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| Yes | 54% | 323 votes | Total: 599 votes | |
| No | 46% | 276 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesI believe if a professional athlete is found guilty of knowingly taking a banned substance, then they should be banned for life. The word I add to the debate is 'knowingly', there are too many cases of banned substances being found in regular medicines or in supplements that appear okay. Also some use the defence that they were given the drugs by people who work with them and therefore they presumed them fine.
Also in some circumstances, the coaches and doctors that give the substances claim that they didn't know the items were illegal. As the doctors and coaches are working for the athletes benefit, this is often a hollow excuse as they are responsible for the athletes health and well being. They should be researching everything that they deal out to their charges and should know all ingredients, if they can't be sure, they shouldn't use the item.
This is where the grey areas creep into the debate, mainly about who knew what and who was to blame. Then you go a step further towards the makers of the drugs, they will want to have maximum effect so their products get sold. Many will be trying to make their goods not only effective but also harder to detect for those trying to keep them out of sports.
There are also additives to try and block the tests as well. In all cases, those caught should have the fullest punishments and total bans. Whatever the level in the crime, the punishment should be total bans from sport. There are the vast majority who do not cheat and whose dreams have led them to the standard they are at, it's not fair that their years of dedication are wiped out by cheats.
The biggest problem of all is deciding what is illegal, what's not and then who has culpability for the drug being taken. The process must follow the rules of a criminal investigation, as a ban for life is a very big punishment. If after extensive tests and inquiries there is a definite individual with guilt, then a life ban is the answer. If multiple people are to blame then the punishment should be the same.
Before a rule like this is brought in, testing must be more stringent and more regulated. Everyone involved in sports must know what they can and can't take and this list must be updated regularly as new things are developed. Also the allowed list must be the one worked from by training staff, if the item is not on the list then don't use it. Using a non-allowed substance should be seen as a step towards cheating and should be used in any case against the people involved.
Learn more about this author, Ashley Smith.
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No
If an athlete were to be banned for life because of drug use during his career in professional sports, does it help him see the right perspective in life? Yes it would probably show him the consequences of his action but do we see any benefit from it? Does the athlete benefit from it?
It will only scare athletes from using drugs but does not prevent them from doing it. Sometimes scared people do stupid things and using drugs is one of them.
For the athlete slapped with life banishment in sports, it would probably push him to use more drugs because he looses his job and most probably sport is his only means of earning. And because he is banned for life, he had no chance of competing again. No reason for him to train, to get fit. What will he do? Use more drugs. Why? With no career and no job which means no income, it will send him back to his parents' basement and living there like a scared teenager again. Reflecting on his past it will drive him mad which will cause him to revert back to drugs.
Because I belive in second chance, and I believe one to two years suspension and taking back his earnings from wins he had during his/her drugs use would be enough to teach him/her a lesson. But not just suspend him/her, a support also for rehab would make him/her heal against drugs.
I also believe that it is better to focus on the positive sides of things. It would encourage other athletes to be "clean" if they see more benefits such as more sponsors, higher salary and more.
Give more focus also on the coach or manager of an athlete because they have the most influence in an athlete's life/career. A good coach/manager would prevent his/her athlete from using drugs as they "probably" know that it can ruin their athlete's career.
I haven't heard any coach or manager being suspended for drug use of his athlete. His athlete is his responsibility. It is his duty to make sure that his athlete is clean. Wouldn't professional sport be much better if it is the coach or manager that is suspended if an athlete is caught using drugs? We can then look for a better coach/manager to look after our athlete. The coaches/managers who can or will prevent the athletes from doing drugs, the ones who can make sports clean.
Learn more about this author, Ronnie Ambrad.
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