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Results so far:
| Yes | 54% | 318 votes | Total: 593 votes | |
| No | 46% | 275 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesI believe cheating athletes should be banned for life for drug use. Use of steroids enhances the muscle growth of the body and creates a stronger athlete, which is O.K. But what about the natural hard-working athletes that don't take enhancement drugs? Is it fair for them that lazier drug users get paid more than them, even though it is illegal. No, I believe the hard working clean athletes should be renowned instead of the drug users. Now some people will say that the drug users are already being punished enough, and that being banned for life may be too long.
Let me ask you this; should a murderer be put in prison for only a few years, and then be let out? Certainly, this man would try to kill again? The same is with use of steroids. If they are banned for only a short while, then the athlete will definitely continue the use of enhancements.
In my opinion, the entire professional athletic department should be tested regularly for drug use, and those that are found using drugs should be banned for their life. This would keep much of the nonsense out of sports. Baseball may be the worst sport considering steroid use, and it's a little disappointing. I used to be a huge baseball fan until I found out about some of my favorite athletes using illegal enhancements.
I'm sure it's hard to resist the temptation of taking enhancements when you're playing for a professional league, but still, they are cheating. My uncle played years ago for the NFL, and he often told stories about different substances that his athletic director would give them, not telling them what it was. He thinks it was probably some kind of enhancer, but he never really asked about it. I feel sorry for these people, because they may have not wanted to take steroids, but were almost forced to. I would not blame these people as much, though I still believe they should be held slightly accountable. All in all, the sports programs need a bit of cleaning out, and those that are found guilty should be held accountable.
Learn more about this author, Andrew Baker.
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No
Should drug use get a professional sports athlete banned for life? No. I don't condone the use of drugs and I do not think athletes should use them. A lifetime ban however does not allow for mistakes or faulty play.
One bicyclist recently started taking his own chef with him to competitions because people had threatened to sprinkle performance enhancing drugs on his food in a hotel he stayed in. Had he unknowingly ate foods enhanced with drugs and a lifetime ban existed, he would be out of luck. If a lifetime ban existed, it would be easy to disqualify the competition. I don't think everyone would do so, but we all remember the Tanya and Nancy fiasco. Competitors do stoop to despicable levels at times.
What about prescribed medication that may turn up in a drug test. Because an individual struggles with a medical condition, they could have a false positive for a performance enhancing drug. Is it fair to say that their career is over? I don't think it is. A lifetime ban sets a strict policy that does not give hedge way when needed.
There is also the argument that people make mistakes. If you cheated on a test in high school, should you have been thrown out of the educational system. That example is far fetched, but true. Athletes, especially young athletes are under tremendous pressure to stay on contract and beat out other contenders for the few spots on a team.
Should they turn to drug use, no. I agree those that do turn to drug use should have their contract suspended, but to say they can never return to that sport seems harsh. Instead of mandating that a professional athlete that takes performance enhancement drugs can never play that sport again, I think a system should be established for more frequent testing, longer suspensions, and community service. If the athlete in question has another drug test that comes back positive, then a lifetime ban would not be out of the question.
There are a lot of people, athlete and lay person alike that overcome incredible odds and come out on top. Drug addicts turn to Christ, prostitutes become celibate, and thieves shun their past ways. People learn from their mistakes. I think every person should be given at least one opportunity to make things right. If they screw up again, then they didn't learn their lesson and will have to live with that mistake. I say establish a two strike and you are out policy.
Learn more about this author, Molly Carter.
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