In 2013, the most famous cyclist, Lance Armstrong confessed that he used diuretics and human growth hormone to win the seven Tour de France. He also confessed that he used false documents to pass the drug tests without suspicion. Ronald Sandler, an associate professor of Philosophy at Northeastern University, examines the situations through the lens of sports ethics.
Doping, according to Sandler, changes the very nature of sports.
The performance of each player is evaluated only when each of them stands in a fair competition. Running or cycling with bionic or bioengineered muscle tissues becomes problematic as any form of technological or biological enhancement provided to the body involves partiality in competition.
Apart from violating the rules of the game, the player who plays non-confrontational or individual sports by administering to drugs breaks the ethical standard when he lies or cheats about doping. This is what Armstrong did. His failure started the moment he denied the charges for doping. He not just insulted himself but also the sport that he played.
Armstrong is a cancer survivor and the owner of a ‘charity providing’ foundation. Irrespective of this positive side, he was still attacked with insults and hatred because of doping and it became difficult for the sports lovers to ignore his actions and forgive him. They turned harsher as they also turned suspicious over the credibility of his foundation. These charges have and will continue to create negative consequences on his image as a public figure. He denied to follow, and violated, the basic ethic of sport and will be responsible for the damage that is done.
Unfortunately, despite doping being prohibited by most international sports organisations, it is still practised and needs to be given attention with stricter regulations as soon as possible.
Akshara Palshetkar