I was recently going through some YouTube shorts when a clip caught my attention, it was about some popular artists and sportsmen displaying some similar body involuntary movement while performing which is suspected to be caused by either drug overuse or withdrawal, the mind-blowing fact was that these were stars, celebrities with many fans all over the world looking up to them as role models, no doubt they are indeed talented/very skilled in their chosen art, but the issue of drug usage to augment their performance is really an issue of concern for so many valid reasons.
In sports, for instance, the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) has been a controversial issue for decades. As the questions about the health of sportsmen who involve themselves in drugs are put into consideration, what about the fairness aspects surrounding their use?
To curb this act, most professional sports organizations and international governing bodies maintain strict prohibitions on PEDs. There is a global effort to combat doping in sports, regularly the list of banned substances is updated, and any athletes caught using these substances would face severe penalties, including disqualification, loss of medals, and lengthy suspensions.
For me, I think this is the right way to go, to promote fairness among sportsmen and women, as these PEDs provide their users an unfair advantage to those who are none users, as the drugs make them stronger, and their strength maxes out at a longer duration compared non-users, which makes them unequal to compete, then there is no fun in watching such game, because the drug usage is more like a cheat, and when there is no fairness or balance, it can't be referred to as a game anymore.
Their health risks are another paramount concern as these drugs would definitely have significant side effects and long-term health consequences, from addiction to loss of control of their senses at some point, it breaks my heart whenever I remember a favourite RnB singer in the '90s who got drowned in her tub due to high drug usage, no matter how people hype this drugs to be very effective in giving some sort of calm and boldness, I feel the side effects are not worth the prize.
Conclusion
It is noteworthy to understand that the issue of performance enhancing drugs in sports is not something that can be answered in one or the other way easily. It raises questions in the basic principles of fair competition, the possibilities of inborn ability of a man, and the place of technology in sports.
Ultimately, any changes to performing enhancing drug policies must balance multiple competing interests, athlete welfare protection, etc and everyone who is a fan, an athlete, or a citizen has something to say when it comes to this vigorous debate. When addressing these questions, it is possible to move towards the corresponding policies in practice on the basis of the valuable ideals of sports activity.
In any case, it is evident that performance enhancement and athletics are two themes that are going to remain engaging and controversial in the many years to come. For as we strive to redefine the limits of the physical and mental achievement in humans, we need to constantly contend with the moral consequences that beget such augmentation.