Drug testing policies and penalties are a joke in professional sports!
Currently, there isn’t a strict policy on using performance enhancing drugs in major league sports. Players are usually tested only once or twice a year. When they do test, it is usually during training camp or at the beginning of the season. Additionally, athletes are given several days notice prior to testing. This practice leaves a wide area of opportunity for players to use the drugs and not get caught.
Should this really be an acceptable practice? Currently, with all the evidence surfacing about increased usage of performance enhancing drugs, shouldn’t we worry about what image this is showing our children?
Are sports figures today giving our children good role models?
It used to be that sports figures were the greatest kinds of role models. If a child becomes interested in sports, they usually become attached to a player. What message is that player sending this child if they test positive for performance enhancing drugs? Is this the message we want our children to learn? that cheating is ok? and that if you do get caught it will only be a slap on the wrist?
Olympian athletes, unlike major sports figures, face much stricter penalties for performance enhancing drug usage. There is zero tolerance for the Olympians. Shouldn’t major league sports adapt this policy?
Olympians stripped of their honor, professional sports slapped on the wrist!
In the world of the Olympics you do not get multiple chances if you test positive for performance enhancing drugs. One strike and you are out, is the policy. The World Anti-Doping Organization will strip you of any medals you won and you can not participate in the games again.
Professional sports authorities should feel the same way. They have so many chances to use the drugs and so many chances to get caught and continue playing. The policies for major sports compared to the Olympics are as follows:
OLYMPICS-policies on performance enhancing drugs
*First offense- suspended from games indefinitely, any medals won for you and your teammates are stripped away.
MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS-policies on performance enhancing drugs
*First offense- they must go to counseling.
*Second offense- 15 day suspension, up to a $10,000 fine
*Third offense-25 day suspension, up to a $25,000 fine
*Fourth offense-50 day suspension, up to a $50,000 fine
*Fifth offense-One year suspension, up to a $100,000 fine
*All suspensions are unpaid.
Seriously, some of these players make millions of dollars a year; a maximum fine of $100,000 is like pocket change for them.
If professional sports would be more like the Olympics and have stricter policies on using performance enhancing drugs, then maybe players wouldn’t be so tempted to use the drugs. Then fans could get back to loving the game for the right reasons and fall in love with their favorite sports player all over again.
NO EXCEPTANCE FOR THE CHEATERS OF THE GAMES!!!
As a society we should demand stricter policies. Do we really want steroid use to become an accepted part of professional sports with the “as long as you don’t get caught, then no foul” policy as the norm? It is almost as if professional athletes are being told it is ok to "use" anytime. Just as long as they are clean ath test time, they won't get caught.
If a player has been tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, the records they have broken should be taken away. Give them back to the real heros of the sports, the players who worked hard to make those records, not those who took the easy way out and cheated to get the records. As a society we should demand stricter policies for professional sports, so there will be control over the illegal use of performance enhancing drugs.
Roles Models
Two Olympic medalists who volunteered for the drug testing, proved that they can win without the help of enhancing drugs.
Bryan Clay-Won the gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the decathlon.
Dara Torres-A 41 year old woman who won three silver medals in swimming at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She is quoted to saying, "I spoke to my coach and some friends and they said, 'You don't have anything to prove,' but I do." "Actually, right now, you're guilty 'til proven innocent. You have to prove it."
I think that if they are getting paid to do the job then they are good enough not to take the drugs
I think that if they are getting paid all that money for what they can do for that sport then they shouldnt have to take drugs to enhance their game.
I think their should be stricter policies on professional athletes that are doing steriods and taking drugs. They are taking away from those who don't do drugs and are just good athletes and then they don't get to show how good they are. Everyone should have to follow a certain policy. Good Job Girls! :)
I don't think that its fair that the professionals who worked hard don't get the credit because a person on drugs took their limelight. Its definately not something that little kids should be a part of. There are several news articles about teens who have died because of steriod use to bulk up for the sports teams. It is already affecting the children and something does need to be done about it.
hMm...Kids look up to sports players because they are supposed to be 'larger than life' -- 'super human'. They are supposed to be able to do things the regular person can't. However, I do believe these players should gain their strength on their own and not use any kind of enhancers. It is definitely more impressive to see someone not using steroids win something out of pure ability, love, and dedication for the sport. Stricter punishment for using steroids would definitely help get the 'bad guys' out of the game.
If the professionals followed the same guidelines used in the olympics and take away any awards etc that they had won, there would be less use of thes drugs in the prof. sports.
I think that many people do not realize the end results of substance abuse, whether it be performance enhancing drugs or just plain old pot. Many of our children look up to these figures and from personal experience, it sucks to be disillusioned about your hero.
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