By: María Camila Ospina Rojas 10B
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In sports, doping is defined as the use (more like abuse) of a drug to enhance the performance of an athlete. It is considered to be completely unethical and is prohibited by the majority of sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee.
Sadly, its origin goes way back in history, centuries ago. Since the beginning of the chariot races, some athletes have always found the way of improving their performance, not caring about the consequences it could bring to their sport, or even worse, their career. Of course, methods have varied through time… A few centuries back, athletes were given food that people thought would be “beneficial” for them during their competition; now, athletes recur to certain drugs to keep them awake or to make them physically stronger in whatever they are competing in. However, athletes who dope themselves, always have the same purpose: being the best without putting enough effort into it, and not showing their real potential.
Let’s take a recent example: Chris Froome. Even though he has been labeled as the best cyclist in the world, the doping results he got at the end of last year don’t do justice to that title. The four-time winner of the Tour de France tested positive for a ridiculous amount of a substance that, although isn’t on the official list of cycling prohibited drugs, has been linked numerous times with doping. The fact that he is battling to clear his name will only further ramp up the pressure on his beleaguered team – especially because it was built on the foundations of a zero-tolerance drug policy. Froome has claimed that he was using that drug to control his asthma attacks, but what should we really believe after seeing scandalous episodes like Lance Armstrong’s?
Doping is really dangerous, not only for the people who do it, but for the people around them. In sports, the abuse of drugs is mainly used to enhance the player’s performance, and, therefore, creates an unfair advantage between them and the other competitors, and it can be a factor of pressure for them, leading them to dope as well. Without a doubt, doping is something disrespectful and dishonest, meant to be taken seriously and it needs to be rejected at all costs. Hopefully Froome’s case will have a verdict soon and will serve as an example for all young competitors.
