million dollar contracts.
Sure they do as it all falls back on what I have been saying. Either the owners get it or the players.

FE

[YouEnjoyMyself]

For all of you who complain about how much athletes make:
Have you ever watched a game on TV?
Have you ever been to a game?

If yes to either of these questions: STFU.


Second, people don't realize how much goes into being an athlete that is capable of playing at such high levels. It takes a lifetime of dedication and wieght training to be even close to being able to play in any pro sport. MUCH more time and dedication then becoming a doctor, lawyer or any other high paying profession.


As far as steriods go: If a person wants to put them in their body, more power to them. Your body is your temple, do to it as you please.

For athletes: Let the leagues regulate themselves. I would rather see non-juicing people play sports, but I say it is the league's call.

[TheDawgPound72]

For all of you who complain about how much athletes make:
Have you ever watched a game on TV?
Have you ever been to a game?
If yes to either of these questions: STFU.

One of the things that ruin sports is the unlimited amount of salary for MLB players. If you were to put a salary cap, players wouldn't be able to demand these high contracts because owners couldn't give players that much money. The way things are right now, how can you blame players for making as much money as possible? You can't. If you were in that situation, and were presented with a $100 M contract for 5 years, would you turn it down because the number is immoral? I don't think so, and if you would, then your either a very righteous person or a complete idiot.

[Liberator13]

No, I've never watched a game :rolleyes:
And yes, I've been to plenty of professional games... mostly NFL/NHL

I still don't they deserve half of the salary they recieve?

[FireEater]

One of the things that ruin sports is the unlimited amount of salary for MLB players. If you were to put a salary cap, players wouldn't be able to demand these high contracts because owners couldn't give players that much money.

The salary cap is not intended to keep the players from demanding high paying contracts. It's purpose is to make the teams as even as possible.

The players can and will demand large amounts of money. The owners though have to budget thier teams to pay the players they want and can afford to pay under the cap.

The cap will not have any effect on the amount of money a player demands. It will just keep all the good, high money demand players off the same team and spread them out throughout the league.

FE

EDIT: I still don't they deserve half of the salary they recieve?Again I ask you, the money is there, so who should get it, the owners?

The money either goes to the owners or the players, there is no other answer.

[YouEnjoyMyself]

This thread has made it painfully obvious that very little of you know what it means to be an athlete or to train to be one.

[TheDawgPound72]

The salary cap is not intended to keep the players from demanding high paying contracts. It's purpose is to make the teams as even as possible.

The players can and will demand large amounts of money. The owners though have to budget thier teams to pay the players they want and can afford to pay under the cap.

The cap will not have any effect on the amount of money a player demands. It will just keep all the good, high money demand players off the same team and spread them out throughout the league.

FE

The thing that it does though, is it wouldn't allow teams to give out as big as contracts. Teams that the players would want to go, would normally be the teams with the most prestige and money. But it would come to the point where a team like the Yankees would have no room to give a guy like Beltran a maximum contract, so he'd have to settle for less. As of now, he can demand $25 mil a year if he wanted to. Under a salary cap, he could demand it, but basically no one would be able to pay him, especially the teams he would want to go to. Therefore, he would make a lot less then under the system today, along with every other player, since they wouldn't have the same amount of negotiating power as they would have had.

[Devastation]

Again I ask you, the money is there, so who should get it, the owners?

The money either goes to the owners or the players, there is no other answer.
They should put it back into the organization or the city. Build plagrounds, buy computers for schools, do something.

Big Matt, I know where you are coming from, I just don't think they should be paid that. I think they deserve good pay, but not what people like A-Rod are getting.

[FireEater]

They should put it back into the organization or the city. Build plagrounds, buy computers for schools, do something.


Do you do that with your paycheck? They shouldn't be forced to do anything with thier paycheck. It's thier earned money just as your is you earned money.

Like I said before though, they do donate millions to cause such as those a year.

But it would come to the point where a team like the Yankees would have no room to give a guy like Beltran a maximum contract, so he'd have to settle for less.But the Yankees would pay his demand if they wanted him bad enough. Just like any other team would. They would just have to cut other players from the team to make room for him.

I can see though where you are coming from on the cap topic.

FE

[Devastation]

Do you do that with your paycheck?
Yes, at Christmas time, I give five bucks to the salvation army guy in front of the mall, and that is basically all I can afford. And I will admit that I give him that so he won't give me a nasty look, but it's mostly for charity.

[YouEnjoyMyself]

Big Matt, I know where you are coming from, I just don't think they should be paid that. I think they deserve good pay, but not what people like A-Rod are getting.


What gets me is everyone complains about it, yet I would bet that the Yankee stadium is packed every night. Saying athletes is make too much money is very hypocritical when you support what they are doing. Unless you are completely removed from sports, you really have no grounds to judge them as making too much money.

Pro sports have no obligation to be fair or without fault. They are their own entity, they can do what their money as they please. If they want to pay athletes minimum wage, you will still have guys out there who love the game and would still play. I would rather see the big bucks going into the pockets of the men who have sculpted thier bodies, and refined their game, then the fat white men who put the jerseys on them.

Once again, you guys need to realize how difficult it is to play at that level. And how difficult it is to reach that level.

I would like any of you to try playing a demanding sport as well as train/ lift wieghts through four years of high school and another 2-4 years of college football (which is no joke) and still be able to be picked amount the top tiny percentage of people still around playing.

...

[James Bond 007]

The best way to stop the problem of people having an unfair advantage in athletics through performance enhansing drugs is to let everyone use them then that way everyone is on a level playing field.

Womens weightliftin????? EW! They are all either blokes or takin steroids hence the mustaches and chest hair.

[fwipit]

steroids should be illeagal in all sports. its unfair also the guy who made this thread, can you change this to a poll also

[Black/White man]

just so you know steriods are illegal in all sports. Either that or you lose your sports career

[Nerdcraft]

just so you know steriods are illegal in all sports. Either that or you lose your sports career
Thanks for that update. Now, if people are going to say that Bonds didn't know that he was taking steroids, then you are seriously stupid for believing that bullshit. He knew exactly what he was doing, he's not a moron, if you go from 35 homers one year, to 45 the next, then to 73, there should be a little bell ringing telling you, "Uh, something might be wrong here." And don't praise Giambi for coming out and admitting it, don't give him credit for that. He denied it to everyone then when he was promised nothing would happen to him he finally told the truth to the jury, thinking that it would never be leaked anyways. Steroids are against the rules, plain and simple. The testing in baseball is a joke, but it is getting better. If you can't deal with being a loser at what you do, and have to cheat to do good at it, then it's time for you to move on to another career.

[Machavelli]

I meant they should stay illegal, and that they go easier on recreational drugs. I dont think people should get 1 year bans for smocking some dope.
what would that say to kids? Many kids do what there favorate athletes do and if there favorate athletes smoking weed they will do it.

[Lex]

what would that say to kids? Many kids do what there favorate athletes do and if there favorate athletes smoking weed they will do it.


Its up to the parents and teachers to educate kids on the negative effects of drugs. I tried weed and stuff before, and I didnt do it because my favorite athlete did it, I was just experimenting. However, I think steroids should stay illegal for this very reason, imagine how kids would feel if they realised the only way they could hit the ball like Barry Bonds was by doping. :(

[YouEnjoyMyself]

what would that say to kids? Many kids do what there favorate athletes do and if there favorate athletes smoking weed they will do it.


Athletes have NO obligation to be role models.

They are people also, and they have the right to live their life how they want.


I say bring back skoal on the baseball diamond :bang:

[Bullet]

The answer is simply no.

It could fuck up their body, but that's not the point. If they take steroids, it's making them get better. They should get better by practicing, not taking some drug.

[Liberator13]

Athletes have NO obligation to be role models.

They are people also, and they have the right to live their life how they want.


I say bring back skoal on the baseball diamond :bang:

Matt, I agree, and I have absolutely no problem with chew used during a game.

But I do think that athletes should try to be role models, though it isn't "enforced." I have always thought that it comes with the territory, and if they don't want to be role models, don't say offensive things on television or on the radio or anything so kids don't think they should do stuff too. Its basic human responsibility, but our society has obviously lost that, along with common sense.