Is doping in sports ever justifiable?

How much are some willing to sacrifice to beat his time, further his distance and gain the glory? How much are some willing to risk? Is it worth it to sacrifice one’s health and integrity, sacrifice one’s everything; all for that champion title?

Doping has always been a plague of sports. The question that now arises is whether it is ever justifiable and whether the athlete is really to be blamed.

Faster. Higher. Stronger.

This is the goal of every sportsman. The reason they are willing to undergo near impossible amounts of hardship. The reason they devote their entire lives to. The reason some of them lose their integrity. The reason they dope.

In this article, I am not trying to say that it is alright to dope. I am merely saying that I understand why some of them are driven to such extreme measures.

Not anyone can be a sportsman. One would need the right physique, the right genes and the talent. In some countries like China, these sportsmen are chosen at a tender age through certain screening processes, often even before they begin schooling. They are shifted to a training academy, often far away from home, where they seldom, or even never get to see their parents.

Their life would then revolve around an activity called training. In this activity, the sportsman is put under tremendous amounts of stress, physical, mental and emotional. Physical stress, because they push their bodies to the limits of humanity.

“3.45am alarm that heralded a 16-kilometre run in the dark. The athletes were exhausted from that, but they then had to complete a two-hour weights session - and they still hadn't eaten. Then they did two massive rowing sessions. This was the expected work rate every day.”

Mental stress, because they have to force their mind to cut out all distractions like fatigue and pain that will obstruct their ability to achieve their goal. Emotional stress, because they often have to find the will to go on day by day or after a failure and not give up.

This stress and pressure originates from themselves and those who invested in them. The word “invest” here is used literally. These athletes are merely like a commodity which you sponsor in the hopes of reaping rewards.

“When we talked about the athletes we referred to them not as a name but a number.”

But to them, it is a great privilege. To most of these athletes, their sport had become their lifeline. Through it, they were given an opportunity of a lifetime to better their lives and their family’s lives. When you hear about coaches abusing their players, you probably think this external pressure is a lot. Although it is already more than many can handle, the pressure an athlete places on himself can be far higher when his and his family's future depended on his performance. And so, they would stop at nothing to achieve their dreams.

When the time comes for the culmination of their blood, sweat and tears; the culmination of their entire lives’ work, it was a make it or break it situation. If they performed in the meet, their families would continue their relatively good life while the athlete would continue to be invested in. If not, it was all over for them.

“…everything there was about winning gold. If you don't win, the money dries up and the programme stops. The pressure was huge. The parents of the athletes were given houses; if the athletes weren't successful, their parents would have to leave. At the National Games, Henan's rowing improved from nineteenth (of 22 provinces) to second and we won two silvers and three bronzes but no gold. Within half an hour of the last final, half my staff had been sacked.”

Having all their eggs in the same basket, if they did not perform up to expectations, they had no where else to go, and nothing else to do. They risked everything they had when they were selected for this treacherous path. They had no other qualifications apart from their sport. Their lives revolved around it. Without sports, they had nothing.

How would you feel if you were in their situation? Where you have did your best throughout your life but still would not make it no matter how hard you tried. Where the fate of your future was at risk if you did not win. Driven to such extremes in such a critical situation, can you guarantee that you would still behave rationally?

In such a situation, would you seriously be concerned about the “ideals of olympics”, “dehumanizing the human spirit” and so on? With your back up against the wall, what choice would you have? Think about this before you are so quick to pass your judgment. Think of this before you expect too much from athletes, who despite their super-human capabilities, are after all, merely human.

DISCLAIMER: I am not saying that all athletes who doped do it under the circumstances mentioned in my article. Neither am I saying that my article justifies doping in any circumstance. I am just presenting another perspective on this doping issue. I am merely trying to empathize with these sportsmen. This is merely a commentary, where its purpose is not to persuade. As my English teacher says, “take it or leave it”.

Word Count: 498 (excluding Disclaimer, Introduction (bold) and quoted text (italicized) from http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article3330003.ece)

Other references:
http://www.financialpost.com/money/Story.html?id=223495&p=2
http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2004/03/04/Sports/Players.Accuse.Coach.Of.Abuse-626121-page3.shtml
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/333679/1/.html