Performing Enhancing Drugs (PEDs)- should they be legalised?

All Time Great wrote:A controversial topic, which has been banded about on most Internet forums. But should PEDs become legalised with now in hindsight, the knowledge that a growing number of first class athletes having obviously benefited from being a user?

As can been seen with the Lance Armstrong case, not only was he one of the most talented on the tour (let's face it, with or without PEDs he could of won a couple TDFs) but it was obvious that his team probably had the most sophisticated and medically advanced chemists on board.

With the advancements made in medicine could PEDs now be part and parcel of an athletes training regime? With all the supplements now widely available on the market why can't the authorities just open the book and allow PEDs to be used as long as they've been medically proven not to harm the user with a reasonable degree of certainty. It most certainly would open up another dimension in sport and specifically in boxing with the training methods and fitness coaches required.

Because they can't be sure that they won't harm the user with a reasonable degree of certainty because you need time, you need to monitor the use of a long period of time & then to look at the users after they've retired and stopped using. If a boxer were to retire at 38 who knows what side effects it could have when they are 55.



In boxing there is an argument it's the most dangerous sport therefore, a PED user is deemed to be more dangerous than a non PEDs user. But boxing's biggest selling point to the casual viewer (e.g Pacquiao, Tyson etc.) is the explosive KO artists in the sport. Allowing boxers to have their powers aided could well add more excitement to in the ring action which consequently, would bring in larger viewing figures and increased economic benefits. As can be seen in TDFs of recent years, big chases are less common as they use to be (due to more stringent drug testing), which to some degree has led to a deterioration in the excitement of road racing.

In the first part of the first sentence you've answered that & then reaffirmed in the third sentence.



Any thoughts? Obviously everyone is anonymous on this board, is there any PED users amongst us- do they feel it gives a necessary advantage to their fitness goals which they are regardlessly working hard to meet?

All Time Great wrote: With all the supplements now widely available on the market why can't the authorities just open the book and allow PEDs to be used as long as they've been medically proven not to harm the user with a reasonable degree of certainty.

Makaveli wrote:They should never be legalised, and those caught doing it should be banned for life and have their acheivements taken off the history books, aswell as pay back their ill gotten money (same way police take away the money of drug dealers) as it was acheived by deception. The reason it should never be legalised though is because, atleast now sports stars, moniter their intake mainly to not take too much just incase they get caught. I fear that legalising peds, will jus give them the license to take em as much as they want without a care in the world as theyve nothing to fear. This would not only effect the ped takers competition but it will be detrimental to their own health as over the years everything you do to your body takes its tolls and it wont end well. Nobody is a winner when peds are involved.

Strongback wrote:If there was a law that any 100m sprinter caught taking steroids would be given a jail sentence they would still take steroids. There is no deterrent that will work.

sittingringside wrote:This isn't exactly an answer to the original question, but I would recommend the film Bigger, Stronger, Faster to anyone who is interested in performance enhancing drugs and the way they are viewed culturally. It's in parts on youtube and is a very good, balanced view in my opinion.

victorgarco wrote:

Strongback wrote:If there was a law that any 100m sprinter caught taking steroids would be given a jail sentence they would still take steroids. There is no deterrent that will work.

At the moment you get people like Dwaine Chambers who take Peds get a life ban and then a few years later get that life ban overturned. The punishment is not severe enough. If you have better testing and very harsh penalties then you will eradicate peds from sport.

sohotnot wrote:

sittingringside wrote:This isn't exactly an answer to the original question, but I would recommend the film Bigger, Stronger, Faster to anyone who is interested in performance enhancing drugs and the way they are viewed culturally. It's in parts on youtube and is a very good, balanced view in my opinion.

Just finished watching it, an interesting film which as you say is a good balanced view. Still wouldn't want to see PED use being allowed in combat sports, the big punchers will punch harder & the durable guys with big hearts will take more of a beating, definitely casualties.

Strongback wrote:I think ped's are used by champions in most sports at this stage. The horse has already bolted.

All Time Great wrote:

Makaveli wrote:They should never be legalised, and those caught doing it should be banned for life and have their acheivements taken off the history books, aswell as pay back their ill gotten money (same way police take away the money of drug dealers) as it was acheived by deception. The reason it should never be legalised though is because, atleast now sports stars, moniter their intake mainly to not take too much just incase they get caught. I fear that legalising peds, will jus give them the license to take em as much as they want without a care in the world as theyve nothing to fear. This would not only effect the ped takers competition but it will be detrimental to their own health as over the years everything you do to your body takes its tolls and it wont end well. Nobody is a winner when peds are involved.

What if there was better research into PEDs in terms of the long term effects of using? Let's be clear, many people have had eye laser surgery done, but there isn't a great deal of historic evidence into how successful it will be be in 50 years time or if there may be harmful side effects.

I do believe, like it or not, scientifically the world has advanced to a level which is beyond the laws and rules which govern sport today. For example, we still have 3 judges at ringside trying to score a fight- when realistically a computer would give much more accurate results.

PEDs are widespread, whether people like it or not. Some PEDs may not even benefit the athlete at all as far as we are aware. I do feel Sport in general will start to push the barriers, and who knows what could be in 10- 15 years time? I do not remember people actually taking supplements regularly around 15 years ago, now it's almost a must even for the average gym user.

The most high profile users are Lance Armstrong and Ben Johnson, but no one can deny the excitement and commitment they brought to their sports. Part of the reason was due to being on PEDs which worked for them. As Arnie says, to be the best sometimes you have to break the rules.

All Time Great wrote:

Makaveli wrote:They should never be legalised, and those caught doing it should be banned for life and have their acheivements taken off the history books, aswell as pay back their ill gotten money (same way police take away the money of drug dealers) as it was acheived by deception. The reason it should never be legalised though is because, atleast now sports stars, moniter their intake mainly to not take too much just incase they get caught. I fear that legalising peds, will jus give them the license to take em as much as they want without a care in the world as theyve nothing to fear. This would not only effect the ped takers competition but it will be detrimental to their own health as over the years everything you do to your body takes its tolls and it wont end well. Nobody is a winner when peds are involved.

What if there was better research into PEDs in terms of the long term effects of using? Let's be clear, many people have had eye laser surgery done, but there isn't a great deal of historic evidence into how successful it will be be in 50 years time or if there may be harmful side effects.

I do believe, like it or not, scientifically the world has advanced to a level which is beyond the laws and rules which govern sport today. For example, we still have 3 judges at ringside trying to score a fight- when realistically a computer would give much more accurate results.

PEDs are widespread, whether people like it or not. Some PEDs may not even benefit the athlete at all as far as we are aware. I do feel Sport in general will start to push the barriers, and who knows what could be in 10- 15 years time? I do not remember people actually taking supplements regularly around 15 years ago, now it's almost a must even for the average gym user.

The most high profile users are Lance Armstrong and Ben Johnson, but no one can deny the excitement and commitment they brought to their sports. Part of the reason was due to being on PEDs which worked for them. As Arnie says, to be the best sometimes you have to break the rules.