One hesitation about posting on ST that I have, is that I like to have evidence to support my statements. If not, I am certain to always clarify that I am merely stating opinion, and not fact. So I ask you a few questions below:
Well, I for one have a problem with the startling number of young pro riders who have died in the last few years of heart arrhythmias related to EPO doping. I also have a problem with the number of pro athletes in this country that died of cancer and other causes related to illegal steroid usage.
Can you please tell me the death rate, or even number of deaths in young pro riders as a result of EPO use? Can you point me to the death rate of pro athletes that have died from cancer due to illegal steroid use? I would honestly love to see some numbers. Using the word "startling" is not specific. Yes, I might agree that one death is too many. But, I would postulate that much of this would be due to lack of proper medical supervision, and self-administering.
If it becomes an accepted medical treatment for professional athletes, within the bounds of "do no harm", some of the perilous outcomes may be averted. There is a possibility that there would be a nice reduction in the "back-alley" medicine that goes on. Thus, a reduction in fatal risk to the athletes.
Perhaps, the fact that essentially all illegal performance enhancing drugs are not intended for perfectly healthy individuals and it is medically inappropriate as well as unethical, let alone dangerous, to prescribe these agents simply to improve an athletes' performance. Removing legal restrictions by sport governing bodies does nothing to decrease the health risk or change the medical ethics questions of using these agents.
I think that history is quite clear in showing that medical and social ethics change depending on the current social climate. Barely 30 years ago, it was illegal to consume oral contraceptives, as it was deemed unethical. Same with morning after pill. Alcohol was illegal... Need I add to this list?
As for medically inappropriate - I can give you a long list of things that professional athletes do that can be considerred medically inappropriate. These are NOT normal everyday people. They are the thoroughbreds of humanity. Is it right? Is it wrong? I'm not trying to find that answer. It is the way it is.
I do agree that the medical ethics committees would have to spend a long time establishing appropriate guidelines for PED "safe" use.
Perhaps, you have also lost sight of the fact that many medications carry adverse risks, and are only deemed appropriate when the risk benefit ratio is serious side effects versus death. Such serious risk taking is not warranted for healthy atheletes looking to improve their performance and paychecks.
I have lost sight of nothing. I realize that there are side effects to all medical treatment.
Please provide me with the serious adverse side effects of EPO, if the hormone is taken in small doses, ensuring that hematocrit does not exceed 0.50. The hormone would be taken under the legal supervision of a doctor. Minor side effects, such that might be seen with birth control, do not count (ie; weight gain, acne, mood swings). Although birth control can result in blood clots, they still administer it to normal and healthy individuals.
I think your argument has fundamental flaws. I do not find it convincing.
I'm okay without convincing you. I really was not developing an argment in my previous posts, as I presented few suggestions to develop regulated drug program. In that way, I don't think that my opinions can be flawed. Because they are just that. OPINIONS. I'm not a dumb-dumb, and believe it or not, I realize that many problems would accompany a legalized athlete doping system.
Probably the biggest fundamental PROBLEM (not flaw to my non-existent argument) of legalized regulated doping is this: Athletes who do not want to dope, but want to be professional, would have no choice but to take PED's anyway.
As I read this post, it would seem that I have strong opinions WANTING PEDs to be legalized. I do not think that is the case. I think I made a minor comment in my original post, and have been asking to defend my "position" as though I have one. I don't really. Ultimately, I think that drugs in sport is BAD, and would love to see all competition clean. That is not reality though. I'm not trying to advocate legalizing PEDs. It will never happen. I suppose that I'm just feeling bit bored and obviously a bit feisty.
BUT, as I said earlier, my primary purpose to in starting this thread was to point out our fickle nature regarding our hero's, and how easy we abandon them once they stumble.
Well, I for one have a problem with the startling number of young pro riders who have died in the last few years of heart arrhythmias related to EPO doping. I also have a problem with the number of pro athletes in this country that died of cancer and other causes related to illegal steroid usage.
Can you please tell me the death rate, or even number of deaths in young pro riders as a result of EPO use? Can you point me to the death rate of pro athletes that have died from cancer due to illegal steroid use? I would honestly love to see some numbers. Using the word "startling" is not specific. Yes, I might agree that one death is too many. But, I would postulate that much of this would be due to lack of proper medical supervision, and self-administering.
If it becomes an accepted medical treatment for professional athletes, within the bounds of "do no harm", some of the perilous outcomes may be averted. There is a possibility that there would be a nice reduction in the "back-alley" medicine that goes on. Thus, a reduction in fatal risk to the athletes.
Perhaps, the fact that essentially all illegal performance enhancing drugs are not intended for perfectly healthy individuals and it is medically inappropriate as well as unethical, let alone dangerous, to prescribe these agents simply to improve an athletes' performance. Removing legal restrictions by sport governing bodies does nothing to decrease the health risk or change the medical ethics questions of using these agents.
I think that history is quite clear in showing that medical and social ethics change depending on the current social climate. Barely 30 years ago, it was illegal to consume oral contraceptives, as it was deemed unethical. Same with morning after pill. Alcohol was illegal... Need I add to this list?
As for medically inappropriate - I can give you a long list of things that professional athletes do that can be considerred medically inappropriate. These are NOT normal everyday people. They are the thoroughbreds of humanity. Is it right? Is it wrong? I'm not trying to find that answer. It is the way it is.
I do agree that the medical ethics committees would have to spend a long time establishing appropriate guidelines for PED "safe" use.
Perhaps, you have also lost sight of the fact that many medications carry adverse risks, and are only deemed appropriate when the risk benefit ratio is serious side effects versus death. Such serious risk taking is not warranted for healthy atheletes looking to improve their performance and paychecks.
I have lost sight of nothing. I realize that there are side effects to all medical treatment.
Please provide me with the serious adverse side effects of EPO, if the hormone is taken in small doses, ensuring that hematocrit does not exceed 0.50. The hormone would be taken under the legal supervision of a doctor. Minor side effects, such that might be seen with birth control, do not count (ie; weight gain, acne, mood swings). Although birth control can result in blood clots, they still administer it to normal and healthy individuals.
I think your argument has fundamental flaws. I do not find it convincing.
I'm okay without convincing you. I really was not developing an argment in my previous posts, as I presented few suggestions to develop regulated drug program. In that way, I don't think that my opinions can be flawed. Because they are just that. OPINIONS. I'm not a dumb-dumb, and believe it or not, I realize that many problems would accompany a legalized athlete doping system.
Probably the biggest fundamental PROBLEM (not flaw to my non-existent argument) of legalized regulated doping is this: Athletes who do not want to dope, but want to be professional, would have no choice but to take PED's anyway.
As I read this post, it would seem that I have strong opinions WANTING PEDs to be legalized. I do not think that is the case. I think I made a minor comment in my original post, and have been asking to defend my "position" as though I have one. I don't really. Ultimately, I think that drugs in sport is BAD, and would love to see all competition clean. That is not reality though. I'm not trying to advocate legalizing PEDs. It will never happen. I suppose that I'm just feeling bit bored and obviously a bit feisty.
BUT, as I said earlier, my primary purpose to in starting this thread was to point out our fickle nature regarding our hero's, and how easy we abandon them once they stumble.