By Iacovos Iacovides, APC Sports Consulting Ltd
In 2018, Ulrich, Pope, Cléret et al., published the results of an anonymised survey that was conducted in 2011-12 and asked more than 1,200 professional athletes whether they have ever taken Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). The astonishing result was 44% of respondents replying affirmatively. The topic of PEDs is a taboo in sports, but arguably the biggest problem that the industry has been facing since the introduction of controls in 1965 and their institutionalisation in 1970.
PEDs
Doping which started in the 19th century with the use of alcohol and cocaine among cyclists has nowadays morphed into an entire underground industry aided by advancements in the ever-innovative pharmaceuticals sector. Some of the most popular methods include steroids, blood transfusions, human growth hormones and EPO, and aim at increasing the athlete’s endurance and strength—according to some studies by up to 38%. In what follows, I will discuss some of the adverse effects of PEDs on athletes such as. The health, psychological and financial effects with the aid of the infamous stories of Marion Jones, Diego Maradona, and Lance Armstrong.
Medical Effects
A large number of athletes who have been caught red-handed have shifted the blame to coaches, physicians, partner. In the case of the Russian Olympic team fiasco in 2018, the entire state apparatus—and expressed complete ignorance as to what was given to them. Whether they are to be believed or not, PEDs can have extreme side-effects on the individual. They typically include cardiac complications, headaches, nausea and dizziness. In the case of men, side-effects can range from acne and baldness to shrunken testicles and reduced fertility, to high blood pressure and prostate cancer. Women on the other hand, can experience disturbed periods, facial hair and deepened voices. In their attempt to gain an edge in sports athletes are quite simply jeopardising their lives.
Psychological Side-Effects
Psychological side-effects are also common, with many reporting rapid mood swings and paranoia. As a result of the strict schedule required to dope and its illegal status. On top of those, athletes who get caught have to cope with a variety of after-effects as well. Suddenly finding yourself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, the shame, the disappointment it brings to you, your friends, family and fans, is something you can hardly recover from.
Athlete’s Finances
When it comes to an athlete’s finances, doping guarantees financial ruin. In an instant, sponsorships, scholarships, income, savings, and assets vanish. Marion Jones lost her $1 million in endorsements, her $2.5 million home, and her mother’s house, plus $80,000 per race in forgone income and five years in federal prison. Lance Armstrong faced a $10 million payment to SCA Promotions Inc. for lying and deception, while his sponsors, worth $75 million, abandoned him. Armstrong stated that doping cost him a total of $100 million, even destroying his charity, the Livestrong foundation.
State Regulations regarding cocaine and alcohol
Article 10(2) of WADA regulations states that a first doping offense results in a two-year ban, including no games or training. A second offense results in a lifetime ban, though few athletes make it to the second strike. Most are done after the first offense unless they pull off a Maradona-like recovery. Maradona’s 1994 World Cup doping scandal, with five ephedrine variants in his blood, ended his international career at age 34. Despite this, Maradona reinvented himself as a coach and enjoys a decent coaching career. However, Maradona’s story is rare, as Marion Jones and Lance Armstrong weren’t as fortunate.
Conclusion
PEDs can devastate athletes financially, psychologically, and physically, affecting their wellbeing, careers, and long-term health. The rise of gene-editing technology only intensifies these risks, making the future even more uncertain. The Money Smart Athlete must conduct a cost-benefit analysis and realize doping isn’t worth the long-term consequences. Doping is like a house of cards; evading authorities for years can easily collapse with one failed test.