The practical self-understanding of athletes and the future of sport (original) (raw)
Related papers
2002
Imagine that we are in a time period prior to the widespread condemnation of, and bans against, performance-enhancing substances (PES) within elite sport and that the first questions surrounding their use have arisen. Within such a scenario, the question arises as to whether organizing committees, such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its associated International Federations (IFs), are justified in establishing a system of eligibility rules specifically banning the use of PES therein. The typical philosophical approach to this question requires an attempt to demonstrate that there is something wrong with the use of PES in sport with such a demonstration serving as justifiable grounds for bans against their use. So, if it can be demonstrated that there is something wrong with the use of PES in Olympic sport, then bans against their use are philosophically justified. Beginning with this assumption, nine general arguments are often put forth in an attempt to validate rules against the use of PES. These include the consensus argument, the argument from paternalism, the coercion argument, the role-model argument, the dehumanization argument, the unnatural argument, the unfair advantage argument, the cheating argument, and the perversion of sport argument. Nevertheless, research in the area of philosophy of sport has demonstrated that all nine of these arguments may in fact be unsound, thereby abolishing, or at least placing doubt upon, all justifications for the current rules limiting the use of PES in Olympic sport. In response to this state of affairs and the “gut instinct” that the use of PES in Olympic sport is wrong, this study represents an attempt to revisit the perversion of sport argument as a justification for the bans.
Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 2020
It is not unreasonable to state that sport plays a significant part in modern life. Indeed, sport has now positioned itself as a noteworthy cultural framework that, through professional sport and various international sport competitions, is firmly entrenched in global economic, societal, and political systems [1]. Much of this positioning of contemporary sport revolves around the premise of excellence, within which there continue to be a high number of incidences and stories related to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and performance enhancing drugs (PED) and subsequent bans within performance sport. Examples of these exist since testing procedures, regulations, and policy came into being in the 1980's (notably with Ben Johnson failing a test at the 1988 Seoul Olympics) and persist to today, with numerous redistributions of medals and placings from the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games due to more sophisticated testing procedures and the retesting of older samples. In particular, the drug testing discourse has been illuminated in very recent times with the continuing controversy underpinning what has been seen to be a systematic manipulation and explicit use of doping (for instance, by fabricating evidence to conceal the use of banned substances) by the Russian state sport system. Clearly, we understand that AAS use 'works', given that a variety of studies support this [2,3], and that many consider their use (and other PEDs) a justifiable means of improving performance in order to accrue the potential benefits. There is then, and as this opinion piece positions somewhat unfortunately, a ubiquitousness related to the availability, justification, and eventual use of AAS and PEDs within sport. For some, this is not 'unfortunate' and instead amounts to a strong reason to call for the regulation of these type of drugs within the realm of sport. Savalescu et al. [4], for instance, have called for the legalisation of PED use given the following five postulates; first, that classical music and other performance type 'art' allows drugs (creativity etc.); second, that the 'spirit' of sport would be enhanced by allowing drug use and other factors that lead to success in sport; third, that allowing drugs would create an even playing field; fourth, that permitted drug use would be safer-if they allowed 'safe' drugs; and lastly, that given the current climate and attainability of drugs (and the pressure of 'strict liability') then drug use within sport and, concurrently wider society, is inevitable. There are, of course, arguments that rally against drug use. For instance, Devine's [5] outlook is noteworthy in that he argues that drug use should be discouraged because it can unsettle what he terms the 'balance of excellences' in sport. The example used is tennis, whereby a power game-facilitated by drugs-could 'overpower' the other elements within the game that spectators enjoy (i.e., rallies, returns, trick shots, etc.). Yet overall Devine's (2010) article is limited in terms of developing a
Opinion paper: scientific, philosophical and legal consideration of doping in sports
European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2018
The term doping is generally used to indicate practices based on the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) or the abuse of medical therapies. Mostly analysed by doctors and officials, doping nevertheless also requires a philosophical consideration to avoid being simplistically portrayed as an isolated practice. To do this, we need to pay attention to the contradictions and paradoxes in the modern approach to doping in sport. In this context, doping is not only relevant to the health of an individual involved in the violation of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) criteria, but it actually represents a double-edged phenomenon containing ethical and legal points of view. Several philosophical items affect the ethics of doping. While, indeed, through a deontological vision it is easy to morally condemn an athlete who takes the decision to turn to doping, the same condemnation becomes difficult when the practice of doping is compared with the strong social demand of winners in every field of life. This point must be considered to prevent doping from becoming accepted as a daily practice to excel at all costs and regarded not only as normal but as a necessity for those participating in sport at both an amateur and professional level. Furthermore, a complete discussion on doping has to consider not only the philosophy of performance-enhancing drug abuse, but also the widespread practice of an inappropriate and excessive intake of certain dietary supplements with the unique and obsessive purpose (similar to doping) of increasing physical or mental performance. Based on the above, the aim of this paper is to provide a critical opinion of the doping problem and its related practices and analyze possible solutions considering issues that go beyond the impact of doping on health and reflect on whether it is right or not that an athlete does all he can to improve his performance. Communicated by Michael Lindinger. Massimo Negro and Natale Marzullo contributed equally to this work.
The Ethics of Doping: Between Paternalism and Duty
Pannoniana: Journal of Humanities, 2020
The most plausible line of anti-doping argumentation starts with the fact that performance enhancing substances are harmful and put at considerable risk the health and the life of those who indulge in the overwhelming promises these substances hold. From a liberal point of view, however, this is not a strong reason neither to morally reject doping altogether, nor to put a blanket ban on it; on the contrary, allowing adult, competent and informed athletes to have access to performance enhancement drugs is often showcased as a liberty-related right of noninterference. In this article I will first discuss doping from the liberal point of view, especially in the light of the harm principle as it was introduced by Mill and elaborated by his successors, most notably by Joel Feinberg. Then I will examine whether-and to what degree-one's decision to receive performance enhancement drugs would mean to use humanity in one's own person only as a means, which would be self-defeating in the light of Kantian ethics. From this I will move one step backwards to what I consider as the core question concerning the ethics of doping, the one that is logically prior to any other in my view, and concerns the consistency of the thesis that doping may be compatible with sport. I will argue that there is an inherent logical antinomy between doing sport and using performance enhancement drugs, one that presents any argumentation in favor of doping as essentially self-contradictory.
Sport, health and drugs: a critical re-examination of some key issues and problems
Perspectives in Public Health, 2009
One of the major justifications for the ban on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport has been that relating to the protection of the health of athletes. This paper subjects this argument to critical analysis by putting it in the context of the broader relationship between sport and health. More particularly, the paper seeks to unravel some of the complexities of this relationship by an examination of: (i) some aspects of sports sponsorship, particularly with alcohol and tobacco companies; (ii) the health risks associated with elite level sport; and (iii) the widespread and legal use within the sporting context of drugs that can have dangerous side effects. The paper concludes with an examination of some aspects of anti-doping policies within sport and it is suggested that a more imaginative approach to athlete education is needed to prevent the misuse of drugs.
Athletic Enhancement, Human Nature and Ethics. Threats and Opportunities of Doping Technologies
Addresses the question of should sports revolve around natural talent or should athletes be allowed to enhance their bodies with biotech? Clarifies the distinction between arguments on doping itself and circumstantial arguments about its safety, accessibility, research & development, etc. Provides both philosophical and sociocultural views on the valuation of natural talent and enhanced ability The book provides an in-depth discussion on the human nature concept from different perspectives and from different disciplines, analyzing its use in the doping debate and researching its normative overtones. The relation between natural talent and enhanced abilities is scrutinized within a proper conceptual and theoretical framework: is doping to be seen as a factor of the athlete’s dehumanization or is it a tool to fulfill his/her aspirations to go faster, higher and stronger? Which characteristics make sports such a peculiar subject of ethical discussion and what are the, both intrinsic and extrinsic, moral dangers and opportunities involved in athletic enhancement? This volume combines fundamental philosophical anthropological reflection with applied ethics and socio-cultural and empirical approaches. Furthermore it presents guidelines to decision- and policy-makers on local, national and international levels. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, Vol. 52 Introduction: Human nature as a promising concept to make sense of the spirit of sport.- Part I Conceptual and Theoretical Framework. - Jan Tolleneer and Paul Schotsmans, Self, other, play, display and humanity. Development of a five-level model for the analysis of ethical arguments in the athletic enhancement debate. - Christian Lenk, Is human enhancement unnatural and would this be an ethical problem?. - Pieter Bonte, Dignified doping: truly unthinkable? An existentialist critique of ‘talentocracy’ in sports. Part II Transgressing the limits of human nature. - Eric Juengst, Subhuman, superhuman, and inhuman. Human nature and the enhanced athlete. - Trijsje Franssen, Prometheus on dope. A natural aim for improvement or a hubristic drive to mastery?. - Darian Meacham, Outliers, freaks, and cheats. Constituting normality in the age of enhancement. Part III The normative value of human nature. - Andreas De Block, Doping use as an artistic crime. On natural performances and authentic art. - Andrew Holowchak, Something from nothing or nothing from something?. Performance-enhancing drugs, risk, and the natures of contest and of humans. - Mike McNamee, Transhuman athletes and pathological perfectionism. Recognising limits in sports and human nature. Part IV Socio-cultural and empirical approaches. - Marianne Raakilde Jespersen, “Definitely not for women”. An online community’s reflections on women’s use of performance enhancing drugs in recreational sports. - Denis Hauw, Toward a situated and dynamic understanding of doping behaviors. - Tara Magdalinski, Restoring or enhancing athletic bodies. Oscar Pistorius and the threat to pure performance. Part V Practices and policies. - John Hoberman, Sports physicians, human nature, and the limits of medical enhancement. - Bengt Kayser and Barbara Broers, Anti-doping policies: choosing between imperfections. - Roger Brownsword, A simple regulatory principle for performance-enhancing technologies. Too good to be true?
From anti-doping to a 'performance policy'sport technology, being human, and doing ethics
European journal of sport science, 2005
This paper discusses three questions concerning the ethics of performance enhancement in sport. The first has to do with the improvement to policy and argues that there is a need for policy about doping to be re-constituted and to question the conceptual priority of 'anti' doping. It is argued that policy discussions about science in sport must recognise the broader context of sport technology and seek to develop a policy about 'performance', rather than 'doping'. The second argues that a quantitative enhancement to a sporting performance has no value and is, thus, unethical, unless the motivation behind using it implies something meaningful about being human. Thus, unless the use of the technology is constitutive of our humanness, then it is not a justifiable method of altering (rather than enhancing) performance. This rules out the legitimacy of using performance enhancement to gain an advantage over other competitors, who do not have access to similar means. Finally, the third argument claims that sport ethics has had only a limited discourse and has failed to recognise broader theoretical ideas in relation to performance modification, which might be found in the philosophy of technology and bioethics . Collectively, these positions articulate important concerns about the role of science in sport and the ethical discussions arising from them.
Bioethical-medical aspects of the phenomenon of sports doping
Buletinul Academiei de Ştiinţe a Moldovei: Ştiinţele vieţii, 2022
Rezumat Dopajul este o problemă globală la evenimentele sportive mondiale de natură legală, medicală și etică. Forumurile sportive internaționale au încercat să oprească răspândirea acestui flagel, fără niciun rezultat. Programele educaționale, testele și tratamentul medical sunt de așteptat să reducă abuzul de substanțe. Tehnicile și substanțele noi, mai puternice și nedetectabile de testul anti-doping sunt abuzate de sportivii profesioniști, iar drogurile sunt distribuite prin diverse rețele sofisticate. Sportivii profesioniști sunt adesea modele pentru adolescenți, tineri și adulți, iar comportamentele acestora sunt imitate, inclusiv abuzul de droguri. Reanalizarea dopajului în sportul internațional va fi orientată către o mai buna informare a specialiștilor psihiatri și către o intervenție urgentă în tratarea dependenței de substanțe în sport.