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Should doping be allowed in sport? Should doping be allowed in sport?
Yes, doping should be allowed Yes, doping should be allowed
No, doping should not be allowed in sport No, doping should not be allowed in sport
Some doping should be allowed Some doping should be allowed
Doping has always been a part of sport Doping has always been a part of sport
Doping is allowed in other segments of the entertainment industry Doping is allowed in other segments of the entertainment industry
Doping would make sport more about talent and less about genetics Doping would make sport more about talent and less about genetics
Doping would remove many financial barriers to elite level sport Doping would remove many financial barriers to elite level sport
Doping would make sport safer Doping would make sport safer
Policing doping is futile Policing doping is futile
Doping would make sport more interesting Doping would make sport more interesting
Doping poses a health risk to athletes Doping poses a health risk to athletes
Doping runs counter to the spirit of professional sport Doping runs counter to the spirit of professional sport
Children are involved in elite competitive sport Children are involved in elite competitive sport
Doping would turn sport into a race to concoct the most powerful drug Doping would turn sport into a race to concoct the most powerful drug
Not all drugs are created equal Not all drugs are created equal
Doping can be used to level the playing field Doping can be used to level the playing field
Debate Mini Map

Should doping be allowed in sport?
Back to question

Yes, doping should be allowed

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Doping is allowed in other segments of the entertainment industry

Sport is part of the entertainment business. Other entertainers are allowed to use drugs to enhance their performance, so athletes should be permitted to dope.
J. Savulescu
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Context

A musician is free to take beta-blockers to control stage fright. These drugs function in the exact same way as performance-enhancing drugs in sport. They lower the heart rate and blood pressure and allow for a better, more measured performance. [1]

The Argument

Professional sport is part of the entertainment industry. Millions tune in every weekend to watch sport because it provides entertainment. It should, therefore, be treated in the same way as other entertainment industry sectors. Doping does not detract from the entertainment aspect of the sport. If anything, it enhances it by improving performance, pushing the limits of human ability, and thereby providing a better spectacle. In the same way the musician takes beta-blockers to coax out a better performance or a writer may consume drugs to produce their best work, athletes should be permitted to dope to improve their physical performance.

Counter arguments

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Sports stars are entertainers. [P2] Other entertainers are free to use drugs to enhance performance. [P3] Therefore, athletes should also be free to use drugs to enhance performance.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.amjmed.com/article/0002-9343(82)90592-7/pdf
This page was last edited on Sunday, 14 Jun 2020 at 16:22 UTC

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