The use of performance enhancing drugs is on record as early as the games of the third Olympiad, when Thomas Hicks won the marathon after receiving an injection of strychnine in the middle of the race. Most sports organizations attempt to ban the use of performance enhancing drugs, such as steroids, by athletes. Despite these regulations, there continues to be widespread use of drugs in sports. People are using performance-enhancing drugs because they want to take unfair advantage over the competitors. It is a major problem and health hazard to many participants. Yet there is no respite of this spiraling issue. Let us understand the reason. Let us understand what we call unfair.
People do well at sport as a result of the genetic lottery that happened to deal them a winning hand. The starkest example is the Finnish skier Eero Maentyranta. In 1964, he won three gold medals. Subsequently it was found he had a genetic mutation that meant that he “naturally” had 40–50% more red blood cells than average. Was it fair that he had significant advantage given to him by chance?
We take punitive approach but and a lot of effort is spent in outsmarting the screening process. There is a possibility that many participants are and coaches not sure about the status of their opponents. So the bias is tilted towards taking the unfair advantage but a major effort is focused to evade detection.
We need to debate on an experimental new normal. Participants won't be punished if they fail drug-screening test. They will be simply put to a new group. Let us see the preference of participants and difference in records. A lot of levers should be in a perfectly aligned position to give someone an unfair advantage over opponents. Performance enhancing dr...
