Sources

[c_ville]

Hey all..

I am writing a term paper on the benefits of steroid use in sport and I am having a hard time finding supporting articles of an academic variety. If anybody has any good sources for such information.. it would be greatly appreciated




edit: working thesis - If the use of anabolic steroids in the four major North American professional sports (NBA, NHL, MLB and the NFL) is condoned by their respective governing bodies; the economic benefits the owners and players will receive will outweigh the ethical concerns.

in a class of 400.. there are about 10 people writing their term papers on the opposite of what i am trying to prove.. so i know i need to bring it.



c'ville

[c_ville]

arguments...


argument #1 - Despite the intensive media coverage on various doping scandals in professional sports, the popularity of the sports have not fallen. - attendance is at all time highs - merchandise sales have not slumped - tv ratings are relatively high

goal: to prove that the majority of fans don't really care about the use of steroids, but rather the entertainment value. sports makes more money with a more impressive product on the field; steroids helps with creating the impressive product. prove that the majority of fans don't care about the ethical side.

argument #2 - There are chemicals that exist which act as masking agents for steroids. The time and money invested on drug testing is inefficiently spent as very few athletes are caught. - facts about the masking agent - the number of players caught using steroids (statistics) - amount of money spent on drug testing .. too much and it cuts into revenue

goal: show the economic irrationality of even bothering to try and catch players. make the reader see that it is pointless.

argument #3 - The use of anabolic steroids raises the level of play to exciting and previously unattainable levels. - records being broken (statistics) - excite a new group of fans whose interests were aroused by amazing performances

goal: to show how steroids benefit the product itself.. how that relates to the money side... and how that outweighs the ethical concerns.



counter arguments

#1 - Some fans are anti-doping. Although attendance, ratings and sales are up, it may not be to do with a superior product, but yet a superior marketing plan.

- players are becoming tools for marketing for non-sporting relating companies. this may lead to people becoming fans and supporting the products, attending games and watching games on television. - there are anti-doping campaigns for a reason. people find the use of anabolic steroids as unethical.

#2 drug testing deters athletes from using anabolic steroids. even if they think it is likely that they will get away with using the drugs, the chance of getting caught and tarnishing their image is reason enough to stay natural. - there is no definite number of athletes who actually get away with using steroids. nearly all of the numbers are speculation as it is impossible to prove

#3 no matter how impressive the records are, if the player who broke them used steroids - the record is tarnished. it is an unfair advantage over players of the past. also, most anabolic steroids are illegal


rebuttals

1 If fans were so furious about the so called epidemic of steroid use in sports, they wouldn't support games regardless of improved marketing ploys. Clearly, the fans have not been turned off enough about the games to stop them from supporting professional sports. It would be logical to deduct that the sensationalist media approach to various steroid debacles in sports have not turned fans' backs, and more importantly, pocketbooks on the games to the degree that would warrant steroids a hindrance to professional sports.

#2 If very few athletes are caught with drug testing and expert speculation says that steroid use is common; it is reasonable to deduct that the drug tests are inefficient. The number of drug test failures does not come close to coinciding with the various professional estimates.

#3 The use of steroids is part of the progression of sport. Equipment has become cutting edge and innovative, steroids and other performance enhancing chemicals are the next step in the evolution of sports.