Should performance enhancing drugs be illegal?

Should performance enhancing drugs be illegal?

By Natalia Sledz, 10 Red

The use of Performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) such as anabolic steroids, Human Growth Hormone (HGH), Cocaine and Amphetamine have long been controversial. There has been an on-going argument supporting whether PEDs should be illegal for years. Many say drugs are not worth it and are damaging to drug users and those around them. Although, if drugs were to enhance your sporting ability and enjoyment of sport, why not do whatever it takes to be where you want to be? The use of performance enhancing drugs in the sporting industry benefits everyone's desires; spectators and athletes both get what they want, everyone wins.

Why PEDs should be legal has many reasons, but on the other hand why should they be illegal? Health reasons and unfairness to non-drug enhanced athletes are the main barriers to legalisation. However if these barriers were no longer an issue, PEDs would become a natural part of training.

Various anabolic steroids. Author: Wikidudeman (ta...

Numerous vials of injectable anabolic steroids, wh...

Several large buckets of anabolic steroid vials co...

If all high level athletes were prepared to accept the risk of health implications, which would double for removing unfairness if everyone is using them, what barriers remain? If athletes don't mind and spectators want to see faster, better, stronger then who is to lose here?

"Faster, higher, stronger." - The Olympic Games motto; the use of PEDs by Olympic athletes captures this in the best possible way. This is because PEDs have a positive effect on athletic performance. For example, an athlete using anabolic drugs will increase protein synthesis within muscle cells, causing a build up of muscle tissue, therefore allows the athlete to train at higher levels of intensity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_(sport), 9/06/08). Spectators want to see record breaking feats, and what athletes want to break those records. So why should PEDs be illegal when it is...