Why
do athletes use drugs?
There are a number of factors that may contribute to an athlete
misusing drugs. These factors can be related to the drug itself, the person or
their environment.
Drug
Person
Environment
Specific pressures
Self
The basic desire to be successful and satisfy ego requirements is a major source
of internal pressure. Problems such as self doubt, lack of confidence,
nervousness, stress and depression are common to all athletes. The
characteristics of self pressure are not exclusive to people in the sporting
field.
Coach
A successful athlete is often associated with a successful coach. As a result,
the coach may place direct pressure on an athlete to perform and may be the
source of further internal pressure.
Peer
Competitors set the standards to which an athlete must perform. If an athlete
believes that a competitor has obtained some kind of advantage, then the
pressure to also have or use this advantage is significant, for example, a
better designed golf club, a lighter running shoe or the use of steroids.
Similar peer group pressure may come from team mates.
Family
The expectations of family and friends are often a source of pressure,
particularly at the lower levels of competition. Previously successful family
members may also create pressure.
Spectators/crowd
Spectators create a great source of pressure both at the elite and lower levels
of competition. At the elite level, athletes are often adopted as role models
and will often take the hopes and aspirations of thousands of fans into
competition.
Spectators are also the source of money and applause, hence the athlete may feel
pressure to perform to standards expected by the public. The fickle nature of
public support also creates pressure. Generally, we all love a winner and often
adopt a 'win at all costs' mentality.
At the lower level of competition the presence of spectators may increase the
anxiety levels of athletes. This may affect an athlete's performance and in due
course influence an athlete's behaviour.
Media
The media plays an important role in shaping the opinions and attitudes of the
general public. How the media portrays an athlete, and how they report on an
athlete's performance, can not only influence the public but the athlete as
well.
Administrators/promoters
Unreasonable scheduling of competitions and the establishment of unrealistic
performance standards are ways in which sports administrators may contribute to
the pressures on athletes. Similarly, promoters of sports events usually demand
a high standard of performance from athletes to enhance the credibility and the
promotional qualities of events which they sponsor.
Social
Pressure for sporting success may also be the result of social incentives to
achieve. The glory and recognition for sporting achievements is a strong
motivator towards success. Sporting success may provide an athlete with greater
access and mobility to other social groups, that is, successful athletes are
usually given the opportunity to meet and mix with people outside their usual
social group, such as politicians and media personalities.
Financial and material rewards
Financial and material rewards are major influences on athletes and sporting
performance. Sport, which was once an activity to fill in leisure time, has now
become a way to earn a living for some of our elite athletes. In recent times
people have commented that money-making principles have begun to replace
athletes' moral principles.
Enormous salaries, product endorsements and potential careers outside of the
sporting field are some of. the rewards available to the successful athlete.
Rewards are also available to athletes at lower levels of competition and to
those in amateur sport. Even at junior levels, inducements such as scholarships
are a significant incentive, and can increase the pressure to achieve.
National/political/ideological
Successful athletes at the highest level are sometimes elevated to the position
of hero and carry the pressures of national honour and pride with them.
Countries also use their athletes as political weapons. In international
competition, one country's sporting successes over another country are often
viewed as proof of ideological or national superiority. Such is the case in the
Olympic games, where enormous emphasis is placed on the number of gold medals
won by a country, with even greater pressure being placed on the host country.
Factors such as an athlete's desire to win, the desire to please their coach and
family, the glory of victory and the social and economic reward of sporting
success often send the athlete in search of a competitive edge. Sometimes this
search leads to the use of drugs.
Performance enhancement
What is doping?
Doping is the use by athletes of banned substances or methods that may
enhance performance.
What is inadvertent doping?
Inadvertent doping occurs when an athlete uses a medication to treat an
illness, without realising that it contains a banned substance, and consequently
returns a positive drug test result. In this situation, even though the athlete
may not be taking drugs to enhance performance, they may return a positive drug
test result because the medication contains a banned substance.
Some examples of medications that contain banned substances are Sudafed and
Demazin. In many cases your illness can be treated with an alternative
medication that does not contain a banned substance.
© Copyright ASDA 2001
This is an archive copy of a document originally located at http://www.asda.org.au/dishistory.html all copyright remains with the creator.
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